Puppy Mills Go Underground with Alene Tchekmedyian and Melody Gutierrez

California’s ban on the sale of puppies in pet stores solved the puppy mill issue for the state, right? Not so fast! LA Times’ investigative reporters Melody Gutierrez and Alene Tchekmedyian join us this week to discuss all they uncovered in their deep dive into the dark underbelly of the puppy trade in California. Also, Midge Raymond and John Yunker of Eco-Lit books tell us about their latest mystery-thriller, Devil’s Island.

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Melody Gutierrez and Alene Tchekmedyian are investigative reporters at the Los Angeles Times. They recently co-authored an investigation into California’s brutal underground market for puppies.

• Inside California’s brutal underground market for puppies: Neglected dogs, deceived owners, big profits
• Did your dog come from the puppy pipeline?
• California’s underground puppy trade ‘raises serious alarms’ and demands for state action

RESOURCES

• • Our Taste for Flesh Has Exhausted the Earth
  • Pro-Animal Awards website
  • EcoLit Books website
  • Midge Raymond & John Yunker’s website
  • Devil’s Island on bookshop.org
  • photo © 2024 Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

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