[QUOTE=Nancy1999;4320363]First of all a commercial breeder isn't necessarily a puppy mill. A puppy mill is where conditions don't even meet state laws. Outlawing dogs to be sold at pet stores would do nothing to help with the problem, right now 80% of dogs are not covered with any type of regulations because they are sold directly over the internet. At least dogs sold at pet stores have had to have some type of regulations and a minimum standard of living. State law dictates the age of pups to be sold, while I don't agree with it either many here would ague it's fine.
I agree with you on flea markets, but I'm sure many would fight that too because "this is America and people should be allowed to do want they want."
I try and educate the public at how to select a responsible breeder, but visiting the home is something I believe in. If you don't think someone is responsible/safe enough to come to your home, why sell them an innocent puppy?
You seem to think we need more teeth in the laws, but do you understand that there are no laws that cover breeders who sell directly to public?[/QUOTE
Gosh...somebody needs to tell this to all the irresponsible breeders in States like Florida that have strict Lemon Laws that are designed specifically to help scammed people get compensated by breeders that have sold them sick or dying dogs, or just took their money and never sent them a puppy. ANY breeder that has had to deal with a States Lemon Laws governing the sale of puppies, is very well aware there ARE laws designed to protect buyers.
There are numerous, countless people, organizations, breed clubs, etc that focus on educating people what is essential to making certain they buy from a responsible breeder, to get a healthy puppy. Fortunately, visiting a breeders home is not a guarantee that the babies there are healthy...and fortunately, there are many, many people that have purchased healthy puppies from breeders on their website....there are definately people out there that do not like that, but that is THEIR own hang up...it does not mean those puppies are not healthy. There are hundreds of puppies sold from a breeders home that are sick and die within a month of going home to the new owner....so it is really a moot point. I purchased 3 breeding females from overseas...two out of Bel;gium, and one from Brazile....saw them only from pics and references on the breeder....these dogsa were beautiful and I would have never been able to fly to the owners home overseas to "see where they live"....
As far as people that would fight about laws against selling puppies at flea markets...too bad, so sad! Do NOT punishe me, regulate me, and allow these people to peddle live animals at flea markets! I also am free and American and should be allowed to do what I want....UNTIL I SCAM SOMEONE ELSE....then it becomes a matter for the law and the regulators to deal with....dont make it impossible financially or logistically for ME to breed my 4 mommas, while you let crooks thrive, selling and scamming people in flea markets and off the roadside, or out of parking lots, etc.....
Last but certainly not least, it is good to know now it would appear that buying puppies from pet stores are not such a bad idea.....perhaps even better than buying from a breeder....Do you even KNOW anyone that breeds and sells to pet stores????? I DO!! If you honestly believe that puppies sold at pet stores do not necessarily come from puppy mills, and that they are "at least regulated and have had a minimum standard of living"......OMG!! I know people that breed and sell to pet stores....some are just BYBs that at least keep their dogs inside and feed them once a day. But unfortunately, as we snatch percentages out of the air, fully 75% of the pouppies sold to pet stores come from puppy mills, NOT comercial breeders, and they have NO regulations and they have NO standard of care..... We get on here and talk until we are purple in the face about NOT supporting pet stores that sell puppies/kittens....and for anyone to come here and now imply that most of these dogs have at least a minimum standard of living/care and that they have some type of regulation" is so WRONG! And it certainly does not mean a pet store puppy is a safer risk than a puppy sold over the internet......THAT reasoning sends a dangerous misconception to people that are now going to think pet stores should be their source for their next puppy. |