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

[puke_face]

Being a shady bastard seems to be pretty much standard for the pet business.

That's just good business in general.

[Golgo 14]

I'm a little late to this thread, but would like to point out that there are many other types of mills as well - hamster mills, rabbit mills (especially the little dwarf ones), bird mills...often times people don't even consider checking a shelter to adopt a small animal. Sooo...next time you're in the market for a bunny, adopt! They sit in shelters forever and ever because they're so hard to place with families. Many won't even accept them because they consider it a waste of resources, so their owners just release them so they can be "free" ("free" as in dead).

Thunderous applause for your post. Nice to see another bunny fan here. I would only add that when in the the market for a bunny or any other animal, do your research and make sure you are up to the commitment of taking in an animal. Lots of people see rabbits as starter pets that will be easy to care for. They love them for a few weeks and when the novelty wears off they see their new pet as just a chore. Bad for them, worse for the bunny. Of course, bad consequences for all kinds of animals happen when people don't think before they adopt or (worse) buy.

[Hobie-wan]

Thunderous applause for your post. Nice to see another bunny fan here. I would only add that when in the the market for a bunny or any other animal, do your research and make sure you are up to the commitment of taking in an animal. Lots of people see rabbits as starter pets that will be easy to care for. They love them for a few weeks and when the novelty wears off they see their new pet as just a chore. Bad for them, worse for the bunny. Of course, bad consequences for all kinds of animals happen when people don't think before they adopt or (worse) buy.

Lots of people do this with rabbits and chicks at easter. Popular movies with 'unusual' animals in them cause it too.

[flamepanther]

A lot of people don't seem to understand that the reason cats and dogs are so common (and therefore seemingly boring) as pets is that they are the easiest to care for and give the most obvious emotional return on the invested time, money, and care. Other animals can be just as rewarding, but may need lots more care and effort, and require the owner to learn about the animals' needs and behaviors, and may also require the owner to learn to be happy with unfamiliar types of affection (or none at all) in return. I like exotic and uncommon pets, but they are absolutely not for most people--and even though I like them, I have the sense to know I'm not in a living situation where I couldn't currently handle any. When people forget this, the results are sad.

[wootcube]

I'm a little late to this thread, but would like to point out that there are many other types of mills as well - hamster mills, rabbit mills (especially the little dwarf ones), bird mills...often times people don't even consider checking a shelter to adopt a small animal. Sooo...next time you're in the market for a bunny, adopt! They sit in shelters forever and ever because they're so hard to place with families. Many won't even accept them because they consider it a waste of resources, so their owners just release them so they can be "free" ("free" as in dead).

Thunderous applause for your post. Nice to see another bunny fan here. I would only add that when in the the market for a bunny or any other animal, do your research and make sure you are up to the commitment of taking in an animal. Lots of people see rabbits as starter pets that will be easy to care for. They love them for a few weeks and when the novelty wears off they see their new pet as just a chore. Bad for them, worse for the bunny. Of course, bad consequences for all kinds of animals happen when people don't think before they adopt or (worse) buy.

Oh my God, nobody ever researches rabbits! I hate it! And then they're all like, WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN THEY LIVE 14 YEARS??? Bunny ends up in a shelter by the following Easter.

Personally, I don't like baby bunnies, which is what everybody buys for their kids. They are too hyper and more interested in the underside of my sofa than people. I prefer adults because they have mellowed out and have a much greater attention span (as opposed to none at all). I feel like if more people bought mature rabbits there wouldn't be so many in shelters, because they're more willing to be a part of the family as adults.

And then there's the whole communication gap, with people expecting them to respond to verbal commands like cats and dogs...

Glad to see there's some rabbit people on these boards! I never seem to run into any in person

[Golgo 14]

Thunderous applause for your post. Nice to see another bunny fan here. I would only add that when in the the market for a bunny or any other animal, do your research and make sure you are up to the commitment of taking in an animal. Lots of people see rabbits as starter pets that will be easy to care for. They love them for a few weeks and when the novelty wears off they see their new pet as just a chore. Bad for them, worse for the bunny. Of course, bad consequences for all kinds of animals happen when people don't think before they adopt or (worse) buy.

Lots of people do this with rabbits and chicks at easter. Popular movies with 'unusual' animals in them cause it too.

That's so awful. I remember after the live-action 101 Dalmatian movies there were spikes in Dalmatians being bought and then, inevitably, spikes of Dalmatians being left at shelters a few months later. Those poor animals must have been bought and abandoned by the same people who signed up for archaeology classes after seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[t0yrobo]

Thunderous applause for your post. Nice to see another bunny fan here. I would only add that when in the the market for a bunny or any other animal, do your research and make sure you are up to the commitment of taking in an animal. Lots of people see rabbits as starter pets that will be easy to care for. They love them for a few weeks and when the novelty wears off they see their new pet as just a chore. Bad for them, worse for the bunny. Of course, bad consequences for all kinds of animals happen when people don't think before they adopt or (worse) buy.

Lots of people do this with rabbits and chicks at easter. Popular movies with 'unusual' animals in them cause it too.

Movies can cause it in a much more direct way as well. There's shelters (of varying quality) that almost exclusively are used as dumping grounds for animals used in movies. They handle all sorts of domestic and exotic animals, and while I think for the most part their intentions are good they tend to not be able to support all the animals they take on. Which results in abuse, and getting involved in the shadier parts of the pet industry.