Pet Store Pets
One of my Facebook people posted this article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140902174223-109716993-where-have-all-the-pet-stores-gone
I read it, or at least most of it.
I have been part of a C.F.A. breed program for most of my life. (C.F.A. = Cat Fanciers of America is the largest cat registry program in America. There are three other large registry programs in America: C.F.F = Cat Fanciers Federation / A.C.F.A =American Cat Fanciers Association / T.I.C.A = The International Cat Association: all of them have local clubs that put on shows.) I have several issues with this article/post.
Her focus on money bothers me. “hobby breeders still have trouble selling our pure bred puppies for what they are actually worth.” “I spend a lot of money to produce and market those puppies. I don’t get any tax breaks.” “We should not feel guilty about wanting to be compensated…” After being involved in registered cat breeding for decades, I will state that none of the breeders I knew made money. We bred and showed for the joy of continuing the breed. The cost of raising a kitten far exceeded what we could expect in “purchase” price. {we actually considered it an adoption, not a sell} Most years the cattery ran in the red. Ethical breeders are more interested in the health and well-being of their animals than in the money.
Her defense of pet stores is very disturbing. “Never mind that these stores were usually independently owned by small, local business owners who fed their families on the profits from these stores. Never mind that most of the puppies were purchased locally from breeders in our surrounding communities. Never mind that these stores were all regulated locally and federally and at least in theory, inspected by USDA and local health departments.” Most pet stores I know today are chains, not privately owned stores. Honestly, I had to stop reading by this point. I was getting physically ill.
I know of no CFA/C.F.F. /A.C.FA./T.I.C.A or AKC (or breed club) breeder that sells through a pet store. Generally, we want to meet the prospective owners. We want them to see that we take good care of our animals. To do that, we have them come to us, visit the cattery/kennel. During that visit we are also getting a feel for the prospective owner. We want to know that the animal will be well cared for and happy. If we sell to a pet store, we lose all of that. So, no ethical breeders I know (or knew) went that route. {That does not mean that none did or do, just that I never knew any that went that route.}
Why don’t I trust pet stores? I have caught pet stores lying about the animals they are trying to sell. I’ve had one tell me that seven week old kittens had already had all their shots. Problem being that I knew the shots they were referring to could not be started until the kitten was eight weeks old. Plus I saw signs of one of the kittens having an upper respiratory virus. A second example was one that was selling puppies as “registered” but when I saw the papers, they were from a local registry program that would accept anything - in other words if the dog looked like a Jack Russell Terrier they would register it as a J.R.T., you didn’t have to show family pedigree.
She kept saying “purebred”. [The only real purebred canine in the world is the wolf. All dogs are products of selective breeding, originally mixing “breeds” to get desired traits.] Yet she never mentioned her animals being registered in AKC or a breed club. So I have to wonder, why she is breeding. Is she breeding for appearance, performance, or just for fun?
With cats, there is very little in the way of performance, so we bred for appearance; we bred for healthy cats with good personalities that also fit the standard of the breed. We bred because we loved the breed and wanted it to thrive.
If she is breeding for fun, then she is part of the problem. She is what we called a “back-yard breeder”. She may be selective about who is mated to who, and keep very good records, but without a purpose (show, competition, enhancing the bloodline) she is doing more harm than good by contributing to the surplus pet population.
Her position about mixed breeds also tells me something. It tells me that she is blind to what happens when you over breed. True mixed breeds can be stronger and healthier than their “purebred” cousins. We have two cats, a “purebred” and a domestic short hair. The domestic short hair is most likely a mixed breed. Both are beautiful, loving cats, but the mixed breed is actually the healthier cat. The “purebred” has some sinus/nasal issues due to her muzzle being short - a product of selective breeding to get a certain look.
Her disdain of rescues suggests that she is not concerned about the welfare of the dogs. “And who is surrendering those dogs? Could it be the same population of people who wanted to rescue the ill-tempered, unhealthy puppies they saw in shelters? Everyone wants to be a savior - until it gets expensive, dangerous or just too hard. Then they return the untrained, older dog that now has even more serious issues to a shelter that re-sells it to someone else.” She claims that she re-homes her dogs. But what about the poor animals coming from unsavory conditions? Has she no compassion for them? We also offered to take back any cat that was not a good match. Only once in all our years of breeding did that happen, because we took the time to get to know the new “parents”.
Our club worked with our local shelter; during our annual show they had a section in the show arena where they could bring in animals that needed homes. Some of my breeder friends today offer links on their sites to breed rescues, trying to find homes for cats that have been less fortunate.
Our Cattery closed over a decade ago but I still keep in touch with other cat breeders. I still follow the fight between hobby breeders, pet mills, and the animal rights (AR) groups. The AR groups want to lump the hobby breeders and pet mills together. The AR groups do not think there is a difference.
I say there is a difference.
My family took good care of our animals. We carefully planned our breedings, we didn’t over breed the females, the kittens were raised in a social environment. They were loved as companions. We knew that they were first and foremost pets - even the show cats would eventually retire and become house cats. Our kittens went to the best homes we could find. Families kept in touch with us for years after getting one of our cats.
We breed because we love the animals. We show or compete so people can see the animals. We want you to see our animals, to see their beauty and their love. We want you to want one in your life. Most of us are not trying to make money, the adoption fee we ask is only a drop in the bucket compared to what we have spent in the past year.
Unfortunately, this woman who is concerned about money, with her snobbish attitude towards mixed breeds and rescue programs is what the AR groups see. And my friends who are still breeding, the people who think as we did, are the ones being harmed.
If you want a pet/companion animal/fur-baby check out your local shelter or rescue first; give them a chance at a better home. So called purebred isn’t always best and I am sorry to say that some of the animals in the shelter are “purebreds”.
If you really want to have a “purebred” animal, do some research, make sure you’re getting what you want, not just what is cute. Visit the breeder; ask to see the parents of the animal. Ask if you can see the facilities. We offered, not all breeders will, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Get to know as much about the breeder as you can. Good, ethical breeders will talk to you because they want you to be happy so the animal is happy. None of this is possible with a pet store animal. If they refuse to allow you to see any of the other animals, find the door. If they are not willing to accept the animal back, unconditionally, walk away. Not all matches work, good breeders know this. The first and last concern of the breeder should be "will the animal be well care for and happy". If it isn’t, find to the nearest exit as quickly as you can.
Some of our "kids" from years past. Happy, healthy cats first, show animals second.
One last thing: Being “Registered” does not always mean that the breeder is honest and ethical. It means they have paid their dues to the Registry. Being a “Registered Purebred” does not ensure the quality of the animal. It means that their birth has been Registered and that they are listed under that breed. Do your research. Decide what is a good match for you, then find that companion.
Once you get your new family member, please spay or neuter them. They will live longer, happier lives. If you want to get involved in the world of show/competition, work with an experienced breeder/exhibitor, agent a few shows, see if it really is for you, before you start breeding animals.