The plethora of laws banning or limiting sales of dogs from pet stores to families seeking a dog for long term companionship, purportedly passed to shutter puppy mills, have done nothing to improve the lives of dogs bred and sold by substandard dog breeders, because they were never the source of pet store puppies to begin with. What the pet stores have created, under the false banner that pet stores sell puppies from puppy mills, is the increased marketplace for dog breeders who either negligently or intentionally breed them for the retail rescue marketplace.
The retail rescue marketplace, in stark contrast to purposely-bred dogs by heavily regulated USDA licensed dog breeders, is largely unregulated and the health and welfare of dogs is ignored. Dogs are increasingly being imported by animal rescue organizations, who should be, but are not licensed by USDA, pursuant to provisions of the Animal Welfare Act and related regulations. The retail rescue dogs are not professionally and carefully bred for animal health and behavioral characteristics that make them optimal for long term ownership. Instead, they are bred by people only concerned about making a profit or by irresponsible dog owners who negligently permit their dogs to reproduce.
The public, including legislators in states and local jurisdictions, have been bombarded by propaganda funded by animal rights organizations that have intentionally mislead people that pet stores sell puppies from puppy mills. They do not. Sadly, the truth has been swept under the rug. The following states are considering legislation that would ban sales of purposely-bred puppies from pet stores, including:
- Texas
- Washington
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- New York
The “Rescues” replacing the traditional, licensed and highly regulated source of pets for families represent a clear threat to health and welfare of people and pets. For example, as reported in the New York Post, an international dog rescue group announced its intention to establish an, International dog-rescue group to open first US shelter in Jersey City.
The global pooch-rescue effort No Dogs Left Behind — which saves canines from the Chinese meat trade — is opening its first US shelter in New Jersey . . . [importing] thousands of pups since its founding in 2016 . . . [from] slaughterhouses, wet markets, traffickers, and illegal breeders across China.
How does this practice protect dogs negligently bred, native animals and people from exposure to infectious contagious diseases? It doesn’t.
It is time to recognize the truth about legitimate, professional dog breeders, and how pet stores have been part of the national marketplace, placing well-bred pups in the homes of families who want a pet that is best suited for their family and will care for them for a life time.
And money raised by the very profitable animal rights organizations should be used to fund programs that educate dog owners in areas where negligent breeding occurs about the value of responsible pet ownership.
And we must address the gap that pet store sourcing bans has created, incentivizing dog breeders in other countries who are selling puppies into the U.S., often through retail rescue channels.
These laws have done nothing to help dogs.
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