Can You Buy Amish Products?

**Freedom** · 09-04-2009, 11:32 AM

I used to want to go visit the Penn Dutch, maybe get a quilt.

Since learning more about puppy mills, and how the Amish treat animals in general, I refuse to have anything to do with them. We have full page newspaper ads almost daily about this new heater they developed, I don't bother reading it.

A friend of mine says, as long as I don't buy a dog or puppy or buy at a pet store which sells dogs and puppies, it is ok to purchase from their "other" businesses.

So: what do you think?

**moosmom** · 09-04-2009, 11:35 AM

Absolutely not!!!! I refuse to support Puppy and Kitten Mills or any Amish products. They're supposed to be God loving people yet they do that to animals?? Nope.

**kokopup** · 09-04-2009, 11:51 AM

I put "other" because Just like in the general public you have people that mistreat animals and have puppy mills. I do not believe all Amish should suffer
because of the sins of a few.

**pomtzu** · 09-04-2009, 12:26 PM

I agree with kokopup. We live in an area where there are many Amish, and none of them "raise" dogs. They are in construction and farming - have a wonderful, huge, general store when you can purchase all their wares, from baked goods, fresh meats, candies, quilts, furniture, etc, and all are home made or home raised.

The only Amish puppy mills that I know of in reasonable proximity to here, would be in the Lancaster and surroundings areas in PA.

I don't have a problem with purchasing from any of the Amish in this area.

**Karen** · 09-04-2009, 12:29 PM

I see that ad from time to time, and the Amish are not making the heater, they just craft the cabinet for it, and are used to market it. It's quite deceptive.

I would not paint all the Amish with the same broad brush, as I am sure there are some who are respectful of animals and treat them well, just as there are others who do not.

**happylabs** · 09-04-2009, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Karen

I see that ad from time to time, and the Amish are not making the heater, they just craft the cabinet for it, and are used to market it. It's quite deceptive.

I would not paint all the Amish with the same broad brush, as I am sure there are some who are respectful of animals and treat them well, just as there are others who do not.

Unfortuntately, most Amish do not think of their animals as pets. They use them for farming, as a tool, and I feel they treat their horses terribly. I have a lot of Amish around me. They work their horses to death. I have seen them foaming from heat exhaustion. I have also seen them use whips on them. I guess they are exempt a lot of times from the laws and rules we are required to abide by.

I do buy vegetables from one Amish farm on occasion. However, I do not buy their baked goods as the women do not always seem that clean.

**lvpets2002** · 09-04-2009, 04:44 PM

I so agree.. No will not support them.. I have seen Bio on Amish & they treat their kids pretty rough too..

Originally Posted by moosmom

Absolutely not!!!! I refuse to support Puppy and Kitten Mills or any Amish products. They're supposed to be God loving people yet they do that to animals?? Nope.

**pomtzu** · 09-04-2009, 05:28 PM

And in the Far East, people eat dogs and cats.

How much do you think is in your home right now that was "Made in China", and you bought it without so much as the blink of an eye?

I'm not directing this post to anyone - just hoping it might open eyes.

**kokopup** · 09-04-2009, 05:50 PM

by happylabs

Unfortuntately, most Amish do not think of their animals as pets. They use them for farming, as a tool, and I feel they treat their horses terribly. I have a lot of Amish around me. They work their horses to death. I have seen them foaming from heat exhaustion. I have also seen them use whips on them. I guess they are exempt a lot of times from the laws and rules we are required to abide by.

It is a fact that all dogs are not pets. Down through history dogs and Horses have been used for work. With dogs there is a working class that a great number of dogs fall into. There are many farmers that would be lost without their herders. These dogs thrive on work. They are happiest when working. Maybe you are the abuser,if you have a working class dog laying around the house doing nothing. Most dogs and horses were breed to do work for men. The fact that we now call them pets, does not make those still using them for work abusers.

**columbine** · 09-04-2009, 06:03 PM

It's a slippery slope. Unless you're going to go 100% vegan and not swat mosquitoes or take drugs to kill flu germs, you're making judgments every day as to how to deal with animals.

I think the important thing is to be conscious about your choices, to gather plenty of information and think clearly about what you're deciding. Humans must kill to live, even if it's just a carrot or a cauliflower; and many of us simply don't have the resources to live 100% cruelty-free. But you can take small steps when you find something that you can stick with, or even just indulge when you're feeling flush - avoiding buying from a specific Amish community that's known to run a puppy mill, buying free-range eggs, cutting down on meat - rather than bogging down in absolutes. Mahatma Gandhi said, "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."

Love, Columbine (who will be bringing steaks to two cookouts this weekend, but considers them a "special treat")

**Asiel** · 09-04-2009, 06:40 PM

I don't support them because we have only one community of them here and I've watched how they treat their horses and dogs. If we had the genuine farms where you could buy real canned goods and leather wear I would buy from them. But the puppy mills here and the way those animals are treated just fon't make me want to go near the place. Their kids aren't treated that well either, probably my main reason for not supporting them.

I didn't realize they didn't make the heater but only the cabinet, does anyone know how well they work?

**cassiesmom** · 09-04-2009, 08:36 PM

I voted "other" and here is why.

My family had a kitchen and bathroom remodeling business until the beginning of '09. One of the cabinet lines we were a dealer for was Dutch Made, which is produced in eastern Indiana. Some of the craftsmen are Mennonite and Amish. When I was in high school, we toured the plant. I have to say those cabinet makers truly are craftsmen - it was amazing to watch them work. Ironically, when the business closed, the building was sold to a young man who is a descendant of an Amish family, although he is not Amish.

I know there have been sad stories of young people who left Amish families, as well as how their animals are treated. I don't know enough about either of those issues to comment. And I suppose that by eating in a café that employed Mennonite women, I supported a household that might be engaging in these behaviors. But the same could be said of eating in any café. I enjoy going to central Illinois and (especially) lovely Indiana Amish country because I find it very peaceful - my life can move just a little more slowly while I'm there.

**Pam** · 09-04-2009, 08:45 PM

I have gone to Lancaster, PA many time and have bought many Amish made things and will continue to do so. You can't throw out the baby with the bath water. Unless someone is selling dogs right along with their quilts

I would not have a problem patronizing them. The people I have an additional problem with are the pet shops of America who buy from them. If they didn't, the Amish supply would dry up.

**chocolatepuppy** · 09-05-2009, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by pomtzu

And in the Far East, people eat dogs and cats.

How much do you think is in your home right now that was "Made in China", and you bought it without so much as the blink of an eye?

I'm not directing this post to anyone - just hoping it might open eyes.

Good point.

Originally Posted by Pam

The people I have an additional problem with are the pet shops of America who buy from them. If they didn't, the Amish supply would dry up.

Very good point Pam.

I'm not crazy about the Amish, living near enough them to see what goes on. I don't agree all are bad though as with any group of people. They don't see their animals as pets like we do, but they aren't alone in that. I have bought a few items that were Amish made and would again although I don't go out of my way to.

**BitsyNaceyDog** · 09-05-2009, 11:55 AM

I don't personally buy any of their things, I have however gotten some gifts that were Amish made. I don't like supporting them for 2 reasons, the first being because of how they treat animals. (Though I realize they don't ALL disrespect animals a lot do.) The second reason is because I don't see it as just a faith or lifestyle, but rather as a cult. I just don't feel right about supporting them.