s/o to Puppy articles post (LONG)

Me&Mr.T

Here is what I wrote to the author of the article (I included the websites someone suggested on the previous post):

You asked for suggestions and I will give you them. The next time your kids ask to go to a Pet Shop take them to a shelter. There are animals at the shelter that are in much more need for adoption than the dogs you buy at the store, which further support PA's horrible puppy mill's. Perhaps you have heard of them? That is where your darling Poochie is from, where her parents are suffering in TOO small cages, the mother being forced to be pregnant most her her life. When you adopt these "designer dogs" (aka dogs with a new name like Pek-a-tese) you are supporting these Puppy Mills. Meanwhile puppies (yes PUPPIES) in shelters are DYING because of the selfishness of these puppy mills. We adopted two puppies from one of these shelters. While you bought your puppy, now another one will die in its place, or another dog who is dying for a home (literally).

Not to mention you are in an infulential position. You wrote a news article about this. People will read this and think that it is GOOD to go to these puppy mills because YOU, the lady in the news, did so.

Just so you can become more informed about this, here are some links that I recommend you look at:

http://stoppuppymills.org/inside_a_puppy_mill.html

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/


I'm sorry that you didn't have the will power to say NO to your kids when they asked to go look at pets at a pet store or the will power to say NO when they wanted to buy a puppy. You should have said "lets go to the local shelter instead!". What a terrible example you have now set for your kids.

Not so far from Harrisburg is the York County SPCA, in Emigsville. I suggest you check them out, as well as other shelters in Harrisburg. Maybe sponser a dog to try to make amends for your decisions. It is the least you could do. Maybe you could write an article about that.

Sincerely,

A very disappointed reader

 

And this is what I heard back:

Thanks for writing.

   I have rescued four animals from the Humane Society (including two from the York County SPCA -- I've been there several times since our last pound puppy died)  and have written about their good work many times (I didn't hear anything from you when I wrote supporting shelters!!). We may again adopt from one someday.  I did look into the pet store and it seems to be OK. I asked about the puppy mills and the owner assurred me that her stock did  not come from one. Our vet gave the store a thumbs up. Sometimes, Abbie, you have to trust people.

     My children have never had a puppy and this is a treat for them. We visited five humane societies several times and never found anything. We checked Petfinder.com religiously and also some breeder sites. As you know, most rescues will not release a puppy to a family with children under 10 and others require a fenced-in yard. We do not qualify on either count. Also, there are not a lot of puppies at shelters.

   As a mom of four kids, I had to weigh my children's best interests first and foremost.. Bringing in a dog with issues (such as ones that had been rescued from a mill) could be dangerous for my family We wanted to rescue again, but this time it did not turn out. Our last dog from the shelter had a lot of issues, but we adored her anyway. My first rescued dog was a real joy!! This time we just did not find one to fit our family. More importantly than just picking up a dog from a  shelter, you have to think what is best for your family.

My

   So thanks again for your interest. We love our little no-name dog and look forward to a long life together. Actually, she had been there several months longer than usual, so in some ways, I feel we did rescue her. And I know she's rescued us from months of sadness after Rosie's death.

   Anne Reeves

 

This was my response to her:

I'm sorry but your store was wrong. Any self respecting breeder would not mix breeds and then "rename" the breed (ie Pek-a-tese). When you hear names like this it is from a puppy mill. It is further supporting the "designer" breeds out there and supporting the owners who breed these dogs. A breeder only is around to better the breed, NOT to make money, and the "breeder" who bred your dog is around to make money, pure and simple. I truely feel like you should do your research on this, rather than trusting a pet shop. What pet shop owner is going to admit that the pets they are selling comes from a puppy mill? Not one single one of them! They are in the business for the bottom line, the dollar. They are not in it to eliminate puppy mills. If they can make money off of a "designer breed", then they will sell that dog. Just because the dogs aren't treated horribly does not mean that it isn't a puppy mill. Did you know that many of the puppy mills in PA are from the Amish? It is a cash cow for them. It is sad.

And there are puppies at humane societies. A year ago we adopted two 8 week old puppies from the York County SPCA. They had also just gotten a littler af other puppies. If you truly wanted a puppy, your wants could have waited until they got more in, because unfortunately places like this are a swinging door. You can also find out if you are adopting a dog that was from a puppy mill. They will tell you the truth. Our puppies are not puppy mill dogs. Neither were the puppies that they had just gotten in. Puppies from shelters don't have issues. They are too young to remember.

 

 

NorticPrincess

I'm sorry she doesn't understand.

There are puppies in york - there is a 5-6 month old lab on the on demand pet adoption videos on comcast.  At least there was one last night.

summerbridesara

I'm glad you sent that to her.  I wanted to send her an email but I suck at writing things like that.

There are most definitely puppies at shelters.  We got Chase at 10 weeks old from Molly's Place.

That woman's an idiot.

pookielove

At least you tried!  She seems like someone who needs it explained to her like she's five.  

CutesBoots

So yeah, now I'm frustrated.  She responded to my letter.  It was bascially the same response that Abby got, except for the intro which was complimentary.