Weasels Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Flos_angeles&id=8503367 LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- One pet store is taking a stand by not selling pets that come from so-called puppy mills. It's teaming up with a national pet organization and only offers dogs and cats from animal shelters. For the first time, many shelter dogs will be permanently displayed front and center at a local pet store window in a mall, displacing their commercially bred counterparts who typically get top billing. This pet store will no longer sell commercially bred dogs, and people who avoid shelters because of their stigma will be able to adopt a dog or cat that otherwise might have been euthanized. It's all thanks to Pet Connections Inc., a national organization that devised the Pet Transport Program. The pilot program went so well, the rescue dogs were so popular, that come March 1 a Barkworks store here in the Westside Pavilion will become an official adoption center for rescues. "I just think it gives us a great opportunity to help the county and the city of L.A. and surrounding areas diminish the amount of dogs that are euthanized every year," said Barkworks General Manager Darren Letterman. "The idea is that change is in motion here," said Marlene Walsh, Pet Connections Inc. "Whether it's ordinances that cities are passing, regulations that malls are implementing, where they no longer want commercially bred puppies in their stores, or simply public pressure to stop the puppy mill, the commercially bred dog industry. Whatever the case may be, the time is ripe for us to get this program under way, and we're very proud to be able to facilitate this." If it goes well at this Barkworks store where rescues will be adopted out for a $300 to $500 fee, owners say they will convert the rest of their stores into adoption centers. (Copyright ©2012 KABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) My first reaction was that a shopping mall environment was not great for the dogs, but then again a shelter environment isn't the best either. And if the increase in foot traffic means the dogs get into homes quicker, that's good right? So what do people think, could this work in Australia? Do we trust pet stores to match the right homes? Or has something like this already been tried here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I don't know if I trust pet shops to match animals to owners. I have heard of models like this where the shelter puts someone in the place where the animals are being sold and it is their job to match them to the home, so the shop really is just providing exposure for the animals the shelter still takes responsibility for the animal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I don't know if I trust pet shops to match animals to owners. I have heard of models like this where the shelter puts someone in the place where the animals are being sold and it is their job to match them to the home, so the shop really is just providing exposure for the animals the shelter still takes responsibility for the animal. Do pounds/shelters take the time to match dogs ton owners or just release the the first person whon wants to buy that dog? I am not tslking about legitimate rescues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted January 14, 2012 Author Share Posted January 14, 2012 (edited) Janba the shelter we got the foxdog from (the main shelter in Perth other than the RSPCA) required we fill out a form, then have an interview, then spend some time with her both in a yard and in a quiet room. The shelter we got Weez from were a bit less thorough (interview and a meet between him and Fox), but they could see we were already successfully caring for one kelpie so maybe that's why Not sure about pounds though. Edited January 15, 2012 by Weasels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdie Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 (edited) Not sure if these in store Adoption centres are still going ,i haven't been to any myself. http://www.petbarn.c...vices/adoptions Edited January 14, 2012 by Purdie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 It would be interesting to know what sort of dogs they are taking from shelters. Pit bulls dominate the LA shelters and have horrid euthanasia rates. Are they going through the shelters and taking the most adoptable dogs . . . thus leaving the shelters, increasingly, with dogs that are very difficulty to rehome? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted January 14, 2012 Author Share Posted January 14, 2012 Purdie - Thanks for that. I'm not familiar with Petbarn, do they also sell dogs from *ahem* other sources? Or do they just sell pet-related supplies normally? Sandgrubber - not sure, but the shelters would have those difficult dogs regardless of the program. The effect it will have really depends on the distribution of costs - if the pet shop contributes to the feeding etc. of the dogs in their care it could free up resources for those dogs still at the shelter? (maybe?). Or are you suggesting the shelter would get less foot traffic if the 'best' dogs are all passed on to the pet shop? That's certainly possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Sandgrubber - not sure, but the shelters would have those difficult dogs regardless of the program. The effect it will have really depends on the distribution of costs - if the pet shop contributes to the feeding etc. of the dogs in their care it could free up resources for those dogs still at the shelter? (maybe?). Or are you suggesting the shelter would get less foot traffic if the 'best' dogs are all passed on to the pet shop? That's certainly possible Here's the organisational link http://pet-connections.org/pet-transport/index.html They look good on paper. Pulling dogs from impoverished suburbs and marketing them in better off areas seems like a sound idea. No idea if they're genuine, or a wolf in sheep's clothing . . . or (most likely) some sort of mixed blessing. California government is broke and I can imagine that shelters in poorer neighborhoods would do anything to reduce the number of dogs they pts and bring in a few bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I'm not familiar with Petbarn, do they also sell dogs from *ahem* other sources? Or do they just sell pet-related supplies normally? My nearest petbarn doesnt sell puppies at all. They direct any enquiries to a particular rescue group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milly2 Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 That is probably a good Idea so long as the dogs go to the right people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdie Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 (edited) http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/193665-pets-at-home-now-pet-barn/ Edited January 15, 2012 by Purdie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I don't know if I trust pet shops to match animals to owners. I have heard of models like this where the shelter puts someone in the place where the animals are being sold and it is their job to match them to the home, so the shop really is just providing exposure for the animals the shelter still takes responsibility for the animal. I would think that if a shelter could hire staff trained in adoption and pet/owner matching then the pet store could do the same. If the store management have embarked on this program, which seems like it would be far less profitable than selling commercially bred pups, they seem to be concerned with factors other than maximum profit. So in theory they shouldn't have issues with being as careful with adoption matching as any other shelter or rescue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronda Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Best friends pets also has an adoption program, but with kittens not dogs. I don't think its such a bad idea, as long as they find the right home for the dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lhok Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 The RSPCA I got my dog from back in 2002 was a pick which dog you like and have the cash then it's yours and from what I have been told it hasn't change except the price has gone up. :laugh: --Lhok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Well it seems the idea has promise at least, and appears to work in similar incarnations here. I kept thinking there must be some catch I wasn't considering, but I suppose like any program the quality of the outcomes depend upon the commitment and good will of the people running it. The RSPCA I got my dog from back in 2002 was a pick which dog you like and have the cash then it's yours and from what I have been told it hasn't change except the price has gone up. :laugh: --Lhok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raineth Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I think its much better practice to use foster carers. Its not as easy to predict what an animal is like in a home environment from it being in a kennelled in environment. But I guess there is not enough foster carers to go round anyway. Our Petbarn advertises and supports the local rescue group. It has a donations bin, and a poster with the pets up for adoption, and regular barbecues etc. One of the local petshops also runs a rescue, but still sells petshop pets from its store - go figure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Souff Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Kellyville Pets in NSW has been selling cats for the Animal Welfare League for ages. The moggies are in a separate section to the other baby animals that are for sale. I haven't seen anything in the news about it. Souff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casowner Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 We have rescue kittens in on the weekend and if anyone is interested then the rescue org comes in and does the assessment and adoption but the person has to wait 24hrs after the assessment to think it over. I give any new owners a $20 store voucher and we look after the kittens at our expense but that is the only role we play in it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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