[Yorkiemom1]

What can "we" do to help shut down puppy mills? "We" can stop buying puppies from pet shops. "We" can stop buying puppies at garage sales. "We" can stop buying puppies at flea markets. "We" can stop buying puppies from ebay. "We" can stop buying puppies from the side of the road. "We" can stop buying puppies from the grocery store parking lot. "We" can pick up a book and do a little research on the breed. "We" can get involved with breed clubs and dog shows, where we can get to know people that are responsible, knowledgable, and accountable for their dogs. "We" as adults and consumers, can assume the responsibility to become informed and educated about exactly what a puppy mill is and where they peddle their pups. "We" can learn that being a responsible, ethical, accountable, knowledgable, "breeder" is NOT synonomous with animal abuse, puppy mill, puppy proliferator, or law breaker. "We' need to know the difference between people throwing two dogs together in order to get puppies to sell or even give away to friends and family, and dedicated people that have devoted their lives to breeding dogs that exemplify the breed standard and carry on all the marvelous lines and pedigrees that have been established as a template of what the breed should be. "We" must realize exactly why we have so many unwanted dogs, where they came from, and why they ended up in rescues or the pound. I dare say there are very, very few unwanted dogs running loose or in pounds or rescues, that came from responsible breeders that notoriously screen their buyers so thoroughly and are very cautious and concerned about where their babies go. People that have sat on a breeders waiting list for 6 months to a couple of years I can guarantee you, are people that will NOT be kicking their puppy to the curb. They will be in close contact with their breeder, who will either insist the puppy be returned to them, or the breeder will be assisting the owner find an appropriate home. "We" have to recognize the hallmarks of what makes a responsible breeder, with ethics and accountablity. "We" can not paint the word "breeder" with a filthy brush, because then "we" are among the grossly misinformed and do not realize what the crux of the problem is or how to best deal with it. You can not legislate morality....you can not regulate and strangle people that are not the problem, in the name of trying to wipe out puppy mills. Put teeth and enforce animal aboue laws that are already on the books. Make conviction of animal abuse HURT. Hit puppy mills in the pocket book....outlaw selling live animals in pet stores, flea markets, side of the road, etc.... "We" must get educated about exactly WHAT the problem is, WHY it occured, and then, how best to try to get a handle on it. "Adopt rather than shop" is like giving someone that is vomiting, a bucket to vomit in....you may be preventing a mess, but you have NOT done a thing to correct the problem that got that person vomiting.