Page 14 - Feb 2018 Wellness Magazine

I am sitting here writing my third attempt at this as I have been told my first
two versions needed toning down. The problem with this is that to ‘tone it
down’ is equal to smoothing it over, covering it up, not causing offense. I can’t
do this, I’m afraid, as there is nothing warm and fuzzy about the subject
matter. There is no way of putting a ‘smiley face’ on the subject of animals in
pet shops. It’s black and white, you’re either for it or against it and I am most
definitely against it.

This is not a new topic for me as I have voiced my opinion about this before,
but having visited some pet shops recently and seeing fish and birds dead or
dying and living in distressed conditions, and most recently having seen dogs
and cats left in their display window boxes in shops shut for extended public
holiday breaks, I feel the need to bring the subject up again.

I am not lambasting any one particular store, all stores that trade in livestock,
be it dog, cat, fish or bird appall me. Those of you who support these stores
must ask yourselves from where these animals come, are they kept in a
manner that enables their physiological and psychological growth while in the
store, and what happens to those animals who do not find a home.
Unfortunately, where money is concerned, profit comes first, and when this
involves the livelihood of defenseless creatures we must be outspoken in their
defense. The RSPCA is only able to intervene with pet shop practices if it is
shown that the animals are being ill-treated. If isolation and containment for
long periods of time in unattended stores is not ill treatment then I don’t know
what is.

Puppy mills and backyard breeders are just one unfortunate example of an off-
shoot industry caused by the upsurge of ‘designer dogs’ sold through pet
stores, with the breeding dogs often being housed in unsatisfactory conditions
resulting in poor health for both the adult dogs and the puppies.

Many people tell me that they also dislike seeing puppies in stores but that they
bought one out of pity as the salesperson had told them that a puppy couldn’t
find a home. Please don’t kid yourself that this is not one of their most
successful sales pitches. I am not suggesting for a moment that all shops that
sell livestock are irresponsible or put profit before animal welfare, but
unfortunately for every good shop you will find many that are not and because
of this the only way to eradicate the problem is to stop the trade altogether.

Adopting a pet into your family should not result from a spur of the moment
decision made whilst looking through a pet store window; it should result from
carefully considering whether your lifestyle and household can provide an

Bliss Planet 14