Retail Rescue Phenomenon: Rescue or Puppy Broker?
Movement and sales of dogs through “rescue channels” continues to explode. While more and more cities and states are restricting sales of dogs in pet stores to those obtained from animal shelters and rescue groups, the actual source of these dogs remains obscure. Yet, there is mounting evidence that movement through “rescue channels” includes individuals or organizations involved merely for the profit, hence the name “Retail Rescue.” The dogs may be coming from the very same unscrupulous dog breeders these laws are intended to put out of business... READ MORE
Retail Rescue is a term used to describe an animal rescue that purchases animals to resell through their rescue while labeling the transaction as adoption and being exempt from license and inspection regulations. It may use donated funds to buy from breeders and auctions while claiming they rescue dogs from disreputable breeders and shoddy situations. In many cases, these dogs are not rescued from unhealthy circumstances, but simply transferred to be sold. Retail rescues also import dogs from other countries to sell under the label of adoption in order to keep up with the demand for dogs in the United States, especially "rescue" dogs.
There continues to be a high demand as people want dogs, especially puppies, but have been convinced that pet stores and commercial breeders sell puppies that receive substandard care. Thinking they are saving these dogs, the public is increasingly backing laws banning sales of pure-bred commercially sourced dogs, and permitting only sales from animal shelters and rescue groups. This only promotes disreputable breeding in order to supply rescues to fulfill the demand.
Learn more: The Phenomenon called Retail Rescue
Please only adopt a puppy from a REPUTABLE BREEDER or HONEST RESCUE.
All nonprofit organizations' tax returns (Form 990) are open for public inspection. It's not a bad idea to review before supporting their business.
There continues to be a high demand as people want dogs, especially puppies, but have been convinced that pet stores and commercial breeders sell puppies that receive substandard care. Thinking they are saving these dogs, the public is increasingly backing laws banning sales of pure-bred commercially sourced dogs, and permitting only sales from animal shelters and rescue groups. This only promotes disreputable breeding in order to supply rescues to fulfill the demand.
Learn more: The Phenomenon called Retail Rescue
Please only adopt a puppy from a REPUTABLE BREEDER or HONEST RESCUE.
All nonprofit organizations' tax returns (Form 990) are open for public inspection. It's not a bad idea to review before supporting their business.
Be aware that many rescues are highly profitable enterprises. If you are interested in a rescue Labrador, PLEASE do your homework, research and be sure that you are not being duped by rescues that buy dogs and puppies at auctions to sell through their "non-profit" organization. In addition, Animal Rights Activists(such as PETA, HSUS) hate reputable breeders and are doing their best to eliminate all dog breeders, including reputable breeders, licensed and inspected breeders that produce the highest quality puppies. This removes consumer's choice of purchasing a healthy, well-bred puppy of their desired breed. One of their latest power-grab attempts was a Colorado house bill introduced as the "humane pet care act". Thankfully this deceitful hate-bill was defeated in committee.
Below is some additional information, most of which comes from the canine review article, as referenced below.
OVERPOPULATION OR UNDER-POPULATION?
According to state officials, Colorado pet stores import only about 4,000 pups from other states to fill consumer demand each year. By contrast, Colorado rescues and shelters import about 35,000 dogs (875% more than pet stores) to meet the demand they see for adoptions. (1)
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Short answer, supply and demand. Rescue is big business.
North Shore Animal League lobbied for the ban of puppies in pet stores in New York, not mentioning they rake in 42 MILLION dollars of revenues tax free in 2018, 19 million of which go to pay salaries according to their 2018 tax return. (2) Is this lobbying for the welfare of animals or is it about eliminating competition of better quality puppies in order to fill their pockets and obtain a monopoly?
'Mill Dog Rescue' in Colorado, works to supply Animal League of Long Island with dogs to sell in New York. Recent news reports had highlighted PACFA and investigations into one of Colorado’s multi million-dollar nonprofits, National Mill Dog Rescue in Peyton, which faced accusations about everything from lying about dogs’ origins to having an executive director who practiced veterinary medicine without a license. Last September, PACFA hit National Mill Dog Rescue with what Fisher called the highest fine he could recall in his tenure, for bringing rescue dogs into the state without the required vaccinations and paperwork, failing to produce medical records, transporting dogs and cats without a license, and more - all of which National Mill stipulated that the state’s case was based in fact. (1)
Nick Fisher, the administrator for Colorado’s Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA), which regulates all breeders, shelters and other dog-dealing entities, testified that in the past five to six years, it has been the rescue business model that he’s seen becoming more and more about profit. “I thought at some point we would have market saturation in Colorado,” he told lawmakers, “but demand is there, and the amount of animals coming in is increasing.”
While lawmakers in the Empire State wholeheartedly bought into the idea that banning puppy sales in pet stores would stop “puppy mill” dogs from entering New York at all, Coloradans felt that they knew better. National Mill Dog Rescue has long used its Colorado base of operations to supply puppies to New York’s North Shore Animal League, which is on Long Island, New York, and is routinely promoted as North America’s largest no-kill shelter. While the Colorado pet store owners were arguing that they do their best to work only with better breeders, some of National Mill’s regular suppliers were on the Humane Society Horrible Hundred list of the worst breeders in the country.
On paper, it made perfect sense for the Humane Society to target Colorado in its nationwide campaign to ban the retail sale of puppies, given that people who are pro-rescue tend also to be vehemently “anti-puppy mill.” The Humane Society has long promised lawmakers from coast to coast that if pet stores can no longer sell puppies, then “puppy mills” will have no retail distribution and will lose their most important revenue stream. A retail pet sale ban, the Humane Society logic goes, is a way to combat “puppy mills.”
However, there is no evidence that this Humane Society marketing pitch has ever been true. Retail bans having been enacted in hundreds of municipalities in the past 14 years and, supporters cannot name a single “puppy mill” that a ban has ever shut down—a fact to which opponents of bans often point in testimony before lawmakers nationwide.
Yet, the messaging usually works with dog-loving lawmakers, especially when they have no personal experience in the animal business, and particularly when Democrats control a state’s government. (1)
Please be very careful where you source your next four-legged family member.
(1) https://thecaninereview.com/2020/02/07/animal-welfare-advocates-bludgeon-each-other-and-the-bill-theyd-hoped-to-pass/?fbclid=IwAR3hqxOES5C2bJsHEQr6oXHX0RKj2Iw168xIcKHAB76mcNagQAp0wWFlIes
(2) https://www.animalleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/nsala-990-final-2016.pdf
Tips for Vetting Rescue Groups
1. Beware of the rescues that perpetually have young puppies available (2 to 4 months of age). No animal shelters find themselves with a steady stream of 8-week old puppies that need to be transferred to rescue groups for adoption.
2. If you inquire about the source of a dog and the answer you receive is vague, don’t be afraid to ask another question. Stating they came from another rescue or another state is avoiding the question. Some rescues might use terms like “breeder release” or “puppy mill rescue,” which don't reveal much. If you want to know, ask them directly if they paid for the dog. The law does not require them to tell you whether they did or didn't, or how much they paid, but the way they respond to your questions might be telling. If they claim they do not buy puppies at auction, try to figure out if they utilize third parties who purchase dogs at auction to be sold through rescues.
3. Inquire about the health of the dog you’re interested in and the rescue’s return policy. Any reputable rescue should accept a return if things don’t work out for whatever reason. (Policies regarding refunds vary, but all rescues are required by law to disclose those policies to you before you adopt.)
4. Beware of rescues utilizing emotionally charged language to earn your business - such as "puppy mill rescue". This could simply mean they buy dogs from breeders or - worse yet - steal dogs by way of raid to be "adopted" through their rescue.
Below is some additional information, most of which comes from the canine review article, as referenced below.
OVERPOPULATION OR UNDER-POPULATION?
According to state officials, Colorado pet stores import only about 4,000 pups from other states to fill consumer demand each year. By contrast, Colorado rescues and shelters import about 35,000 dogs (875% more than pet stores) to meet the demand they see for adoptions. (1)
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Short answer, supply and demand. Rescue is big business.
North Shore Animal League lobbied for the ban of puppies in pet stores in New York, not mentioning they rake in 42 MILLION dollars of revenues tax free in 2018, 19 million of which go to pay salaries according to their 2018 tax return. (2) Is this lobbying for the welfare of animals or is it about eliminating competition of better quality puppies in order to fill their pockets and obtain a monopoly?
'Mill Dog Rescue' in Colorado, works to supply Animal League of Long Island with dogs to sell in New York. Recent news reports had highlighted PACFA and investigations into one of Colorado’s multi million-dollar nonprofits, National Mill Dog Rescue in Peyton, which faced accusations about everything from lying about dogs’ origins to having an executive director who practiced veterinary medicine without a license. Last September, PACFA hit National Mill Dog Rescue with what Fisher called the highest fine he could recall in his tenure, for bringing rescue dogs into the state without the required vaccinations and paperwork, failing to produce medical records, transporting dogs and cats without a license, and more - all of which National Mill stipulated that the state’s case was based in fact. (1)
Nick Fisher, the administrator for Colorado’s Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA), which regulates all breeders, shelters and other dog-dealing entities, testified that in the past five to six years, it has been the rescue business model that he’s seen becoming more and more about profit. “I thought at some point we would have market saturation in Colorado,” he told lawmakers, “but demand is there, and the amount of animals coming in is increasing.”
While lawmakers in the Empire State wholeheartedly bought into the idea that banning puppy sales in pet stores would stop “puppy mill” dogs from entering New York at all, Coloradans felt that they knew better. National Mill Dog Rescue has long used its Colorado base of operations to supply puppies to New York’s North Shore Animal League, which is on Long Island, New York, and is routinely promoted as North America’s largest no-kill shelter. While the Colorado pet store owners were arguing that they do their best to work only with better breeders, some of National Mill’s regular suppliers were on the Humane Society Horrible Hundred list of the worst breeders in the country.
On paper, it made perfect sense for the Humane Society to target Colorado in its nationwide campaign to ban the retail sale of puppies, given that people who are pro-rescue tend also to be vehemently “anti-puppy mill.” The Humane Society has long promised lawmakers from coast to coast that if pet stores can no longer sell puppies, then “puppy mills” will have no retail distribution and will lose their most important revenue stream. A retail pet sale ban, the Humane Society logic goes, is a way to combat “puppy mills.”
However, there is no evidence that this Humane Society marketing pitch has ever been true. Retail bans having been enacted in hundreds of municipalities in the past 14 years and, supporters cannot name a single “puppy mill” that a ban has ever shut down—a fact to which opponents of bans often point in testimony before lawmakers nationwide.
Yet, the messaging usually works with dog-loving lawmakers, especially when they have no personal experience in the animal business, and particularly when Democrats control a state’s government. (1)
Please be very careful where you source your next four-legged family member.
(1) https://thecaninereview.com/2020/02/07/animal-welfare-advocates-bludgeon-each-other-and-the-bill-theyd-hoped-to-pass/?fbclid=IwAR3hqxOES5C2bJsHEQr6oXHX0RKj2Iw168xIcKHAB76mcNagQAp0wWFlIes
(2) https://www.animalleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/nsala-990-final-2016.pdf
Tips for Vetting Rescue Groups
1. Beware of the rescues that perpetually have young puppies available (2 to 4 months of age). No animal shelters find themselves with a steady stream of 8-week old puppies that need to be transferred to rescue groups for adoption.
2. If you inquire about the source of a dog and the answer you receive is vague, don’t be afraid to ask another question. Stating they came from another rescue or another state is avoiding the question. Some rescues might use terms like “breeder release” or “puppy mill rescue,” which don't reveal much. If you want to know, ask them directly if they paid for the dog. The law does not require them to tell you whether they did or didn't, or how much they paid, but the way they respond to your questions might be telling. If they claim they do not buy puppies at auction, try to figure out if they utilize third parties who purchase dogs at auction to be sold through rescues.
3. Inquire about the health of the dog you’re interested in and the rescue’s return policy. Any reputable rescue should accept a return if things don’t work out for whatever reason. (Policies regarding refunds vary, but all rescues are required by law to disclose those policies to you before you adopt.)
4. Beware of rescues utilizing emotionally charged language to earn your business - such as "puppy mill rescue". This could simply mean they buy dogs from breeders or - worse yet - steal dogs by way of raid to be "adopted" through their rescue.
