Another parish family is thinking of BUYING A PUPPY

[Critters2]

from a pet store!!! Why do people do this?!! They want a beagle--as if there are no beagles in shelters!! I've tried to talk to 'em, but "we want to know we're really getting a beagle, where it came from, that sort of thing." AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! I'll tell you where it came from! It came from the worst kind of hell this side of a concentration camp! That's where it came from!! And how could you be more sure of a puppy mill pup's lineage than that of a shelter or breed rescue dog?! I even showed her the local beagles on Petfinder (and damn near got another one myself--but I got control in time).

No, they're still planning of getting one from the pet shop. As soon as their fence is done. So, there's still time.

But what are people thinking?!!

:rant:

[Mutley]

1. Some people won't be convinced.

They don't quite understand, or they don't care, how horrible puppy mills are.

And since all animal rights activists have been painted as extremists because of certain extremist organizations, it will be very difficult for a very long time to get people to understand.

[Blue-Jay]

2. If the pet store doesn't sell the puppies, they eat them!

[Critters2]

25. I'll share that. It might help! nt

[Puzzle]

3. Animals are not products to compare specs on.

They would do better to find one they can get to know before he goes to live with them.

And everyone thinks their needs are special and even though most people should adopt, THEY need to buy. This won't change. Good luck changing these people's minds...

[SallyMander]

16. Welcome to DU Puzzle!

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. What really blows my mind is that responsible breeders usually

sell pups for much less than what an "impulse" buy at the pet shop would bring...

We had to wait for Jessie, because our breeder breeds for show, and love of the breed, which means a litter every 3 years or so, but she was worth it. She was $600, raised to 12 weeks in a house with kids and cats, and a complete joy. She's also about 50% cheaper than what the local pet store would sell one for.

[Critters2]

5. I didn't even know that. So, it makes that much less sense! nt

[Mutley]

13. Yeah, perhaps you'll have an easier time convincing them

to buy from a breeder. They're more likely to know "where the dog came from" AND it's cheaper AND they wouldn't be supporting puppy mills. Not quite rescuing a dog from a shelter, but better than a pet store.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. And they likely have no intent on breeding it, so the "lineage" is moot anyway. Asses.

[Critters2]

26. Exactly.

:wtf:

[malta blue]

7. it is unfortunate that people are so stubborn about it.

My MIL insisted on buying a CAT from a breeder :wow:

She spent $600 on a cat. Un - freaking - real.

All because she HAD to have a Maine coon. :eyes:

[Critters2]

9. I'm sorry, but the idea of buying a cat from a breeder makes me LOL!!

If I wanted another cat, I'd just pop a can of cat food in a Hav-a-Hart, put it in my backyard, and wait a couple of hours. I'd probably get to choose between two or three.

I concur with your diagnosis--Un - freaking - real.

[malta blue]

21. So true.

There are so many kittehs in shelters - we adopted our evil Caesar for $80 and he was neutered and UTD on shots. They forgot to tell us that he likes to pee OUTSIDE the box :banghead:

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. ...and here my dad got a Maine Coon, for free, on freecycle...

well, there were the vet bills, but that happens anyway.

She's beautiful in all her unwantedness:

[LeftyMom]

8. Do they realize a pet store dog will be a sick, probably inbred puppy mill survivor?

I hate to say it, but they sound like the sort of people who might listen to her, so maybe you could get them a tape of the Oprah puppy mill episode>

[Critters2]

10. I've been telling 'em, but yeah, maybe they'd listen to Oprah.

Good idea. I'll google around for a tape. Thanks! :hi:

[flvegan]

15. Here's the YouTube

This is part one. The rest is on there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km1_h7eGiKU&feature=related

[Critters2]

17. Thanks!! I'll show this to 'em! nt

[SallyMander]

14. Good suggestion LM

Hopefully that might sway them.

As a random aside, Iza and i found our little pup Simon on Petfinder. He is supposedly a schnauzer/dachshund mix. So we pull him out of a rural shelter to the tune of 70 bucks or so, and he is *the best*. Later we almost died laughing because apparently this mix is one of those "designer dog" breeds (a.k.a. mutts) and people are spending upwards of $1000 for "schnoxies." Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!!! :rofl:

[LeftyMom]

20. Yeah, the cutesy names for designer mutts kill me.

My grandmother had several little white poodle mixes, all almost free from the pound. I think if somebody had told her that they were some kind of designer dogs and worth as much money as a used car, she'd have laughed herself sick, but dogs just like 'em are apparently worth money with a silly name attached.

[Initech]

12. Bad idea. Bad bad bad bad bad bad idea.

Trust me, I know from experience that having a pet store pet is a bad idea.

[pitohui]

18. they told you what they are thinking -- they think they're paying more to get more

um, let's see, a pet shop charges $700 for a puppy and a shelter charges $40 (local prices, it sounds like reading the thread that your prices are even higher)

you do understand that a great many people believe that an expensive item MUST be better than the cheap item, or the sellers wouldn't be able to get away with the outrageous over charge -- these people believe in a fantasy about the invisible hand of the market (could they be republicans or libertarians by any chance) and it's hopeless to point out reality to them because they just can't see it

did ben franklin say something about folks who know the price of everything and the value of nothing? well, that's your neighbors, and that's what they're thinking -- BIG PRICE means better puppy, and since buying a puppy is a 15 year (or more) decision, then they're actually trying to do the right thing by their family, they're just screwing it up because of a mystical belief that more expensive is always better

i have no idea of how to solve this problem, if you figure it out, please let me know

[littlebit]

19. People like this piss me off.

There are so many beagles in shelters why can't they get one of them? My little beagle came from a shelter. She is one of the sweetest best friends a person could have.

[Critters2]

23. My current beagle is a breed rescue. My first one was a shelter dog.

And they've both been wonderful companions! You're right. There are so many beagles in shelters looking for homes. It doesn't make sense to be breeding more, let alone buying them from pet stores (and, thereby puppy mills).

[China_cat]

22. Don't even bother with petfinder if they're that closed-minded.

Have them google beagle breed rescue. Organizations that have rescued, repaired and vetted dogs who otherwise wouldn't get a chance. They'll be sure it's a beagle and be told where it comes from (most likely rescued from the same puppy mill the pet store got theirs from). Try to stress to them that 'AKC registered' ONLY means that both parents were of the same breed. It doesn't say anything about the health of the animal or genetic defects or anything else. (I get so sick of people who exclaim "but it's AKC REGISTERED, it has to be a good dog".

Maybe you can delay them while you work on them. Remind them that beagles are diggers and to be safe, they need about a 3 ft. concrete footing -below- whatever fence they put up. If they don't do that, they'll have a dog running free every chance he gets.

[Critters2]

24. Good points, all!

I know all of this is true, because the beagle is from a breed rescue (BREW--Beagle Rescue Education and Welfare Midwest); and because I refill the beagle hole about once a week! I'll share all of this with 'em. And show 'em the hole!

[pitohui]

27. omg you're right

my childhood beagle was always getting out, they do have a gift for it, don't they?

hadn't thought of that aspect of it in years