Puppy mills are a well-kept secret of the pet-trade industry. They supply animals to pet stores and purebred enthusiasts without any concern for the millions of animals who will die in animal shelters as a result. It's standard practice for puppy mills to keep animals in cramped, crude, and filthy conditions without proper veterinary care or socialization.

It seems that when people buy animals from breeders and pet stores instead of adopting from animal shelters, they deny a needy animal a chance at a good home. Pet shops that sell puppies help fuel the companion animal overpopulation crisis by bringing more animals into a world that is already bursting at the seams with unwanted ones. Every newborn puppy or kitten means that there is one home fewer for a dog or cat awaiting adoption in an animal shelter or roaming the streets. Approximately 4 million animals in shelters will have to be put to death every year because there are not enough good homes.

According to the HSUS, 6-8 million helpless, lost, and abandoned animals end up in shelters every year all across the U.S. Sadly, only 24% of U.S. household pets are adopted from animal shelters or rescue agencies.  It is our belief that as long as people support a market that treats dogs and cats as profit-generating commodities, we will struggle with the overpopulation crisis.

 Contrary to popular belief, I feel that there is no such thing as a "responsible" breeder, because for every puppy or kitten who is born by a breeder, an animal awaiting adoption at an animal shelter loses his or her chance at finding a home. Many kind individuals fail to recognize that no matter how kindly a breeder treats his or her animals, as long as dogs and cats are dying in animal shelters and pounds because of a lack of homes, no breeding can be considered "responsible." All breeders fuel the animal overpopulation crisis. Simply put, for every puppy or kitten who is deliberately produced by any breeder, an animal in an animal shelter dies. 

 It is my belief that producing animals for sale is a greedy and callous business in a world in which there is a critical and chronic shortage of good homes for dogs, cats, and other animals, and the only "responsible breeders" are those who, upon learning about how they contribute to the overpopulation crisis, spay or neuter their animals and get out of the business altogether.

 It is my belief that selling animals in pet stores denies homes to animals awaiting adoption and contributes to the overpopulation crisis. Please help support your local shelter and never buy anything in a pet store that sells puppies. Please send McCloud's Pet Emporium  a polite message, letting them know you will not be shopping in their store until they stop selling puppies. Calling and voicing your opinion makes the biggest impact. They can be reached by phone: (209) 533-1330 or email: mccloudspetemporium@hotmail.com.  Sample  message: "I will not be shopping in your store until you stop selling puppies. Thank you." Please leave polite messages, we are here to help the animals. 

Be the voice for our silent companions! Stand up for shelter dogs everywhere and tell McClouds that you wont shop in their store until they stop selling puppies! We the undersigned demand McCloud's Pet Emporium to stop selling puppies and support the local shelter instead!