No Puppy Mills? Really?

One thing that really irks me: pets stores with their big advertisements and claims about not having dogs from puppy mills. Yet it's funny how they always have puppies (and kittens) for sale and all different breeds all the time. Honestly now, where do you think they get these animals from? Were they roaming the streets homeless? Are they over flow from local shelters? Are they strays people brought in by the kindness of their own hearts? NOT EVEN CLOSE! They are from breeders that are exploiting them trying to make a profit and perpetuating the homeless pet population. Backyard breeders are puppy mills, just on a smaller scale. They are doing the same thing for the same reason. Money. Do not support pet stores and don't ever think that these dogs and cats are being "saved" by you buying them. If you buy these pets you are contributing to the problem by creating a demand for their supply, and the pet stores are creating the venue to do it. These places are the reason why millions of dogs and cats get euthanized every year simply for being homeless. Los Angeles now has a law making it illegal to sell cats or dogs within city limits. This is where everyone should be headed. Take away the venue; make it harder for people to exploit animals.

To all the breeders out there who claim they aren't part of this problem. For every animal you create and bring into this world, say one litter of 8 puppies, that's 8 dogs that don't make it out of a shelter alive because of you. Why create more animals when we can't find homes for the ones that already exist? Could it be greed? If you truly are breeding to "sustain a certain breed" you would do it for free out of the love of the breed right? You wouldn't charge hundreds, even thousands of dollars right? Anyone who truly loves animals and cares about their welfare would not be breeding them.

I have written numerous letters to the local pet stores in Lynchburg and have never received one response. They know what they are doing and will do anything to justify it. If we all keep up the pressure maybe one day it will stop.