For 6 years, a small ( think 6 people ) , group of fanatics have done their very best to run a business out of town. The " crime" in their limited world, view is selling puppies. The real turf battle for the " market share" is between non-profits, which really aren't, and commercial sales.
Same product, same market.
Less that 5% of the dogs sold in the United States come from pet stores. The only companion animal sales that are regulated are, ...drum roll please, pet stores. So, why the push to get rid of the only regulated outlet? Again, our old nemesis, market share.
When shelters decided to jump on the No Kill gravy train for Maddies Fund grants, they quickly found themselves in an over saturated market. When dogs are not triaged for health and behavior, the market becomes laden with non-adoptable former pets. The vicious cycle begins.
These dogs are transported all over the country in hopes of finding the region that is not yet overloaded with bite dogs.
These transported dogs often end up in strange new shelters due to poor adoption standards, and impulse " freebies"... I mean, come on it's FREE. The new owner has many times just bought, from the shelter, a dog brought in to be put to sleep. Failing that, the dog was surrendered due to a very expensive needed medical treatment. This is unfair to the shelter customer, and cruel to these dogs caught up in the nuttiness.
Not every pet store is the same, just as every shelter is not the same.. Washoe County used to have a very nice shelter, today it's a dump..... It has lost it's mission focus and become a lobbying body. It is going for a power grab and is run by animal rightist who really don't give a damn about animal welfare. In the meantime we have two very clean well run pet stores. They are clean, inspected, and under constant siege from loons.
The puppies are commercially bred, there is an inspection process every inch of the way, from kennel to store.........
The Animal Welfare Act was written to protect these little guys during transport, there is no protection for, or from, these transported shelter dogs. Maybe we can start the same scrutiny for the rescues.. Lets see how they can measure up for health certificates and AWA regulations.
I am weary of animal abuse in the name of Animal Rights... If you think you are special because you rescue, go climb on another cross, because this is about to become a very public affair. Ever think about that, an expose of rescues.. In the name of open disclosure I have one girl from a pet store, and two from local breeders. Until Longley Lane cleans up its act, no support from me.
