Are Pet Sales Doomed?

A city in British Columbia is contemplating the outright ban of all pet sales in order to help curb impulse buying and homeless pet populations. Los Angeles has already enacted the same regulations. Locally, we have seen practically each city in Northwest Arkansas ban street side pet sales within city limits without a license. These folks typically blow in to sell $250 - $400 dogs from who knows where, and you will likely never see them again. I believe this applies to "free puppies" as well, but wold love someone who knows to comment.

Because the economy has provided scores of homeless animals in recent years, shelters are overrun, donated food supplies are dwindling and foster homes are at capacity. Puppy mills seem to be the biggest culprit in all of this, yet despite the hugely negative attitude towards these inhumane organizations, there doesn't appear to be a short supply of puppies for sale. Companies like Petco have switched from for-sale puppies to rescue adoptions - which is great, but it seems at least around here there is still a viable market for people looking to purchase puppies. Petco only adopts cats regularly. "Puppy" and "Puppies" combine to make up half of all of the local Google pet related searches - including dog food, pet supplies, and yes, sadly, even dog bakeries.

I don't want this to come off as I am opposed to breeders. I think responsible breeding is great. It's the only player in this mix that will "take back your puppy if you don't take care of it" - it is often in the contract you sign. Not signing a contract is often a tell tale sign you are not dealing with a reputable breeder.

I think a lot of people just still don't know about puppy mills and that their dollars for these puppies perpetuates these places - and the only way to stop is to vote with your dollars. But, there still appears to be a market for puppies that isn't going away. Who can blame them? Puppies are cute - irresistible even. So why don't more people visit the Humane Society or the city shelter then? Why spend $400 on a puppy mill dog that will most certainly have mental or health problems when a shelter dog for $60 will be your best friend forever?

Most of the feedback I get about people's avoidance of shelters and humane societies is that they feel depressed when they go. It looks like jail, and with so many dogs "on the chopping block" they feel sorry for them, but can't help them all. Someone even called the local Humane Society here a "War Zone". Yes, there are plans to erect a new building - they are about half way there with the funds, but the shelter is 100% donation driven and these have been hard times for donations and existing resources are needed for the increased number of homeless pets.  Aggressive spaying and neutering would be the best cure for homeless animals - but there's no government funding and the non-profits who are currently driving these efforts are not much of a cure on their own.  It seems people are just not going to spay and neuter or stop shopping at puppy mill supplied businesses.

I think the answer is for city shelters and humane societies to meet the market demand. Fix up the locations so that they have some customer appeal. Don't make it look like a jail - make it look like a Petco or puppy shop. Make it cute, inviting. I saw an ad for a store that sold puppies that put puppies in baby beds and arranged the room like a nursery. How cute is that? These shelters need a facelift - and to help fund that they will need to charge more for the animals. How about $200? Thats about half price - still a good deal, but should allow them to pay for some curtains and some cute fixtures. If that's what people want, I say give it to them. At least more homeless animals will get a home and when the puppy mill puppies arrive because nobody bought them, they won't be going from the stockade to jail. Make the shelter a shopping destination. Make people leave feeling great - like they just left a puppy store - but didn't contribute to a puppy mill. Guilt free! I am sure there is a win-win in there somewhere for everyone.