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Originally Posted by manolos mom  Nancy,what if AKC decided not to endorse Petstore of any kind and BYB without proper strict information. Would this help in the elimination of Puppy Mills and BYB? |
I don't think AKC endorses pet stores, but they make no rules on where pets can be sold. I don't think we will ever eliminate commercial breeders, I think our goal here should be to raise kennel conditions, that very doable, if enough people get involved in state legislation. I doubt if we will ever get rid of backyard breeders, too many people are looking for inexpensive pets, and byb's, can usually beat reputable breeder prices, because reputable breeders put so much more money into their dogs. Considering the costs, of the original breeding stock and the health care testing, and other things that a byb doesn't have, a reputable breeder isn't making much on their dogs, but few can afford to loose money on each dog they produce. I look at the AKC as a library of sorts, where reputable breeders, can study the linage of certain dogs, and better choose a dog that will bring a valuable asset to breeding program.
I support the mother club of the AKC, the YTCA, and they have more rules, such as you describe, about not selling to Pet Stores, but even if you are choosing a YTCA member, you still have to do your homework, and not just rely on some label. Choosing a breeder is no easy task, but considering you will have the pet for 15 years, it's worth it to take some time to find a really good breeder.