Quote:
Originally Posted by barbino
I rarely boycott but will if well-informed about an issue that really matters to me. As a former cat breeder, I agree with boycotting most pet shops. When I was a member of the area breed club, I had to sign a statement that I would never sell stock to a pet shop. I remember being appalled when I went into a pet shop & found a kitten from my breed being sold there. I was quite verbal with the owner.
What separates a backyard breeder from a real breeder? Real breeders know that they are responsible for the quality of life of the animals they breed. A few weeks ago, I was discussing my time as a breeder with a friend. He asked, "Do you make a lot of money?" I laughed at him. Real breeders find that it is an expensive hobby. Vet bills and shows will eat up any funds made by sales. It is a difficult & time-consuming hobby, too.
The best way to find a "real breeder" is by going through the associations. You can find breeders who have their kennels/catteries checked & graded by the association. Breed groups police their own, too. Breeding is very social; people in the fancy know each other & who takes care of their animals. I could go on; you hit a nerve. The truth is that I would still be breeding if it were not for allergies/asthma. Even though I bred for a long time, I was never a big breeder. Maintaining large numbers of animals well is so difficult. People need to be very savvy & "buyer beware" when buying animals. Shopping around for the right breeder means bringing home a healthy & happy pet.  |
I completely agree. While checking for breeders for a dog, you should know what problems that breed tends towards, and make sure that the pup has been tested for them. Obviously, a dog can't be tested for cancer or other ailments, but a luxating patella or CERF eye test can save a LOT of trouble in the future. I have a breeder friend who can't understand why I don't want one of her puppies, but until she has them tested, I'm looking elsewhere - or at a shelter.
And yes, there are a lot of grey areas in boycotts, especially when franchising is involved. The biggest and hardest boycott in which my family participated was against Dow Chemicals, as they had something to do with Agent Orange.