Just yesterday at an NERR adoption event a couple came up to us with their 7 month old 'pet store' cutie, and they mentioned that they wanted to BREED HER!!! I just about bit off the end of my tonuge and then asked 'WHY?"
I was told that "She's such a sweetie (but was a handful at first) that I'd like to have one of her puppies." I mentioned to them that unless you know for sure that she's a perfect example of the breed and they know for sure that she's free from hip or other possible health problems that it's best to spay her and get a dog from a rescue (their dog got along great with our available dog there and they really liked hom too....so we'll see on that one!).
But, it was a long conversation with them about why they should not breed their pet shop girl 'just to have one of her pups'. I think they figured that if she was such a sweet girl, her pups would be too, and her friends mentioned how great she is and asked if they were going to breed her
.
Needless to say we spent a good deal of time talking about rescue groups and that occasionally we do get puppies, but that some of the older dogs are great too, and sometimes easier to train and deal with than the pups. They left with our NERR newsletter, a handfull of business cards (to give to those friends that want puppies!) and an adoption application. We did explain that they must get their dog spayed before being considered for adoption (and they realy liked the dog there who is available)
SO, I'm hoping we got at least ONE pet shop dog spayed and her owners a little more educated about why they don't need to breed her 'just because she's so good and cute'.
I usually tell people that 'they got lucky' when I hear that they got their dog from a pet shop. Not everyone is so lucky with a pet shop dog, and when I hear from people that they adopted from a rescue or a shelter, :D I tell them that they have a spot in heaven already waiting for them when their time comes....and their rescued/adopted pet is just a slice of that heavenly pie here on earth.
My 10 & 12 year old nieces won't go into a pet store that sells dogs or cats, and they absolutely adore my dog (he helps them take the pillow cases and sheets off the beds when they visit!). They tell him that he is very lucky to live with me (which makes me smile) and he prefers to sleep in the room with them when they visit instead of his usual post (in between hubby & me on the bed!).
SO, if we can get pet stores to stop selling dogs (and cats too!) and reinforce that adopting from rescues and shelters is the way to go (lord knows I'll talk all day about my rescued rotties!)....I'm all for it!
The day I don't have to attend an adoption day, or foster another dog needing a home, because there are no more dogs needing to be rescued, I'll be one happy lady!! I know that day isn't coming any time soon, but we can all hope and dream, can't we?? :)