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Due to a promotion at work, I will no longer be able to demonstrate outside the mall each weekend--I'm commuting to Jeff City and cannot use my lunch breaks for Save Money, Save Lives. So it's doubly important that YOU, EVERYBODY, get involved! Hold signs outside the mall and other puppy-sale venues, educate people FOR shelters and responsible breeders and AGAINST pet stores, and keep donating your time and money to good causes!

I will keep updating this blog to advance the case that a shelter, rescue, or responsible breeder is the smart and morally right place to get a pet.

What behavioral problems might a pet store puppy have?

Puppies should be taken out often in order to establish good housetraining behavior. A local pet store (and almost all pet stores that sell dogs) does not take their puppies outdoors, and leaves them to poop and pee in their cages. This, according to vets and trainers, is one of the reasons pet store puppies can be much more likely to cause property damage (and aggravation!) with poor housetraining.

Additionally, since pet store puppies are left without human interaction most of the day, and all night, many begin barking incessantly for stress relief and recreation. They may also develop an abnormal sleep pattern because of noisy surroundings, and these habits may be incompatible with life in your home.

If you are interested in avoiding these common problems, seek a dog from a responsible breeder (responsible breeders NEVER sell to pet stores), a rescue that does in-home foster care, or a dog from a shelter's in-home foster care program.

If you must buy a pet store puppy, please ask the owner these questions, and DON'T BUY if they don't give you an acceptable answer!

Also, request their USDA license number, and do some research online and in writing to find out if they have had citations on their USDA inspection record--kennels can stay in business even if dead animals were found on the property, animals with untreated diseases were suffering, or other serious problems were noted.

Times for this weekend

I should be there 12-1 on Saturday, Oct 24, and 11-12 on Sunday, Oct 25. I am going to try the bases of the traffic signals at Stadium and Bernadette--the people holding advertisements there didn't seem to get yelled at or anything.

Easy activism is REALLY easy!

In my lunch hour today, at a less-than-prime intersection (Bernadette Dr & Bernadette Place), FOUR HUNDRED AND FIVE PEOPLE SAW MY SIGN. I made sure to only count people who had been exposed to the sign for a meaningful amount of time, and those who were looking in my direction. I may have really overestimated the amount of time it will take to spread the word to all of Columbia!

Which is good, because my arthritis does NOT like the cold, and I think two hours is definitely my limit on standing outside. So, 12-2 tomorrow, at the intersection of Bernadette Drive and Bernadette Place (vacant lot next to SoccerPro).

I met some wonderful people at the Central Missouri Humane Society, and I am going back tomorrow to give a monetary donation to the CMHS.

Times for this weekend (revised)

In response to a phone call from John Fields, head of mall public safety, I will be at the terminal end of Bernadette Drive where it splits off around Target, from 1-2 tomorrow, and 12-4 Sunday.

Times for this weekend

I'll be outside on the south side of Bernadette Drive near Dillard's, from 12-1 on Saturday, and 12-4 on Sunday. Anyone who needs signs or shirts, please contact me ahead of time!

Easy activism is easy

I stood at the intersection of Stadium and Bernadette today, in front of the Drury Inn, on the strip of grass between the sidewalk and street, during my lunch hour. I held my sign reading "Save Lives - ADOPT" and http://www.petfinder.com/. It was really effective--I estimate it was seen by well over 200 people in the hour that I was there.

We need to find out where public property begins and ends in that area, because Tony from the Drury Inn claims that they own the sidewalk and the strip of grass I was standing on (which I'm pretty sure is public property--it has fire hydrants and light posts on it.)

I really encourage everyone interested to take just a little time each weekend and hold a sign. It's fun and easy, and can have a great impact on people's attitudes and behaviors.

Tomorrow, I will play it safe and stand where the construction-protest guys stand, between Dillard's and Target. I will be there from 12-4 unless the weather becomes dangerous. I may bring one of my dogs. Please join us!

10:08: I got called away to St. Louis for a family thing, so I will not be out tomorrow. Please contact me if you need signs, and I will try and meet with you!

USDA licensing

I am currently working on a chart that details the relative advantages of getting a dog from a responsible breeder, a pet store, a "backyard" (irresponsible) breeder, a shelter, or a rescue. It's hard, because I don't know how to use HTML, and I'm trying to do the best possible research, which takes time.

In the meantime, I have some links that are hard to look at, but tell a very important truth about the real meaning of "USDA licensed". Pet stores are fond of telling people that their puppies come from "state licensed" or "USDA licensed" breeders. This is designed to make you think that their puppies came from a private home, where someone with a few beloved dogs chose to breed them and home-raise the puppies. In truth, only large-scale breeding operations can even become USDA-certified. Beyond that, USDA standards are extremely lax--a dog can live her entire life, and raise dozens of puppies, in a space barely big enough for her to turn around in. Additionally, the very minimal standards are rarely enforced, or we would be seeing puppy mill busts all the time--Missouri has over 1,000 large-scale dog breeding operations, and many with ongoing violations are never punished in any way, much less shut down.

What does "USDA licensed" mean?

Frequently asked questions about pet stores and puppy mills

Save Money, Save Lives does not yet have a Facebook group, but there are some related-interest groups that you may want to become a member of:

Pro-Spaying and Neutering

Against the sale of puppies in Columbia

Against Animal Cruelty

Why is adoption the best option?

I will definitely be going into more detail in a future post, but in short, adoption is both morally and economically sound.

When you adopt a dog, cat, or other animal from a shelter or rescue, you are saving the life of an animal who may otherwise be killed, or left without a home.

Moreover, you will pay much less than you would at other places. For example: Shelter puppies at the Central Missouri Humane Society cost $120 to adopt, and have already been spayed or neutered, given vaccinations, dewormed, and given a microchip. In addition, you will receive assistance in choosing and caring for your dog. Your adoption donation may even be tax-deductible, as the CMHS is a non-profit organization.

By supporting your local shelter, you make it possible for them to continue programs in your community that benefit animals and people, like spay/neuter services, low-cost veterinary care, and humane education.

Signs

Hopefully it won't be too cold this weekend!

Big plans!

Help us encourage Columbia residents and visitors to adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue!

Pro-pet-adoption demonstrations will be held each Saturday and Sunday from noon until 4, outside the Columbia Mall, as close to the intersection of Stadium Blvd. and Bernadette Dr. as allowed. You do not need to stay the entire time, or be present both days each weekend--any time you can donate is greatly appreciated!

Please feel free to bring friendly leashed dogs, other leashed pets, pro-adoption signs, and signs or banners advertising a rescue, shelter, or adoption-related website.

Suggestions for signs and banners:
--web addresses of Central Missouri Humane Society (cmhspets.org), Second Chance (columbia2ndchance.org), or Petfinder.com

--"Save money, save lives: Adopt a pet!"

--"Adopt a shelter dog/cat/pet today!"

--"Shelter pets need homes"