(KYTX) – The East Texas director of the SPCA is getting behind an online petition to the Texas State House hoping to end the sale of dogs at Canton’s popular first of the month trade days. 

>Parvo is an easily spread dog virus that has a potential to be fatal, especially among puppies. That is why local attorney and East Texas SPCA Director Deborah Dobbs is getting behind the online petition hoping to shed light on the unsanitary conditions and health risks posed by Canton’s Dog Alley and other flea markets.

>”What you typically see at Canton are dogs that they have cleaned up, spiffed up, and are not exhibiting signs of illness,” said Dobbs.

>Dogs from all over the state are brought to Canton on the First Monday of each month to be sold. Dobbs says they often come from puppy mill breeders who use forged documents and present a false narrative about the true nature of the dog’s health.

>Dobbs has worked with the Humane Society of America on busting puppy mills in the Tyler area. According to a recent undercover investigation, Canton’s First Monday Trade Days is one of the top offender selling sites.

>”To them, they are little furry slot machines,” said Dobbs. “That’s what I’d call em’ and when they stop paying off, they throw them away.”

>A Youtube videom from the online petition’s Facebook page shows flea markets are often used by puppy mill breeders to sell their animals to uninformed buyers.