A young attorney at our firm was in the break room with me and she was looking in the classifieds at puppies. I went over the whole puppymill thing with her and how she should ask to see the parents and the puppies together and to do her research. One person at a time right? Well, I've told this to several people but if I can make a little difference-it helps

You go Gena!!!!

Absolutely Gena! Way to go! Thanks for taking the time to educate one more person today! I know exactly what you mean ... but none of us should feel weird about it, or like "a know-it-all". The truth is, so many people don't know ... they don't have any idea of what goes on. So you're doing them a favor by sharing what you've learned. But even more importantly, each time you take a moment to educate one more person, you're also doing a great service to the fluffbutts!
U ROCK!

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!

Way to go Gena!

I just don't want anyone to go through the heartache I went through with Corky and to continue the crazy cycle

Good for you!

I feel like this sometimes too!

My boyfriend's stepmom is thinking of buying a puppy. And I try to explain to her that she doesn't want to buy a puppy from the paper or a pet store! Then explain WHY good breeders have spay/neuter contracts (seems to have an issue with this one). I just feel like I'm preaching, but it's for the mom's of the poor puppies! Not to mention to prevent heartache for her and my boyfriend's little brothers.

She asked me the other day what a "MaltiPoo" is and I said "A Mutt." She looked shocked and was amazed that people would pay so much for one. I then had to explain that to her...

There's so much people really don't know, but "One person at a time"

Just to hijack your thread a little more...
I saw a lady yesterday with a Maltese and stopped to pet the little one, of course, and told the lady I had a Malt too. She goes, "Oh yeah? The lady who was parked beside me said she had a year old Male at home and was interested in breeding him." Then the lady goes, "I was like, not with my dog!" I was so happy to hear someone else that actually knows!

Exactly. They don't know. So one step at a time.

I'm thinking by shutting our mouths, we are contributing to the problem.

When we KNOW, we should educate.

The fluffies need a voice, and that would be US.

Good Job Gena

Good post Heidi

I totally agree. If most people knew what they were actually doing then 1/2 of them would go thru rescue or a reputable breeder. It is our jobs to educate others and seize the opportunity, especially when someone is looking for a dog. Unfortunatley people just dont' know better. I had someone just come into my office yesterday and said her neighbor was looking for a maltese...I gave the whole rundown of "how not to get a dog." Hopefully it made a difference, can't hurt right!?

I do that kind of thing too. I'm sure it drives people nuts, but if it makes a difference, then I'll drive as many people nuts as I can!

It's scary some of the responses I've gotten when I try and discourage people from getting a dog from a pet store. I had one woman flat out ask me, "well where else can you get a dog?" and she was absolutely serious. When I explained about rescues, the aspca, and reputable breeders she looked at me like I'd lost my mind. I asked her to go look up puppy mills on the internet. I was pleased that she did so. The next day when she came to work, she was horrified that she had been planning to get a pup from a pet store. I was so happy that she did the research! She may have looked at me like I had three heads at first, but it worked out in the end. She adopted a puppy from the local animal shelter.

Give yourself a pat on the back!!!
I have to say I was at one time, one of those who didn't know.... oh I knew about not go to petstore by the time I got Missy, but was ignorant about the puppies in the paper. As a matter of fact as with Missy's situation I actually thought getting a pup where JUST mama and Papa in the family household, puppies raised within the home was a "good" thing. Didn't stop to think ....Mama and Poppa were from petstore!! Now I can't say these were "bad' people... not even in it for the money really. ( Missy was only $100 she didn't have 'papers") ..I think they were as 'ignorant' as I was.

There was even a time I truly felt petstore pups WERE from good breeders!! After all.. they had "papers", guarantees etc!
Of course since then I've been enlightened! I now take every chance I have to 'enlighten others!

Another thing I've found.... MANY people aren't aware of breed rescues or others for that matter... when looking for a pooch. They think "shelter" and that's it.

way to go Gena!!

And I just have to ask, what would be the problem if you do know it all?

GOOD for you!

I wish I did know it all-tee-hee I too was obviously once naive to the the whole puppymill situation and have since been enlightented and want to stop as many people as I can. So far I've gotten 2 people to adopt from shelters-that's not too shabby Both of them were looking to buy a puppy-one from a pet store and the other who knows where.

awesome Gena,
you go girl!

I don't think there is a thing wrong with educating people.
They STILL don't know, can you believe it?
My neighbor got the cutest Yorkie from a pet shop in Brooklyn I told her about puppy-mills and all the suffering , the whole bit.
She looked at me like I sware just like that smilie.
She had no clue what on earth I was saying, but I still said it and I don't regret it/
I also know she went on the computer and is now maybe understanding her neighbor isn't the nut she thought she was
So you did good Gena, the more you know the smarter you are.