Interesting Email
 

Several days ago I had a email forwarded to me from another show breeder. Apparently this email has been sent around to several other show breeders that are sharing it. Here is the email:
I left off the show breeders name but she is from California. Have any of you heard of PETA going to breeders homes and causing trouble. I guess if I lived in California or a populated area it could be more of a problem.

I think it's absolutely fine to interview and get to know someone outside of the home before allowing them to come to your home. But at some point, you either trust the person or you don't. If you don't trust a person enough to come to your home, why would you sell them a puppy?

Well Peta's headquarters is located here....I'm not a breeder but there are plenty here...I haven't heard of this concern. Although...anything is possible.

Good Point! Elaine

it isn't always that you are selling a puppy. You might have read my story somewhere else. here in my county last week two people were arrested for stealing a bredders yorkies from the yard when she let them out to potty and went back inside for a minute. They stole two big girls and her tiny stud. They must have heard her coming backout and dropped the male in the fencerow. The two girls were taken to a home and crammed in dresser drawers to hid them. My breeder friend got a tip on it and had the police meet her at the home. Not only did they have her yorkies but when the police opened the door, my friends shepard came bounding out. he had been missing since December. There was a front page story in my paper last week. When I saw who they had arrested, I was shocked. It was a lady that had been here looking at my puppies but didn't really seem interested in buying. I was friendly when she called for an appointment to come out. I have never had a problem with people coming here and seeing how well kept my dogs are and how clean and etc they are. When she left she said, I will call you in a few days and I let her know that will be okay because my hubby and I are retired and one of us is here all the time. I also mentioned to her that I do have half an acre fenced back yard where they go play BUT I am always out there with them and they are never out of my site. needless to say, I never heard from her again. I am rethinking letting anyone come heree unless they have purchased from seeing my dogs online and I have established a relationship with them and they are coming to pick the puppy up. I hear people on here always saying, there is something wrong if the breeder doesn't want you to come to the home. That's not always the case. i have thousands of dollars in my little guys and dang if I am going to let someone steal them. But, to the OP, the only trouble we have out of Peta here is when the circus comes to town and they picket.

A "new movement" called "Animal Rights"....hmmm....really? Reading between the lines here, at the scare tactics - this reads like a rather radical tactic at keeping folks away from viewing one's breeding program.

I can totally see Dee's concerns, which are vastly different and have to do with safety concerns and with folks who may be planning to steal her babies.

But the letter above? No. But I'm sure certain breeders in Texas who sell their yorkies for 10K will LOVE it.

Sometimes I think its a great idea. We have alot of theft here and you never know about people these days. I try to get to know potential puppy buyers in advance but I wonder if they are only telling you what you want to hear. I have actually shown puppies in my front yard. I just dont like inviting strangers into the house anymore. Even with the securiity system, you just never know. At least I dont have alot of puppies constantly to place. About 3 years ago, a show/breeder of Bulldogs showed her pups to some people. They waited in the ally behind her house until she left. They took all but one puppy. She eventually got them back, but can you imagine the heart ache. Another Bulldog breeder was showing her pups in the living room of her home. She forgot some paper work and when she went to get it, the people took off with her pups. I dont think she ever got them back.
Is becoming a sad world. sigh

Sorry, I forgot to add: I dont think that the dog breeders here have been bothered by Peta "under-cover" agents as of yet.

I believe I read about attacks peta pulled on breeders a long time ago here. I don't have anyone out to my home. I always tell my young children do not open the door for strangers and I'm not going to either. Not worth the risk to me. Though, I'm sure anyone can get an address. But I'm not helping them.

I did do a search on the breeders name so I know she breeds and shows pekingese and yorkies. I don't know her, I just received the email from another show breeder, who got it from another show breeder. She might of just heard some false second hand information from someone else about PETA or maybe in California there are some groups harassing breeders. I was just curious if anyone had heard anything about it. I know nothing of breeders in Texas selling Yorkies for 10k but I am sure if one looks hard enough they can be found in several states. My personal feelings is that if someone does not feel comfortable about having strangers to their house then that is their business and between them and the buyers. I would not think she would have to make up some wild story.

As a buyer...if a breeder refused to allow me to their home....that would cause ME to be suspiscous. I don't want to search the entire place..

I totally agree with you here. :) No reason to make yourself uncomfortable in your own home.

But, when I read things like "Disciples of terrorist groups" - my propaganda radar goes off - and I start to read between the lines to see what else might be going on here.

The 10K breeder in TX, btw, is one whom is a very well known online puppy-mill breeder - PM me if ya like and I'll fill you in. :)

This is how I feel. I wouldn't buy from a breeder that wouldn't allow me in their home to see their dogs and puppies. It would make me feel like they were hiding something.

Believe me, I understand where breeders are coming from. No way would I call a breeder and just expect them to invite me into their house. As a buyer, I don't expect to meet a breeder and take home a puppy the same day. What I expect is to develop a relationship with a breeder first and THEN buy a puppy. Talk to potential buyers on the phone and through e-mail...meet them at a coffee shop for an interview or whatever. Get to know the potential buyer before you sell them a puppy. I figure most responsible breeders that care about their puppies want to know their buyer pretty well before they send one of their puppies home with them anyway.

But seriously...if you don't trust someone enough to allow them into your home, why would you trust them enough to sell them one of your puppies? When you sell someone a puppy, you aren't just selling them an item...it's a life..and you need to be able to trust the person you are selling to. If a breeder doesn't trust me enough to let me into their home but will sell me one of their puppies, that's a big red flag to me and honestly makes me think they don't care much about where their puppies go. When a breeder has gotten to know a potential buyer and feels like they can trust them with one of their puppies, they should trust them enough by then to allow them to come to their home.

They have been to my home twice. They bring their whole family, the kids play with the puppies, they stay at my house for hours, then to leave and give me their business card stating they work for PETA. I don't know why they do it or u/s it???? WEIRD!!

That is weird. I guess you passed their test.

How long have you lived in Virginia Beach? I graduated from high school in 1967 from Floyd E. Kellam High School in Virginia Beach, VA. I was a navy brat and my parents moved there during my senior year.