I agree. The problem is the public not knowing that ALOT of petshop dogs come from puppymills. Even the petshops with the signs that say "Our dogs don't come from puppymills." They're all lies. I just finished writting my local NBC newstation and I recommend others to do the same. The public needs to know about puppymills and more investigations need to be done. More laws need to be passed. Here is a letter that I just sent.
http://www.nbc6.net/news/6846973/detail.html
NBC 6 did a great new story on a petstore. I think that the same story needs to be covered here regarding our pet stores.
The horrors of Puppy mills and pet stores needs to be brought to light. People need to know not to buy dogs from pet stores, especially during this Valentines day. Many people buy overpriced dogs from the internet or Pet stores here in California. These dogs are treated inhumanely and the dogs are usually unhealthy and not properly socialized.
Many people go to the mall to window shop to find someone that perfect gift. Many people impulse buy a dog so they can bring it home right away. Hardly anyone asks where these dogs came from. Last month I went to a local pet store and asked that question. I went to Pet Works, a local petstore. On each cage the dog was labeled with a breed and it's place of origin. I noticed that all of them were from the midwest, most from Missouri, Iowa, etc. Lots from the same town. I asked why they ship the dogs here instead of sell from local, California breeders. I was told that it was because the breeders they buy from are out of state because the USDA has higher regulations for them. I know for a fact that isn't true. California has the most strict laws in regards to keeping animals. Puppies are bought in the midwest because they are cheaper to ship than to buy locally. It also also easier to run a puppymill in the midwest.
Most pet stores buy from brokers like hunte corp. Pet Works has a sign that says that they do not buy from puppy mills. Why are ALL the animals from the midwest then? Why can't they find just ONE local breeder? Is it possible that they only buy from Backyard breeders? Is it because the good breeders want to place the puppies themselves? Here is a website:
http://www.stopwizardofclaws.com/wst_page9.php
The midwest is the puppymill capital of the world, and Californians are the ones paying for it. Californians pay at LEAST an average of $500 more for the same dog in the midwest. So Californians are now buying in pet shops or buying from brokers and sending these puppymill dogs here. We end up paying for high vet bills because these dogs were very poorly bred. We also pay to have the dog put down when it all could have been prevented. Health certificates are required to ship a dog, but they only cover the bare minimum.
Pet shop animals have tendency to have more genetic problems and sicknesses than a dog from a reparable breeder would have. Puppy mills do not test for genetic illnesses. Many animals get sick from being overcrowded or from contagious illnesses such as kennel cough. Many are also never tested for potentially dangerous illnesses such as distemper.
Of course people should go to a shelter to look for a pet first. But if a person doesn't find what they were looking for they should turn to a good, reparable breeder, not a petstore. Please do a story on puppy mills, society needs to know about these things and where their dogs are coming from. Many people have had bad experiences with pet shops and puppymill dogs. People don't know that these animals are forced to stay in small cages their entire lives.
Thank you