October 2009 Pet Halo Award: Deborah Howard (CAPS)

Deborah Howard, president of Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), is our October 2009 Pet Halo Award winner.

CAPS is the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals. CAPS' foremost concern is the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs. Founded in 1992, CAPS actively addresses this issue through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations.

CAPS defines a puppy mill as a "commercial breeding facility that mass-produces puppies for resale through pet shops or individuals."

In early 2004, I came to know Deborah Howard. Deborah assisted myself and hundreds of guardians of dogs that had been affected and/or died from the heartworm injectable "preventative" ProHeart 6. CAPS was instrumental in focusing media attention on what was happening to the dogs in over 39 states, leading the FDA to ask the manufacturer of ProHeart 6 to remove the drug from the market until it could be proven safe. (Note: In June 2008, ProHeart 6 was re-released onto the U.S. market, apparently without further safety studies being conducted; instead, relying on the drug's "success" in other countries.")

Our world would truly be a horrible place without Deborah Howard and CAPS. I am honored to call Deborah Howard my friend and have her organization as one of The Pet Guardian's nonprofit 501(c)(3) charities. Deborah is a guardian angel to companion animals everywhere.

If you want to help CAPS in its efforts to eliminate the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs, please make a tax-deductible donation to:

Companion Animal Protection Society
759 CJC Highway, #332
Cohasset, MA 02025

And please, PLEASE consider adopting your next animal companion from a shelter or rescue organization. Never purchase from a pet shop or over the Internet. Visit www.caps-web-org for more information about CAPS and puppy mill dogs.