Puppy Mills & Pet Stores


                           The Puppy in the Window
                           The puppies in petstore windows may look healthy 
                           and happy, but their past is not usually so peaceful. 
                           Their parents may have been overbreed to the point of 
                           serious illness, which were probably left untreated. 
                           The young may be the sole survivors of a much larger 
                           litter, the only ones strong enough to withstand the 
                           disease caused and spread by filth, malnutrition, 
                           and inadequate shelter. The puppies in the window need your 
                           help and the best thing you can do is say hello and wave 
                           goodbye. Do not purchase puppies or kittens from pet 
                           stores, no matter how vehemently the staff may argue 
                           that they are the product of reputable breeding 
                           program(s). What good breeder would sell their pets 
                           at petstores; never knowing who their dogs are going 
                           to, and putting to shame the breeding they worked 
                           hard to perfect? In reality, the animals behind the 
                           glass in most pet stores, share a sad past. By not 
                           supporting their sale, you can put a stop to this; 
                           If no one buys them, the stores will stop selling
                           them. And puppy mills will become a thing of the past.

                                Born To Be Wild
                           Exotic pets are, sadly, still sold in pet stores 
                           today. The staff is usually poorly trained in their 
                           care and handling, and deaths are common, even before 
                           they are sold. These animals, including iguanas,
                           frogs, snakes, parrots, and other naturally wild 
                           creatures, rarely survive to end of their bragged-
                           about long lifespans. Although many of them should 
                           live for fifty years or more, the stress of captivity, 
                           poor nutrition (due to a lack of knowledge, even by most
                           veterinarians), or the owners' decision that they are 
                           "too much work", almost always kills them far earlier. 
                           They are meant to be wild and because they have not 
                           adapted to a pet lifestyle well, should be left that way.
                           If you absolutely must have one, make absolutely sure
                           you know everything there is to know about them:
                           talk to breeders and long-time enthusiasts, join clubs,
                           and discuss it with a veterinarian and/or zoologist.
                           Expertise is key and it tends to be lacking in pet stores
                           where these animals are most easily purchased.


                                The Joys of Adoption: We're having a Puppy!
                           Animals adopted at shelters and Humane Societies are
                           ready and willing to be forever grateful to you! When
                           you adopt and spay/neuter an animal, you are saving not
                           only that pet's life, but also the lives of the babies
                           it could otherwise have had. Rescued pets all come with
                           their own personalities, just as registered dogs do;
                           and if you want a purebred, there are MANY rescue groups
                           which cater to specific breeds.  Most shelters also
                           have various other species available from time-to-time 
                           (depending on your area): dogs, cats, rabbits,
                           birds, rodents, and reptiles. If you need help locating
                           a humane society or shelter in your area, please email
                           me at LJF_Springstein@hotmail.com.
                       
                           ...More coming SOON!