Don’t Defer the Puppy Mills

Toni-Ann Hall, Staff Writer

Man’s best friend, the additional family member, the furry companion – dogs. Some love them and some hate them. But, it seems as if Kennesaw has a special affinity for these animals. I’ve driven by Petland on numerous occasions, but I’ve never been inside. I’ve heard stories, seen pictures, and now I understand why some people make it a weekly ordeal to go visit these puppies; they’re adorable!

A CBS46 article written last week stated, “customers say Petland in Kennesaw sold them sick puppies.” It might seem contradictory to those opposing Petland, but the store dawns the slogan “Petland pets make life better,” and actually has an Adopt-A-Pet program. Counselors partner with local shelters, rescue groups and members of the community to assist homeless pets. Their spotlight isn’t completely negative. The possibility of blatant mistrust and false dissemination of information could lead to the company losing all its credibility, making it more difficult for people who actually want to help and not merely flaunt their “purchases.”

When I was younger, begging my parents for a puppy was almost a rite of passage. I wanted to have a little, fluffy dog and to no avail, the answer was a resounding “no”. Eventually, in the summer of 2011, my younger sister persuaded my parents to agree to pet ownership. After I told my friend the news, she recommended two shelters in the Atlanta area, one of which my family adopted our happy and healthy, now 5-year-old Pekingese dog.

My family’s initial reasoning for getting an animal from a shelter wasn’t to “save a life.” After we realized what good it did, then it started to feel as if there was a purpose deeper than having a cute dog around the house. Bella is a part of the family now, and when we first brought her home, it was obvious that she was one of the squeamish pets at the shelter. She had missing teeth, was very jumpy, and would snap at anyone who came close. After a couple of weeks passed, her behaviors radically changed. She was barely recognizable in her demeanor.

Anyone considering pet adoption needs to be aware of the history of their new pets because it could be a rough experience. The testimonies of Petland customers who discovered malignances in their pets ignored the fact that people expect to be in the know when bringing an animal into their home.

Many people have the notion that if an individual chooses to purchase an animal from a pet store, as opposed to an adoption facility, they are wrong. Some would be indifferent to that opinion, and think that where a pet is received doesn’t matter. On account of the trend of having purebred, “designer” dogs, many animals are being uncared for and shipped to mills across the country. According to The Humane Society of the United States in 2012, there are an estimated 6 to 8 million cats and dogs that enter adoption shelters in the U.S. each year. Regardless of those numbers and my preference for pet adoption, I disagree with the option of completely turning away from purchasing pet store animals. Those animals need a home just as much as the ones sitting in shelters. I would never ignore the reality of pet mills, which are commercial dog breeding kennels operated for-profit rather for animal safety and comfort. They contribute to overpopulation, minimal or no veterinary care, and often, a lack of socialization. It’s inhumane.

However, buying an animal from a pet store for the sake of removing them from the cruelty of that situation is just as much of a good deed as adopting one. The problem arises when consistent revenue of puppy mills allows for the businesses to thrive, thus putting more animals in uncontrollable conditions. So no, I couldn’t see myself purchasing an animal from commercial stores, because I would rather adopt them instead. But that’s a personal choice, not a political one.