Puppy Laundering
Just when I thought that greed had done all that it could to harm our animal companions, I discovered retail rescue. Before that, puppy mills seemed to be as low as people could go in the exploitation of animals.
Most of us desire to rescue unwanted and uncared for pets. My parents promised me a dog for my 14th birthday. The day before the big day I read in our local newspaper that a shelter was going out of business and was giving away the dogs and cats that they had left. Of course, that was where I wanted to go. We set out on a Saturday morning to find cages of dogs and cats in the parking lot of a local supermarket. I went to one cage and there was a cute little schnauzer. I thought “oh that's the dog I want”. However, somebody had already put their name on that little guy. Then I saw huddled in the corner looking sad and lonely, a small little beagle mix puppy. Her stomach was distended, her eyes were gloppy but when she saw me she came up to the cage put her nose through the wire and let me pet her. One wag later, I had found my dog. She was very sick with distemper. Our veterinarian advised us to put her down. I just wouldn't hear of that. I spent the summer hand feeding her and rocking her on my lap in the hammock. She didn't seem to be getting better so my Mom and I took her to the vet thinking that this was the last time I would see her. The vet looked at her and said, “she seems a little better". That was the start of a lifetime with my darling companion. That’s rescue.
What is retail rescue? It is when a supposedly nonprofit organization obtains puppies, kittens, cats and dogs from overcrowded shelters, auctions, and breeders who cannot find homes for the pets they breed. They then sell these animals under the guise of rescue for high profits. Some of these so-called rescue owners make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year Now I don't mind people making money through humane care of companion animals. In order to maintain organizations like humane societies, animal services shelters, reputable rescues, fees need to be charged. Usually these fees recoup the expenses that were used to rehabilitate, spay or neuter, health check, and quarantine rescued pets. However, retail rescue goes a step further. I personally have seen pets sold for over $3000 from the rescue purportedly because of the expenses that the rescue has incurred in rehoming that pet. When asked to supply veterinary bills, care cost to quarantine, vaccinate, feed and house pets, these organizations come up short. They place traumatized, sick and behaviorly difficult pets with unsuspecting guardians.
So how do you avoid retail rescues?
1. In Colorado, and I'm pretty sure in most states, there is a government watchdog that inspects and licenses rescues. You can obtain the rescues’ records including complaints and compliance.
2. NEVER, ever adopt an animal online sight unseen.
3. Many of these pets come from high disease areas. Make sure the rescue has quarantined them for 14 days. this is especially important if you have other pets.
4. See vet records and call the veterinarian that was used. Unfortunately many retail rescues faked these records.
5. Never be pressured into adopting a particular pet, especially if the pet is very expensive. Good rescues are interested in making a good match. If you aren’t sure, they should willing to put a short hold on the pet. Insist on seeing the care records and the money expended on that particular pet.
5. If you have fallen in love, as we all do, and feel that you must have this fur baby from a particular rescue, find out about post-adoption support. If there is a problem you feel was due to the rescue’s negligence, keep your veterinary records and file a complaint with your state’s pet animal care regulation organization. Also, review the rescue on Yelp, Google or any other social media site that you have access to.
If you have questions or would like help researching a rescue organization or breeder that you are considering adopting from, please get in touch. I'll do what I can to help.