So it would be okay to put those 'mutts' into a shelter, further loading an already strained system, euthanase 90% of them and then adopt out the lucky few? Pardon me if this seems just a little short-sighted.
Edited to add: Btw, I abhor the term; Mutts...
Hmm.
I have two mutts and I am
d@mned proud that they own me. The love, compassion that those two furballs hold in their hearts can not be measured nor compared to any other. So you abhor all you want and I will love with all of my heart.
But anyways, back to the topic.
The problem I have with this here issue is that a pet store, a STORE, has someone going around finding the best mutts out there (or possibly purebreds, (coming from a BYB)) to sell.
We all acknowledge, this, yes?
Good. Next...
They post pictures of the proud mom and pop and put all this health information. What health information exactly? Because if it's a mutt, there is no health information to put, really. The so-called-breeder can not offer any health gurantees because the mixture of two dogs is just uncertain. And, well we've pretty much decided that a responsible breeder would not show case their titled, health certifed dogs at a pet store, so I won't waste my time on that one.
Follow me still?
Gooood.
Shelters are over-worked, under-staffed, over-budget and have less and less room due to the irresponisbility, carelessness of a great number of people in this world. ( I am not including the poor circumstances that would leave a ten year old dog homeless after its 80 year old owner has died, etc.).
So, really, what would be a great and honorable thing to do?
*raises hand* Pick me, I have the answer!!
This petstore with good intentions should walk their happy selves to the nearest shelter. Adopt out 10 of the dogs. Any dog, cute, old, young, tall, large, small... ANY DOG (that we assume of course has been temperment tested, etc) .
Then, they should showcase those dogs. They should tell these dogs stories, tell how they have been homeless for 2 months beacause their previous owner passed away. Tell how they were given up at 3 months because their owners were to lazy to acknoledge that getting a dog is a full-time committment. Tell how they were beaten and starved and neglected because their owner left them tied out on a chain when all they wanted was a good meal, a warm hand to pet them and a kind soul to love them.
Then, and only then, would I say that this is a nicer than usual pet store.
Because all this pet store is doing right now is putting money in the hands of BYB's. Supporting them. Providing means to continue to the deaths of so many dogs.