Went to flea market yesterday. I am 100% YTer

[FoxxysMom]

Good morning, All

I wanted to share my experience from yesterday. When I realize growth in myself it's always an awesome moment for me and yesterday after calming down I realized how much my YT family has taught me.
My DH and I left the skin kids for a day out and I needed a puppy love fix so we went to the flea market in Mobile, AL. Let me say that it's been years since I went to ooh and aah over puppies so I wanted to. Back then I had not been educated.
We go and start walking. I start to see cages and pups. Some just with cages, some with big beautiful banners that would make you think this is a legit kennel.
The first lady I stop at has a Yorkie girl and 3 other breeds. I smile and ask the newbie questions how old, how much, how big will she get? When I asked the size of parents I got an eye roll. I was like really? Ok she snatches the pup out and pushes her into my arms. Guess what, she wanted nothing to do with me. Squirmed to get away. YT says...no socialization. I tell her oh she doesn't like me and give her back and walk on.
I find another lady with an under 1 pound girl. Sitting looking tired, not moving, eyes were.....lifeless? Fur around nose and eyes wet and stuck to face. By now I'm thinking oh man, I touched that other dog and grab sanitizer. I ask how old EVERY BREEDER SAID 12 WEEKS. I believe everyone of them was lying.
I asked her how big will she get? She snatches her up and says less than 2.5 pounds. Then tries to put her in my arms! I gave her a scowl smile and said no no, I shouldn't touch her these sellers let anyone out there hold any puppy supposedly not knowing where the other pups being touched we're from or if they were healthy.
Right across from her was a man with a girl Yorkie, same size, same story as other lady.
Guys, my husband had to grab my arm. I didn't realize I was walking down the isle ranting about the lies and terrible situations. He just said Baby, you know about this stuff, all I know is someone stole you Yorkie.
I am grateful that because of YT I now know what I'm looking at....like an underfed Yorkie that AIN'T 12 weeks (smart breeders know what to say to cover what people may learn on forums, 12 weeks x 2).
Oh the lady with the tiny one with no spunk, selling for $1,000, didn't ask about my home situation (I told her she would be too small for my family...bet she never heard that) all she wanted was money. She went on to say oh, we'll I have English Bulldogs here, Schnauzers, Chis (can't spell that), Shih tzus and um...ooh I have Maltese.
The first lady had the one Yorkie in a cage with Chis that if u look closely had pink bumps in clusters on their heads.

Rant over. Not far from me a puppymill was busted up after a lady with 74 dogs was turned in due to someone seeing her at a nearby flea market. Some were Yorkies.
So I'm still mad and wanted to share. I got that ladies card but she has no website but sells through something she called Marketplace. She has a zillion breeds.
Sorry so long. Needed to vent. I saw so much stuff guys.....soooo much stuff.

[Wylie's Mom]

Oh my gosh...this makes me so dang sad . Not that I'm surprised...but will it ever end? Prob not in our lifetime, sadly.

The way some humans view other living creatures makes me ashamed to also be a human.

People like that should be required to watch the documentary "Earthlings".

[jeane]

that makes me so mad and I fell for those poor puppies/ are people ever going to realize that these are God's creatures and deserved to be treated as such

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Those poor babies. . Where I live we see similar stuff all the time. And nothing is done about it. . They see the pups as money, not living creatures who have feelings. It is so sad.

[GeorgiesMomma]

That is so sad On a recent visit to South Carolina I started talking to a couple while our kids were playing. The husbands shirt said small animal flea market....I had never heard of such a thing but I didn't ask questions. I probably should have but I didn't want to have an argument with the guy in the middle of the moonbouce park. It's really a shame that these type of things even exist it makes me sad, angry and perplexed that people could go and buy a puppy from a flea market. I guess people just don't know or don't care not sure. I am glad that YT exists so we can all share our experiences and help educate each other. I have a lot to learn as well.

[Teresa Ford]

I think most people just don't know better. Like you and me they see a puppy that needs love and a safe home. Unlike you and me, they pay the pet store, the broker, or puppy miller. They just don't realize they are supporting the problem.

The people who breed dogs strictly for money and who could care less about the dogs well being is another story. It is very hard for me to admit that some people are just rotten with no redeeming quality at all. Selfish, Greedy, dishonest and perhaps even evil. They sure don't live by the golden rule, 'do to others as you would want them to do to you'.
We have to continue to educate the public, once they know the truth, they see the world of breeding and puppies very differently.

[FoxxysMom]

I agree, Teresa. So seeing that yesterday, knowing what I had in Choppa from Bijouxs breeder and thinking of starting a search again makes me just bleh because the things I saw yesterday.....man oh man. I looked at potential buyers at the flea market, instantly in love and the pup just lay there and looked at them. Probably not used to human touch other than to be snatched up to be shown.
I have faith something will give when it comes to bad breeders.

[gemy]

It is very hard when your eyes have been opened to ignore what you see. It literally scars your heart.

But I believe that our emotional heart grows larger with each little scar.

I truly believe that the Universe, gives us opportunities to learn and to share what we have learnt. You never know, someone or even two, when you were ranting down those aisles, heard you, and avoided an impulse buy that day!

I am so more distrustful of folks, the more I learn, the more my eyes are opened. We met, yesterday at dock diving, some folks who did invite us over to their shade/shelter, and of course got to talking. Here are two folks involved in performance sports; and yet judging by what I saw and heard, my suspicion is they are little more than backyard breeders. They are breeding. Their gal they had with them, had a whole lot wrong with her coat, color, and head. I did ask of course if they are breeding. they said yes. Now understand if you are breeding, and have high quality "stock", over the course of the conversation; you will hear about their wins in the show ring, their wins in obedience/rally, and other venues. Nothing.

They asked about Magic, in fact that is why they invited us over. They thought he was a Bouvier. I of course rhapsodized about him. They asked about temperament. I said what you see here, stable, confident, secure in and of themselves. They are the ultimate working dog. What do you do with him, they ask? Well after three championships and a Grand Championship, we have done obedience with him, he is CDX level, and of course he loves to swim, and dock dive, so we are here to do this.

[Lovetodream88]

That's why I avoid where the dogs are being sold at places like that it makes me feel terrible and come home and hold Callie so tight. I feel so bad for those dogs and imagine how the poor parents are back at the women's house probably outside all the time or in a shed in cages never getting human interaction and being breed every heat they go into. It so terrible.

[bamawife]

I am familiar with the flea market you are talking about. I actually know people who buy puppies there. I preach about not doing that to everyone I know but some just don't get it. There was a story on the local news about sick puppies coming from one of the "flea market" breeders. It was horrible. I'm so glad you know not to buy there!

[gracielove]

It is so sad to think of those poor creatures out in the the horrible heat all day. People who do this type of thing have found a way to make money off of the suffering of innocent animals. Oh, there is some work involved but you can bet they do not do their best for these animals. Those dogs live in dirty cages all their lives and the owner just rakes in the money for the puppies that poor mother dog pushes out. One of the lowest forms of money making.

[Yorkiemom1]

Flea Markets......This is the kind of thing these activist should be looking at....where is PETA and HSUS and all the banner waving activists and lobbyist, marching on legislators all over the country....crying out so loudly about inhumane treatment and selling dogs on the internet??? SURELY THIS FLEA MARKET SITUATION QUALIFIES, DOESNT IT? These people fly below the radar...no one follows them, because they "are just visible on street corners, parking lots, garage sales, and flea markets" then they pack up their poor babies and crawl back under the rock they came out from under....WHY HASNT SOMEONE LOBBIED TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO SELL ANIMALS IN FLEA MARKETS, AND OFF THE STREETS FROM TRUNKS OF CARS? You KNOW there is not a reputable breeder in the entire group.....THOSE are the people law makers and legislators and PETA, SPCA, HSUS needs to be going after! Why doesnt the SPCA decend on flea markets with a vengence, in a massive show of force, and rescue all those abused and neglected dogs, taking names and closing down THESE puppy mills??? START HERE!!!!

[gracielove]

Any legislation to regulate the breeding of dogs has been aimed at these types of breeders. It is unfortunate that the AKC takes offence to any bill written to stop these people because they are afraid it will alsor effect their breeders. That is why most of the legislation that attempts to stop puppy mills and BYB's gets stopped. There are plenty humane organizations trying to stop this type of thing.

[mscat]

That is very, very sad. Where I live we have Monday sales and swap meets each and every week. However, their are birds and baby rabbits, not puppies. I could not go to a place like that, backyard breeders, and puppymilers , especially when some of puppies looked ill and way too small. I'd had to leave if that was ever happening in my area . I did go to a place in fresno sponsered by the spca, and had dogs/puppies up for adoption, but by the time we got there, all the puppies were adopted out allready and they did not have many, most were fully grown dogs, cute, but not what I was looking for.
The worst thing I've seen in my area at those places are bootlegged DVD's .I did see someone selling St Bernard puppies right in front of the super Walmart one time, that surprised me. Some people are thoughtless, and it really is disgusting.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Any legislation to regulate the breeding of dogs has been aimed at these types of breeders. It is unfortunate that the AKC takes offence to any bill written to stop these people because they are afraid it will alsor effect their breeders. That is why most of the legislation that attempts to stop puppy mills and BYB's gets stopped. There are plenty humane organizations trying to stop this type of thing.

This is NOT ABOUT BREEDING dogs....this is the point of transfer...THIS is where they make their money! Cut off the demand, the supply goes away! They need to attack this problem from THIS end, because when they cant go to a flea market and sell a pitiful puppy, because it is illegal to sell animals in a flea market or bazaar or pet store, the breeding will stop! If they cant MOVE the babies, they will stop breeding them! Legislators are trying to kill the snake by starting at the tail....hit them in the pocket book, that is how this is stopped! This is what the legislators need to be concentrating on, not trying to shut down breeders....the only breeders they will be able to shut down, are the ones they can find, the ones that do NOT hide in the shadows, the ones that do not peddle dogs cash and carry from trunks and parking lots and bazaars....the ones that keep meticulous records, that advertise in magazines....very few BYB or puppy mills do this, because it eats away their profit margins...it is very expensive and time consuming to do this right, honestly, ethically, and respectfully. The focus needs to come off BREEDING and move to SELLING IN BAZAARS, FLEA MARKETS, GARAGE SALES, STORE PARKING LOTS, SIDE OF THE ROAD, PET STORES, ETC. Simple economics teaches, it is all supply and demand...when the demand dries up, the supply dries up likewise....