Puppy Mills - is there a line to cross or is it unethical?

[StephPlusPlus]

EDIT: I do not think that every animal breeder tortures their products. But the fact that they create them in the first place while millions of animals are euthanized every day because stupid and flakey people only view dogs as discardable items rather than respectable living creatures who have a right to life makes me sick to my stomach.

So you're saying it's unethical to breed animals because many more are dying? What if said breeder has a small operation where they sell the particular breed of dog as a family member? My family breeds a semi-hard-to-find dog called Rhodesian Ridgebacks. They're a very good house dog and guard dog, with an added bonus of not having a bad rep as a breed. (Rottweilers, bulldogs...) We only sell to people that would seem like they'd take care of the dog. (Such as having a sizable amount of land they need to roam around. They can't be cooped up all the time.) The dogs have it really nice here, too. We let them out for hours on our farm land, and give them human attention. They aren't over-bred, either. Are we making money? Some, yes. Are we unethical? I'd like to think we aren't.

[YoshiEgg25]

[AdamGomez1987]

Have you ever seen a puppy mill IRL, not on TV or the internet?

No, because I don't associate with the kind of scumbags that run them. Have you? The very idea of a business that breeds dogs for profit disgusts me. I would honestly like to see evidence of a "good" puppy mill. No, seriously, not just being argumentative. Please take me to a good puppy mill. Maybe we can visit a good concentration camp while we're out? [/end Godwin's Law violation]

EDIT: I do not think that every animal breeder tortures their products. But the fact that they create them in the first place while millions of animals are euthanized every day because stupid and flakey people only view dogs as discardable items rather than respectable living creatures who have a right to life makes me sick to my stomach.

You have me thinking of a line from Joseph Stalin: "Death of one man is a tragedy. Death of a million is a statistic"

As you mention millions of animals euthanize every day, it makes it sound like you're directly blaming puppy mills when in fact animals would still be euthanize by a great percentage just due from negligent pet owners

[AdamGomez1987]

lol, how did you do that?

[YoshiEgg25]

lol, how did you do that?

MS Paint.

And I hope you all know, for when these threads occur, one of these WILL be there.

[swiftzx]

lol, how did you do that?

Yoshi is a Pokemon master.

[Betamax001]

Is this thread going to be like a thread version of one of those sad ASPSCA ads on TV?

My view though, is totally case by case. I don't think they are ALL bad, but most maybe are. I don't know enough (or really care to) to have a full fledged opinion on the matter.

[AdamGomez1987]

Is this thread going to be like a thread version of one of those sad ASPSCA ads on TV?

My view though, is totally case by case. I don't think they are ALL bad, but most maybe are. I don't know enough (or really care to) to have a full fledged opinion on the matter.

I think the scenario has changed a bit from a reader's output on it. I started off believing that they were accusing the pet shop of being an unethical puppy mill, but I think what they were really trying to get at is that they were buying animals from mills.

Regardless, I do not believe that this pet shop should be closed because what they do at that shop is ethical and take good care of the animals they are selling.

[FiftyDollarCurse]

There's a good one around Neosho, MO. Another one between Belle and Union, MO, on highway 50. I can't give you any website addresses, because puppy mills, sort of like most farms, don't have their own websites.

I live in Tooele, Utah. I am available from Tuesday to Friday every week. Please come and pick me up for a visit, I am sure they are extremely receptive to visitors. While you are in Utah feel free to visit the Best Friends Animal Shelter, the world's largest no-kill animal sanctuary. They'd be happy to see you.

Are we unethical? I'd like to think we aren't.

I'd like to think you aren't either. But your actions dictate otherwise.

Again, it really comes down to whether you view dogs as a disposable commodity or valued family members.

As you mention millions of animals euthanize every day, it makes it sound like you're directly blaming puppy mills when in fact animals would still be euthanize by a great percentage just due from negligent pet owners

True, but you could save one.

P.S. Thanks for making me Ryu.

[CFFJR]

Again, it really comes down to whether you view dogs as a disposable commodity or valued family members.

I don't view them as either of those things.

There is a middle ground you know.

I'm not getting into the debate on mills or anything, I just hate the reception that I get from dog lovers that if you're not also a dog lover, then clearly you are a dog hater.

I do have a dog, for the record.

Now I just wait for everyone to harass me for having a dog and not thinking of him as "family".