[MyPemCharlie]

This thread has become so diluted, I'm hesitant to attempt to add too much more on the original topic of trying to stop the additional opening of pet stores, thereby cutting some of the demand for puppy mill puppies and puppy brokers.

PetLand has 140 US stores and plan to open an additional 25 stores in the next 12 months. They are the larget and fastest growing chain. 18% growth in one year does indicate lots of demand for intact animals that the well-intended, but uneducated John Q wants to take home and breed.

I do not believe that spay/neuter rates have significantly increased due largely to successful consumer education, while it does play some part in the increased rates. I believe spay/neuter rates are up because of the widespread adoption of city and county animal shelters and rescue groups mandatorily spaying and neutering before adopting animals into homes. In addition, the responsible pet stores who have stopped selling intact animals and started supporting local pet adoption groups have decreased local supply of intact pets and positively contributed to consumer education.

Now for anyone with the bright idea that they should get a dog and have a litter or two, the supply is cut to two choices: puppy mills (direct or through pet stores) or back yard breeders. I would distinguish the two in respect to living conditions, human contact, home raising, socialization, sanitation, vet care.

While puppy mills may be a smaller percentage of available intact "supply" than back yard breeders, the genetics of these dogs have to be the absolute most damaging to the standard of any breed. This thread was intended to address pet store/puppy mill issues, not intended to address the many other facets to the problem.

As I think everyone has agreed, there is always going to be demand for intact pets from John Q public who thinks that home breeding is a nifty idea. The debate seems to be whether John Q is educated and behaving stupidly and irresponsibly, or if John Q is really the last holdout example of the uneducated and unaware buyer who has done no research on populations issues or responsible breeding. I believe it is the latter: a lack of education. Reading the Petland Complaint filings indicates to me that most buyers were completely unaware until after the fact that their puppy was most likely sourced through a puppy mill. If the pet store puppy didn't die an early death after thousands spent in vet bills, the owner realized that it was surely the worst choice for "breeding" stock. Hard way to educate the consumer...after the fact.

OK, y'all can go back to your "off topic" discussion now. LOL