This is definitely an interesting discussion. I support
www.puppymillrescue.com so I understand the issues and I understand the point that needs to be made. But I love animals. ALL animals. And I can't blame the victim for being victimized in this situation. This is a breathing, living puppy that is in that cage for no fault of its own. It will suffer...not the pet store...if it's left in that cage. The pet store will get rid of the dog (I fear how) if she doesn't sell and they'll just replace her with another *cute* young puppy. So what happens to that dog? She is either euthanized or she's put into the rescue system anyway...a year later with no socialization and not having been loved for the last year.
I'm sorry, but I think you should have seen the eyes of this dog to feel what I felt...To say 'hell with the rules'...I'm looking at the well being of this puppy. I know we can't save them all. But it's in my nature to try. I can't stand by and watch these animals, who love unconditionally, be neglected or ignored and unloved. It's no different for me to see that dog than it was when I went to the pound and found a cat that was going to be euthanized just 2 days after the pound received her...simply because she had a treatable respiratory infection...requiring anti-biotics....I called EVERY rescue organization I could locate. (I couldn't take her because my 15 year old cat had just had a tumor removed from her ear the day before and I was told by the vet that she could not be exposed to any infection until she was healed.)
To me, I need to help in any way I can. I adopted Tahoe at 10 years old and he is the greatest thing in my life. I can't bear to think he may have been tossed aside and neglected if I hadn't stepped in any less than I can bear knowing that a puppy is in a petstore being neglected for 6 months. I just can't and that's all there is to it. It's not her fault. It's not her fault. 'It's not her fault' is all that I hear in my head.