Puppy Mills and Pet Stores | Rescue Me: Tails of Pet Rescue
May 21st, 2010 6 Responses to “Puppy Mills and Pet Stores”
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Kerri,
Great post! The images from shelters should sicken anyone who has a love for animals.However, we should not lump all breeders together. As you mention, there is a vast difference between quality and “backyard” breeders. The elements you cite — not advertising in newspapers, only breeding dogs relatively rarely, running genetic tests — are a good way for prospective owners to determine whether they are dealing with a reputable breeder. If your breeder has lots of litters, advertises in newspapers, and tells you other litters are on the way, they may not be the best to work with.
Another important test: how much time does the breeder spend with you? Any reputable breeder will ask a lot of questions and thoroughly look into your worthiness as an owner. It may take weeks to actually get a dog from a reputable breeder! If the breeder is ready to sell you a dog the first time you meet, that’s a bad sign.
Responsibility for improving dogs works both ways: breeders and owners have a part to play!
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Excellent points, Matthew. Thank you for weighing in. Reputable breeders will also have a clause in their contract requiring the dog be brought back if it doesn’t work out (as with happened with President Obama’s dog Bo before he became “First Dog,”)and will usually have the dog already spayed/neutered or have this requirement as part of the contract.
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Kerri,
Great post. I hope that eventually people will stop supporting puppy mills with their $ and that it will cease to be a profitable way to do “business.” We can dream, can’t we? -
That’s a really good dream, Allie!
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The screening is entirely something that must be emphasized. There are far too many people who jump into purchasing a dog, any dog that they’re just not prepared for. This, unfortunately, has happened at shelters as well in more urgent situations. Did you hear about the SPCA in Ontario, not too far from me that started killing off dogs who had ringworm? Almost 100 were adopted out in response to the controversy (thank goodness) and because of the desperation of the situation, standards were lowered to allow anyone who sud they’d care for the animal to take one home. I can’t help but wonder how many people will realize they’ve taken on more than they thought they would (even with medical costs) simply by trying to do the right thing and save the animal from being put down? It’s hard to fault that, but at the same time…bet many of them will end up right back in the same situation all over again. If people were forced to think through their animal adoption decisions with the influence of shelters/breeders, there would be a lot less without homes!
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That is sad, Beth. But the problem begins with a market that is so oversaturated with animals. That is the root of the problem and one that has to be corrected first.
