UPDATE: Inspectors close Brick Puppy store:http://www.app.com/article/20120126/NJNEWS/301260093/Inspectors-close-Brick-pet-store-remove-puppies
"“Four were deemed to have severe pneumonia and 22 had some sort of respiratory illness.”"

In short if Albuquerque, NM can do it - why can't we?

The USA is a country of animal lovers and there is a growing movement to ban the sale of puppies and kittens in pet stores. Irvine, West Hollywood, Macerich Shopping Malls and others have joined to show they are compassionate and progressive.

Why should NJ & Monmouth County follow suit?

Roughly 4 million adoptable animals are killed in the USA each year due to the simple math of more animals than homes.

However 2-4 million puppies are born each year in squalor in puppy mills that stock numerous puppy stores across the country. Of course your local puppy store uses only reputable breeders - that is what they all say because who in their right mind would pay $600 for an inbred unsocialized dog that was raised in a cage and shipped from PA. It's a business.

By turning a blind eye or supporting such practices with our dollars we are basically giving consent.

If we can get enough signatures the petition will be forwarded to every municipality in the area to show we want change. 

The second problem here is that unlike a good animal shelter or an actual in home breeder - pet stores have no adoption requirements for new puppies other than being able to pay cash or credit. Cute fluffy faces in the mall quickly turn into large scale destruction and mess without proper exercise and training. The ability for people to bring a new dependent into their lives simply on impulse without even having to search online for a breeder is the reason why shelters are stacked with one year old dogs that only wanted training. Hiring ACO's to round up all these unwanted 'strays' costs taxpayers thousands each year. 

Most of us adore dogs and it breaks our hearts to think of them suffering. However the key to a compassionate future is in our hands. 

MSNBC reports on the positive effects of the Alberquerque ban:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37359894/ns/health-pet_health/t/no-pups-sale-cities-ban-pet-shops/#.TsqDIWPNl8M

To see what really happens when a city bans pet sales, you have to go to Albuquerque, N.M. The Southwestern city banned sales of "companion animals," including cats and dogs, in 2006, and has seen a marked, positive effect, said Peggy Weigle, executive director of Animal Humane New Mexico.

Since the ban started, animal adoptions have increased 23 percent and euthanasia at city shelters has decreased by 35 percent.

“By stopping these pet shops,” Weigle said, “what you're really doing is you're reducing the demand for puppy-mill puppies.”

This isn't about demonizing pet store owners or putting them out of business. In fact - with the high puppy kill rates in southern states many in areas that passed the legislation former puppy store owners have managed to offer shoppers guilt free puppies by handpicking rescue dogs to offer for sale.  There are gorgeous labs, beagles and shepherds being gassed every day in overpopulated areas. (We could do with spay/neuter laws too) To encourage the production of more in the name of profit isn't just insane, it is cruel and barbaric. 

 

Other areas have done it - it isn't a fantasy. Please help by signing and sharing - 30 seconds for you could save many adorable canines and felines from death. 

 

Adoptable dogs are being killed for space right here on our doorstep and it's time to change that. Shelters can't go no-kill until potential pet parents adopt instead of shop.  There are simply other ways of making money that don't need to involve abusing helpless companion animals. 

Additional Resources & literature:

A great beginners explanation to puppy stores:

http://coldcrashpictures.blogspot.com/2011/09/topical-tuesdays-puppy-mills.html

The ASPCA says NO to Puppy Stores:

http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/10-ways-you-can-help-fight.aspx

Pet Store Stories - Reader Submissions by the ASPCA

http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/puppy-mills-your-stories.aspx

 

If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.  ~St. Francis of Assisi