Humane Society says Petland stores tied to puppy mills

[Twisterdog]

You avoid a behavior that solicits punishment (avoiding pet store puppies to avoid big vet bills), when, ideally, one should avoid pet store puppies because the place of their origin is inherently unethical. The big issue is ethics! Alright. My rant is over.

Of course. In theory, we should ALL avoid all unethical things simply because they are such. However, in practice, Joe Public is often sadly lacking in ethical standards.

And it matters not to the dogs who are suffering and dying in cages whether Mr. Public decided to stop buying BYB puppies due to an ethical revolution, or simply a fear of getting hit in the pocketbook. In the end, the result for the dogs is the same.

If the drunk at the bar decides to call a cab instead of attempting to drive himself home because he fears getting an expensive DUI ticket, instead of the obviously ethical higher ground, does it matter to the family whos lives will be spared by his decision? No.

[Giselle]

Twisterdog, I understand your point, but my point was basically saying that we shouldn't let the underlying message deteriorate, as it often does. Fundamentally, our education regarding PM's and BYB's should emphasize the ethical implications of their rampant breeding rather than the financial burden it may or may not impose on the owner. I agree that Joe Public often needs tangible incentives to avoid pet store animals, but I'm just hoping that our education still aims to invoke the higher level reasoning that this issue needs It's that incomplete understanding vs. fuller understanding dilemma. Hopefully, the education that is getting out there is still aiming to instill a deeper, fuller understanding of the issue!

And, now, to quote Alexander Pope

A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.

[Twisterdog]

Twisterdog, I understand your point, but my point was basically saying that we shouldn't let the underlying message deteriorate, as it often does. Fundamentally, our education regarding PM's and BYB's should emphasize the ethical implications of their rampant breeding rather than the financial burden it may or may not impose on the owner. I agree that Joe Public often needs tangible incentives to avoid pet store animals, but I'm just hoping that our education still aims to invoke the higher level reasoning that this issue needs It's that incomplete understanding vs. fuller understanding dilemma. Hopefully, the education that is getting out there is still aiming to instill a deeper, fuller understanding of the issue!

Agreed. I think the HSUS article did a good job of exposing the compromised ethics.

And, of course, I think the answer to the PR side of this, and any, problem is a two-pronged approach: Expose the ethical violations in detail, so that those of us who are concerned with such things will know and make the appropriate choice; and also expose the more basic, everyday, Joe Q. Public problems, such as money, for the folks who just aren't into soul searching. Covers all the bases.