Gifting an Animal this Holiday Season
If a new puppy or companion animal is on your family’s gift
list this holiday season, be sure to adopt, not shop. We encourage that people spend time thinking
about their expectations before “gifting” an animal. A companion animal is a long-term commitment,
and can be the best friend you could ever have.
That being said, proper homework is needed to make the right match.
The holiday season can put some families at additional risk
if they are seeking to buy a companion animal. The commercial dog breeding
industry times litters to be available for holiday purchases, which can add to
the number of unhealthy pets on the market.
Puppy mills are high production commercial breeding
facilities that confine large numbers of dogs, often in unsanitary conditions,
in wire cages, and without heat or human interaction. Due to the large volume
of dogs, and the desire to keep costs low and profits high, dogs in these
facilities often go without veterinary care. As a result, puppy mill puppies
often suffer from any number of genetic defects and serious health issues.
How can you tell if a puppy has come from a puppy mill?
If a store sells puppies, they are likely coming from a
puppy mill or back-yard breeder.
Responsible breeders never sell wholesale to a store. In Michigan ,
stores are not required to provide information about the pet’s origin. Even if
this information is provided, many puppy mills are out-of-state, making a visit
to the breeder difficult.
Stores that sell dogs (and cats in some cases), are
different from those that exclusively work with rescue groups to offer homeless
pets for adoption. Our local pet supplies stores, including Chow Hound, Petco,
PetSmart and Pet Supplies Plus, do not sell puppies or kittens. Instead they
support adoption of rescued animals. For example, Humane Society of West
Michigan has rescued kittens and cats (and at some locations, rabbits) at the
following off-site adoption locations:
Chow Hound Off-site Adoption locations
Chow Hound Northland, Chow Hound Standale, Chow Hound
Cascade, Chow Hound Breton, Chow Hound Eastern, Chow
Hound Byron Center Jenison
Petco Off-site Adoption location
Petco Alpine
PetSmart Off-site Adoption location
PetSmart East Paris
Pet Supplies Plus
Pet Supplies Plus East Beltline
How should you find your new furry friend?
Families looking for companion puppies, dog, kittens, cats
or small animals like rabbits can visit us at 3077 Wilson NW, Grand
Rapids , MI
http://www.hswestmi.org/shelter-announcements
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