At last! Awareness!
Posted by yabbitgirl on Jul 11, 2008 · Member since Apr 2006 · 14266 posts
Ok, this isn't "the answer"--but it's a start.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080711/tuk-puppy-trafficking-must-end-says-rspc-dba1618.html
Best line in the whole article: "The RSPCA advises people planning on buying a puppy to get one from either a rescue centre or a responsible breeder."
At least they said "rescue centre" first.
I still don't understand the need people have to get "pure breed" dogs. What is wrong with mutts? In my experience, mix-breed dogs are better pets, and healthier, and those dogs come from shelters. I plan to adopt a dog in a few years, and you can bet he/she is going to come from a shelter.
Here in Spain I HATE the fact that there are "pet shops" in superstores. You know, around the perimeter. So little Juan falls in love with a furball and screams until Mummy and Daddy pay like 300 Euro plus for it. It may have distemper, it is probably a mill puppy, and now--it could be an illegal import from Eastern Europe. Or, C) all of the above.
I also hate seeing African Greys in tiny round cages in these places. A lot of the smaller cage birds are sick or stressed to the max. We won't even discuss the condition of the Chinese groundsquirrels.
I mentioned to my cat's vet who is supposedly the animal control officer about seeing what I am sure are protected foreign birds in these shops and he just said, "Yeah, well, they have forged paperwork to go with them," like "What can you do?" The man is supposedly an officer of the court!! Not to mention a vet!
I will now shut up before I go into full, glorious auto-rant.