From: sue@dracut.keps.com (Sue Klimowicz)
Subject: Re: SPCA Ethics, Am I Overreacting?
Originator: sue@dracut
Organization: Eastman Kodak 
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 20:10:25 GMT

In article <18772@mindlink.bc.ca> Valaria_Vorlop@mindlink.bc.ca (Valaria Vorlop) writes:
> The SPCA in my area puts on a weekly show in which they show stray dogs and
> cats and then showcase the dogs and cats that they have available for
> adoption. I watch it only on rare occasions since it tends to inspire a
> burning desire to rush over and adopt ALL of them :)
> 
> They USED to be 'sponsored in part' by an excellent pet supply store, but
> yesterday I noticed they seem to have switched to a PET STORE! Not just ANY
> pet store, but the worst local pet store chain, in my opinion. Of course
> they carry ads for their sponsor during commercial slots.
> 
> This pet store sells puppies and kittens. For the puppies, they have a wall
> of display crates of various sizes, ALL with *mesh floors*. The pups are
> often ALONE, one to each crate. Occasionally there are two in a crate. The
> crates are seperated from customers by a 4' walkway for staff access and a
> glass wall. Admittedly, if you ask to see a puppy, they have a small play
> area which they let you and the puppy use.

I use to work for one of those chains. I would go in convinced that I was
doing the animals a favor by getting them out of the store. But reality
caught up and I knew that what I was really doing was keeping the chain in
business. I will not buy a dog from them ever. I did however get my dog
from one of those stores for free. He was seven (???) months old been in a
cage, separated from living beings and in the dark. Officially he was dead
and the store was waiting for him to die. He had demacocuous (sp) mange,
little fur, numerous sores and was only about five pounds. I took him to a
vet and used the then new drug Mitaban. Seven  years later he is a
beautiful 18 pound tri-color sheltie, with a neurotic fear of being left
alone. He follows me everywhere.  
 
> All of these dogs are AKC registerable. Nothing wrong with this if you live
> in the USA, but THIS is *Canada*. Why must they import the puppies? Could
> it be...oh, I don't know...because there are more *puppy mills* down there?
> Oh but, "Our puppies DON'T come from puppy mills!" From where? "Idaho" From
> different breeders? "NO" Yeah, right, couldn't *possibly* be a puppy mill.

Don't let that AKC registration fool you. The store I worked in sold dogs
that were absolutely not pure breds. One cocker had the additional face
hair similar to a schanuzer.
> The prices on these puppies are outrageous, of course. 

They roll the price over at least three hundred times. When I worked there
they would pay cockers for $35.00 and sell them for $395.00. All shots
where given to the animals by untrained kids.

> Another thing I once saw there was FREE kittens. Why free? Because they
> were *sick*! I don't know with what, I do know they had weepy eyes.
> 
> I know the SPCA needs money, but isn't this a bit out of line? I was
> thinking of writing a letter to them expressing my feelings and telling
> them that while this pet store is sponsoring them, they would see no money
> from me and anyone else I could convince...I know it won't break them, but
> maybe the thought will count for something. Am I overreacting?

I will probably get flamed for this but I think the SPCA (in the area I
had lived in) was completely ineffective in preventing/identifying
cruelity to animals. The workers were very chummy with the manager and
whenever someone would complain they would pop in chat and leave. I
personnally am not impressed with the SPCA and prefer the Humane Societies