Stopping Petstores

[rottweiler_fancier]

Someone in the other thread on petstores remarked that creating Legislation to prevent Petstores from Selling Puppies would never happen.

Since that thread was closed - I just thought I'd mention that there are new bills being passed (in California I believe) to prevent the selling of puppies in Petstores. Its happening! All they need is support with these bills.

Maybe it will cause the pet store to close (many (that sell puppies) today go into debt anyhow) - but look how well pet stores like Petsmart and Petco and a few others are doing. Replacing the Puppymill-bred Puppies they sell with Rescue Dogs up for Adoption. Sounds like a good concept to me!

I personally would never buy from a petshop - because any puppy I would "save" would just be replaced with 2 others of the same breed because it would seem to the petstore owner that this is a "top selling" breed worth lots of $$$.

The other remark is that these puppies would just go to a shelter and be put down - I'll have to ask our local petshop but I don't think they just send these puppies to shelters. If a puppy is still there (usually their in the store by 5-6 wks of age) after 10 wks, the price is reduced as one of those "red tag specials" or something like that. And that breed is rarely put up for sale in the shop again. I remember a great dane puppy in the shop who was almost 4 months old. His price was dropped hundreds of dollars and I'm only guess that he was eventually purchased. But I haven't seen any Great Danes in that shop since. Seem to be plenty of their best-selling Poodle Mixes, Pugs, Doxies (yes thats how they spell it), and Cocker Spanials.

Just a thought on the subject :)

[Carina43]

I hope that bill passes & prompts similar legislation in other states! There is a local (recently sydicated - Tom Martino) consumer advocate on the radio who often rails against pet stores selling puppies & kittens. He goes after them every chance he gets when someone calls in with a problem with Pet City, or similar places.

Personally I haven't spent a dime in any pet store that sells puppies or kittens in two decades.

[Burnsway]

In Houston we would have to do more then put petstores out of business. Almost every corner has a truck with little cages on the grass with big signs saying AKC PURE BREDS $$$$$. Its a daily occurance. we often stop and while My little girl is petting the puppies I have the person pulled to the side asking 3rd degree as if I was going to buy the puppy. In the meanwhile I have to intentions on buying that puppy but my lil girl gets the joy of petting while I get the joy of putting a little fire under thier %&$%&$. I do the same in petstore too but Im not so hard because the young teenagers working thier have no idea what goes on behind the scenes. They are just getting thier 5.25 an hour.

[rottweiler_fancier]

Yes...when I enter our petstore - I'll point out in a not so quiet voice "Oh look at those red eyes on that one" and "this one doesn't look like he'll make it thru the night" or something of that sort. People have a tendencey to "overhear" and leave empty handed. The only problem is that I can't be there every day to warn people away.


I realize in some states like Texas its not so much the petstores but the Backyard Breeders, driving around with a litter of pups in their car looking to make some quick cash. But I think its fighting the problem one step at a time - Creating more and more public awareness, Eliminating Pet Stores from Selling Puppies, and in Arizona, our local Swap Meets or Flea Markets have been supportive in stopping people from selling live animals at them. One step at a time I guess :)

[Storm]

Unfortunately some people are very uneducated and naieve when it comes to purchasing a puppy for the first time others just never get the message and continue to do so for "ever". There are few things that get my blood boiling like the statement "... we got him from the pet shop".

[lblax]

the pet stores in our area has dogs and cats on display ( puppies) but they all come from local shelters and are for adoption not sale :D :D

[RottiMomCT]

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?? :)

[Ramon]

I've definitely noticed a trend away from pet stores that sell puppies and kittens to stores that help rescue them like Petsmart and Petco. Not everyone is a fan of the superstore concept, but it's obvious these stores know that they can't stay in business by promoting puppy mills.