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Originally Posted by Mitzis Mom I think, if we have the funds, the patience and the heart, we should 'rescue' the puppies from the stores by buying them. It makes no sense to me NOT to buy them because they are innocent and need a good home. Also there will always be some people that buy them. The problem has to be solved from the source! We need to put pressure on the law makers, the law inforcement AND THE KENNEL CLUBS!
In Germany there is a breed called Leonberger. They are gentle giants and their breeding is very restricted. Maximum 3 litters per bitch, they are not allowed to be sold in pet stores, have to be given back to the breeder in case of rehoming and they don't give registrations to any puppy born outside this regulations.
How are the kennel clubs in USA handling the problem of puppy mills? If they would refuse to issue registrations and pedigrees to those breeders, they could not make that kind of money and it would not be commercially interesting to do that.  |
Excellent answer!
I think, if we also combine "rescuing" the puppies, with my friends suggestion of "low-balling" them on the price, (for example, insisting you will only pay half of their asking price),citing the more reasonable prices that reputable breeders charge, the pet stores would learn it's just not profitable.
My friends actually did negotiate a price on a puppy last week. Puppy was priced at $1,350. They negotiated down and bought the puppy for $500.00.
They were walking out the door, without the puppy, and the manager ran after them, and agreed to their offer. So, it can be done.
(It's pretty disheartening to think how little the store actually paid the so-called breeder for the puppy, since I am sure they still made a profit.
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