What would be so wrong with a shelter, who has a litter of pups, giving that litter to a local pet shop to help in finding good homes for the pups? What would be so terrible about a local pet shop owner regaining the few dollars spent on food and housing for the puppies while they were at the shop? Even if the shop were to actually make a few dollars in the transaction, I don't see the harm! Of course, everything would have to be made public.
The fact that the puppies came from a shelter would have to be made known. But, simply put, what would be so wrong with that picture? The puppies find a loving home with a family that was, obviously, looking for a puppy, and could afford to buy one. The shop owner could bring people into his shop where they might possibly buy other items necessary for the puppy and, therefore, increase his sales slightly. And, the shelter finds homes for puppies that would otherwise be taking up valuable space at the much overcrowded shelter. I think, sometimes, that our need to express or prove our point, can also prove to be detrimental to our cause. Sounds like a simple fix to me.
Article comments
1 - Elizabeth
Yours is hardly a novel idea:
- Position Statement on Selling Shelter Animals to Pet Shops
- Landmark legislation passed on February 1st, 2010 as the West Hollywood City Council unanimously voted to stop the retail sale of cats and dogs at pet stores. Only pet shops that “re-home” rescued or shelter animals will be allowed to stay in business.
- Puppies Aren't Products PDF
- PETCO Foundation In-Store Adoption Events
- PetSmart Charities - Adoption
- Puppy Mill Awareness Day
Please Google “pet stores and shelter” for a lot more info on this very subject.
2 - Denise Blackman
Thanks for the interest Elizabeth. I would like to clarify, however, that it was not my intention to imply that any of this was a NEW idea. I am simply stating that there are still those who disagree with the policy and feel that pet shops should not have the right to "make a profit" from the sale of these animals. To this point, I totally disagree. With shelters as overcrowded as they are, I see no harm in shop owners being able to prosper by helping those animals that need to be placed in homes. The article was written simply to bring attention back to the argument and hopefully shed some light on something that I feel is important to bring back into the spotlight on occassion and encourage people to support this legislation.
3 - LisaB
I've been in rescue for a decade and have yet to see a pet store gets their puppy inventory from anything other than a puppy mill. The large chains and the small local pet stores (including the one in my town) get their dogs from brokers who get them from the midwest mills.
This is relatively easy to fact check. Please name the pet stores that you think DON'T obtain their puppies from mills, then find out who the breeders of the pups are and then look up their USDA inspection reports. I would love to do that for Whoopie's "friends" pet stores. It would be a real eye opener for her, and much needed.
Having seen first hand the misery of these dog factory farms, and then the fall out when the spur of the moment buyer dumps the dog in rescue, I am appalled that anybody would support that misery. There are more humane ways to earn a living. The more educated the puppy buyer is on where to find a responsibly-bred puppy, the more likely the misery factory farms for dogs will no longer be needed.
4 - LisaB
And furthermore, no breeder who does genetic testing and cares about the health of the breed would EVER sell their dogs in pet stores. You can bet than any pup sold in a pet store does NOT have an health or genetic testing behind it. That would cut into their profit margins. In fact, many of the dogs I've rescued from mills have genetic defects that a responsible breeder would not have used for breeding. Buying a puppy from a responsible breeder does support the perpetuation of the breed. Buying from a pet store most certainly does not.
5 - Denise Blackman
Lisa, thanks for your input and I agree with your statements. I too have seen the miserable conditions of the mills and nothing would make me happier than to see this business eliminated. My point is that I think allowing shops to sell shelter animals would help this cause. A well-regulated system requiring the licensing and inspection of shops wanting to sell shelter animals could be a huge asset to both the shops and the shelters. Imposing harsh penalties and revoking the licenses of shops caught dealing with mill animals would inspire shop owners to stay away from dealing with the mills entirely and give them a source for animals to sell which might otherwise end up being killed at a kill shelter. A well governed program of this nature would help all involved. The dogs, the shops, the shelters all have something to gain.
6 - Elizabeth
Do you really think the word "sell" is necessary for the average consumer to consider a shelter pet? I think education on this subject is more important. Because what's really happening is adoption. Animals should never be sold as commodities (incl. from breeders). And the fee covers vetting, which is usually the basics. Rescues never make money on these adoptions. l have 4 fosters (have had another 3 adopted), and pay for all their (excellent) food and litter, l socialize them etal (giving them a home is a big one, so they’re not n a cage or dead). When Mattie's left cheek blew up on Wed., l paid for his vet appt. and meds. That's how it works (lt was more convenient to do so than go to Manhattan, to the rescue’s vet who wouldn’t have charged anything.) . Exactly how would a fair “price” for a shelter animal be reached? As it stands, major venues such as Petco and Petsmart donate space for cages and daily food, all on their dime. And provide space for adoption events on the weekend. Amazing!! (Though they still sell small animals and birds from the same kind of horrible mills, another battle). Small stores do too. l know that because one donated space starting 15 years ago for the rescue l volunteer for. My point being, stores should promote in store adoptions because it is the right and ethical thing to do. And donate space if they can so the highly adoptable animals are exposed. They will make their revenue off of their products. Maybe the fee could be divided between the store and shelter or rescue, maybe that’s already happening. l would love to be fb friends with both of you!