A good price or supporting the wrong cause?

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

We have a large store near us that is a plant nursery that carries other home items (seasonal decorations, custom picture frames, candles, fudge, etc) and also has a growing pet supply department.  They have a wide selection of toys, treats, collars, and food.  This store carries the Taste of The Wild brand at a regular price that is cheaper than what our local specialty pet store charges.  We occasionally get coupons in the mail or via email for another $5 off any store purchase.  We have started buying our TOTW food from here because we end up saving close about $7 or $8 on the largest bags and I can’t pass up such a good bargain, but there is a problem.  This store also sells puppies.  I used to stop at this store just to look at the cute little puppies, but then I learned about puppy mills and don’t even like to go back into that corner of the store.  Morally, I have a problem with the fact that they sell puppies and kittens.   If I continue to purchase the food from this store, am I indirectly supporting the wrong cause (puppy mills)? 

 

If you think that purchasing food from there supports the wrong cause, what do you say about making any purchase from that store?  They have a very nice selection of plants and shrubs and we usually make several purchases there each year.  Should I completely boycott this place altogether? 

 

I am curious to hear some opinions on this.  Thanks!!

[Becka]

I agree with you, Karen--the store's response is extremely sketchy. The breeder who wants to "focus on the breeding" sounds like a breeder who wants to make money without the "hassle of being responsible."

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would bet every penny I have that it's a mill.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I wanted to chime in and echo Andy&Sharon's response that this is good to bring up again - thanks for the discussion. It only helps educate our members.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I just finished talking to both my mom and my husband on the phone and informed them that I will no longer be shopping at this store and both agreed that it was a good idea.  Now they are probably both thinking that this is just another one of "my things" that they will have to deal with along with my constant nagging to recycle and eat healthy, but whatever.  :)  If each of them mentions this to just 1 other person and so on, it could at least open other people's eyes to what goes on.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Amy, Laurie, Fudge and Vern are offering up a round of applause....good job!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Big hoot and holler being added to that applause here. ))))

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Good Decision!! Who cares if they think it is one of your 'things'. You support good causes! more people should have their 'things'!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

When I get back home, I think I'm going to stop by our humane society and see if there is anything they can do.  They have huge signs posted saying "Petland, stop selling puppies!!"  I wonder if they would be able to post some signs about this place too.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Good for you! I know the petstore in my town is a known mill user but for some reason can't be shut down with our existing laws.

A guy my husband played hockey with told us his father in law retired has a pick up and trailer and he was hired to pick up these dogs from "breeders" and dropped off at stores.

I don't get how this can be done right under our noses with no way of shutting them down. The laws support their rights more than ours if you try and take action against these places.

Karen, it is awful how they attempt to explain it eh! But once someone goes in there the pull to buy these pups is so strong and I know members on DK have a doodle purchased from there and are very happy they did. That discussion has been had over and over again here as well.

In our local paper there are ads for such and such kind of puppy and when I see that they are offering more than one type of puppy for sale it makes me wonder why we can't go there and see that it is a mill and have them shut down as obviously this is not a whoops litter from a farmers.

I don't know the laws but from what my friend who is heavily involved says it is a battle they are losing and all they can do is being done.

Once again I applaud your decision to boycott the store and I would approach them and tell them why. I tell everyone I know not to frequent the store in my city. I would love to knock down the sign at the corner pointing to their store advertising puppies for sale!