I know how you feel; I think part of the problem is that people don't know how to go about choosing a breeder anyway. They don't know where to look; I think stores give them some sort of confidence that they are getting a "purebred." When I decided on a Yorkie, I didn't know where to look, newspaper ads didn't sound very promising, it wasn't until I found Yorkietalk, and suggestions that I check out YTCA breeders in my area, that I'd even heard of the YTCA. I always thought show breeder's dogs were only for people who were planning to breed and show, I didn't realize that they sold pets at very affordable prices. When Joey was close to a year old, I was shopping with him and a girl told me she just bought a "teacup yorkie" at a local pet store, for $2800.00, I was just floored, but didn't tell her she could have found a dog from a reputable breeder for much less. Also, her teacup was only 12 weeks old, and already three pounds, so it wasn't going to be a tiny dog either.
Some people think that it's safe to buy from a Website, like that is much safer than a pet store, and some people think the reason people don't like dogs being sold in pet stores is that they are in a cages all day and exposed to too many people. I actually believe we will always have commercial breeders, and that's why it's so important to pass laws that help raise kennel conditions. |