Candace Croney, Ph.D
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907

Dr. Croney:

We write to you today as a group of animal advocates, asking that you strongly consider termination of your Canine Care Certified program. While it is clear that your program is thoroughly researched and well intentioned, it has also become clear that real world implementation, including enforcement, is fraught with complications and unintended consequences, to the point that it may actually be providing a false sense of improving canine welfare, and obstructing real progress toward that goal.

As you may already be aware, most of your standards are impossible to enforce with one scheduled visit every 16 months. As an easy example, you recommend continuous access to potable water, including daily inspection. With one visit every 16 months, how is it possible to ensure that, for the other approximately 479 days in between visits, that the dogs have continuous access to potable water? It appears that meeting the standards in fact, relies on the “good faith” of the breeders. If we were able to count on that, then we would not need this program.

And have you considered the conflict of interest in enforcement? Per discussion with your staff, it was confirmed that the inspectors are paid by breeders- an enormous disincentive to deeming them non compliant - and making being certified almost meaningless !  Imagine if the amount of a University Professors paycheck was dependent on how many students passed the classes they taught! What would an A grade be worth ? How much value would a degree from that University hold ?

Pet stores that source from breeders with the Canine Care seal of approval thus provide a false sense that the dogs raised there were treated humanely and with proper veterinary care when in fact, your program does not guarantee that at all. Many successful pet-related businesses are outspoken in promoting a humane business model that does not rely on the sale of commercially bred puppies in pet stores, and many advocates nationwide are working hard to try and make this a reality. Your program stands in the way of this progress, while not guaranteeing an improvement in the quality of lives of dogs trapped in the commercial breeders cages. 

Please, Dr. Croney, terminate the Canine Care Certified Program. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

CC: Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., President, Purdue University