[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

They don't ask. With all the info that is available, pet store buyers are not on the forums, or looking through "junk mail" flyers. They are not the people who do any homework.

Yes, they do ... and if you will look back on some advice you yourself have given on here and the responses to it ... for all the sound advice you've given, if by happenstance some of these folks decide to check out the puppies in the window and there's a fluffy little corgi sitting in there, they'll buy it. We've seen it happen on here and any number of other corgi lists. I know of one lady, knew about all the pet shop stuff and was turned down by a rescue for several reasons for adoption of a particular corgi rescue she wanted. So and I quote her, "she showed that rescue, she went right to the pet shop and bought a corgi puppy."

The believe the pet store clerk who tells them that the "quality" dog they're looking at comes from USDA licensed breeding facility.

That's not the sales pitch, the puppies come from "private breeders." I do and will make it a point to go into the shops that sell puppies when I have the opportunity. Public education can be done on subtle levels.

USDA sounds pretty good if you don't know that means under-regulated puppy mill. They don't ignore the information...they never sought it out to begin with.

Just in the past few days, look how much sought out information has been ignored or excused away as something that simply couldn't be done. People who definitely do know better go and purchase pet shop puppies in the name of "rescuing" or saving them.

At some point their veterinarian or some friend tells them the real truth about the link between pet stores and puppy mills, usually after they have a problem.

And those problems are usually no different than can and do occur regardless the source of the puppy. We'll agree most likely that a number of the problems are behavioral and created by the human end of the relationship. Perceived finicky eater, change foods a bunch of times and one is created - when in reality puppy is just testing boundaries, is teething and gums hurt so off its food.

Buying from the neighbor who at least has healthy pets and does some puppy socialization may not be the optimum option, but it's still far better than supporting the neglect and horrible conditions that are rampant in puppy mill industry.

And the neighbor's pets are "healthy" because their vet said so? I get the "neighbor" bred pets and they've been no different health wise than any of the any of the pet shop source fosters. Temperaments, well two here now - socialization wasn't a part of their puppyhood. Not going to be any difference in basic issues in the pet shop puppy and the one bought at the horse show at six weeks.

Sorry, the official PetLand website only shows one location in your state. Maybe they haven't updated their site...although they already show the store here that hasn't even opened yet.

The one in Greensboro, lost or gave up its franchise in the last year or two. IF there is only one coming to NC, then that is a drastic reduction in what was here five or ten years ago.

Fortunately, I think Corgis are not a top breed of choice for the puppy mills (and hopefully never will be).

Pembrokes are a staple in the commercial industry. Cardigans are in the system as well, just not as popular yet.

The AKC top 10 are much more likely to be milled, pet shopped and later end up in rescue.

Let's look at the top 10:
Retrievers (Labrador) 1
Yorkshire Terriers 2
German Shepherd Dogs 3
Retrievers (Golden) 4
Beagles 5
Boxers 6
Dachshunds 7
Poodles 8
ShihTzu 9
Bulldogs 10

Commercial industry tends to stay with smaller dogs and those that can free whelp. That takes the Labs, GSD's, Goldens, Boxers out of the mix.

I was referring to all breeds, and to shelter relinquishments as well as rescue organizations. Many times the shelters will euthanize due to health or temperament and the dog has no chance at a rescue placement.

And many times euthanasia is the only solution - there are health and temperament issues rescue can't fix.

The Amish puppymills sell their leftovers (more than they place themselves) to Hunte Corp who is the broker/supplier for the pet stores.

The Amish aren't really in Hunte's supply chain and many of them sell their leftovers to rescue organizations and/or auction them off. I do know some people who work closely with the Amish via rescue.

That is one rational for wanting to close off the pet store supply...to cut Hunte's demand and then cut puppy mill demand.

The pet industry is growing, but retail outlets that actually sell puppies I don't believe is growing as fast as other segments. Demand is driven by John Q. Public. Before AKC implemented its DNA profiling program, the breakdown on registrations were: 10% - the hobby breeder/dog show people; 30% - the commercial breeding industry; that leaves 60% coming from the - let's get our money back out of what we paid for this puppy, wouldn't it be nice for the children to experience the miracle of birth, or the everybody needs one -fill-in the breed - types, or the I just want to provide pets type breeders. Which do you think has contributed more to rescues and shelters? I can tell you.

[QUTOE=]Yes, thankfully the numbers have been falling for years! Now we only euthanize 5 to 6 millions dogs and cats every year (down from estimates as high as 17 million a decade ago). About 30% are dogs.[/quote]

And the percentage of purebreds in the 30% that is dogs is what? Even HSUS's own numbers had it at less than 20%. 17 to 18% were some of the last figures. Of that 30%, how many are actually adoptable?

That means we euthanize only 10 animals every minute, every day, 365 days a year. Sounds like too many animals and not enough human homes to me.

How many of those are puppies? How many of those 10 animals had homes, but the owner didn't keep it?

The problem is twofold. Owner relinquishment and too many unwanted animals. It's not one or the other.

And unwanted animals are unwanted by whom? Their former owners????

The question has still not been answered, what is a puppy mill? Define it in concrete, succinct terms so that one can be easily recognizable and identifiable. Because if the plan is to shut them down, a workable legal definition has to be made. IF it can't be done, then the target is just being put on the back of the individual(s) everyone here got their corgi from.

Debbie