My Final Indiana Musings

The Indiana experience is winding down. We've enjoyed our visit to the Hoosier State. The farmland, open skies, deep green grasses and lovely people have made us appreciate our time here.

Indiana Factoids

As one might imagine, "Indiana" means "Land of the Indians" -- there are, however, fewer than 8,000 Native Americans living in the state today.  Strange.

Indiana's motto, "Cross Roads of America" is based on fact.  Indiana has more miles of Interstate highway per square mile than any other state. The motto dates to the early 1800s when river traffic, especially along the Ohio, was a major means of transportation. Today more major highways intersect in Indiana than in any other state.  I would have never guessed!

Old Older Mennonites remain steadfast in living "off the grid"
The "clop, clop, clop" of horse hoofs on the road has become a common sound to us.

Huge communities of Mennonite and Amish people live on the farmland of Northeastern Indiana. As a matter of fact, one of the largest Mennonite congregations in the country is in Bern, Indiana. 

Members who are part of the Old Order of Mennonites do not drive cars, use electricity, or go to public places of entertainment.  While most Mennonites do not live that way these days, a good many of them in this area still do.

A farm near Wakarusa.

Most businesses here have a plan for handling horse and buggy rigs.

The Amish Puppymill Connection

The most bothersome fact about the Amish for me is their prolific involvement in the production of puppies. They sell them on site, online and to pet stores (those stores that sell pets -- many do not) all over the country. I'm not opposed to puppies -- or selling puppies.  I am opposed to over breeding any animal. The animals in these puppy generating operations are often chained together to facilitate breeding. They are given too little food, not enough drinking water and no veterinary care. These are animals that never lay on a bed or see a toy. They are never talked to or held. They are not pets. They stand and sleep on wire until their toes split. Square pens that house them are often not large enough for to stand and most are literally bred to death without ever standing on the ground. Pens are stacked one on top of the other with urine and feces falling down through the wire drying onto the animals below. 

It is becoming a well known fact that the Amish are among the very worst offenders in operating huge puppymill production barns.  To know more click read the material in this link:
http://www.thepuppymillproject.org/puppy-mills-a-side-of-the-amish-that-you-never-knew/ .

Anyone who knows me, even a little bit, knows my passion, perhaps better called "my obsession" on the subject of over breeding. I urge every loving pet owner to become familiar with the puppymill industry and become active and loud in speaking out on it to others and to remember www.petfinder.com to friends who may be looking for pets.

The abundance of puppy production in Indiana, along with Ohio, Pennsylvania and many other states, casts a dark shadow on my enjoyment of the countryside here.  Every beautifully painted barn on every picturesque farm can house one of these chamber of horrors. It leaves a nasty taste in my mouth to speak of it.

I'm sorry to write on such a sad subject in such an otherwise light forum.  I do not intend to step on anyone's toes ... just your heart.

From here we'll travel south next week for the birth of twins in Wayne's family.