How to Go Humane if You Are a Pet Store Owner

If you own a pet store and purchase your dogs from puppy mill brokers (as most stores that sell dogs do), you can help put these inhumane puppy mills out of business by having shelter dogs available for adoption instead. Once the demand stops, the supply will have to stop and the puppy mills will be forced to shut down. The following are ways for you to join the humane pet store trend—in order to save lives and still profit from your business.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Contact Best Friends Animal Society or Last Chance for Animals (LCA) about converting to a humane model. They will be glad to assist you with obtaining dogs from shelters, as well as help promote your business. They are reputable animal welfare organizations that are known nationally (see Resources below).

2. Set up meetings with directors of local animal shelters and rescues in your area to see about an arrangement whereby you can obtain dogs from them to have available for adoption at your store.

3. If dogs are all you sell, odds are you won’t be able to survive in business with just shelter dogs, as the adoption fee you’ll charge will only be around $300. Look into hiring a full-time groomer and/or selling pet food and supplies. There are various pet stores in the Los Angeles area that have shelter dogs and are doing well (see Resources below). If you sell pet supplies, but still don’t think you will profit with rescue dogs, look into expanding your inventory. In spite of the poor economy, people still love their pets and there will always be a demand for pet supplies, including specialty gift items. Consider unusual items that no other pet stores in the area carry. Pet food delivery might be a viable option for having an edge on the competition.

4. If you do convert to a humane model, especially if you are the first in your area to do so, alert the media including local newspapers and TV stations. People will be very happy to hear the news of a pet store in their area that has rescue dogs, and you will be giving a big boost to your business at the same time.

Tips & Warnings

• Shelters spay/neuter and update pets on vaccinations before they adopt them out, so that is an expense you and your customers won’t have to incur. The shelters also provide a health guarantee for a certain period of time (some up to 30 days) that you can extend to your customers.
• There are still many people who prefer not to visit a shelter and would rather get a dog from a pet shop. You will be providing that service, except you will be doing it the humane way!
• You should probably concentrate on getting puppies and smaller dogs up to 2 years old since that is likely what you have room for and what the majority of your customers will want. This will at least free up space at the shelter for older and larger dogs to get adopted. The more room at the shelter, the longer the animals will be kept alive and the better the chance of adoption.
• In addition to dogs, consider offering adoptable cats and rabbits from shelters. There are plenty that need homes
• From time to time the dogs you take in may need to be quarantined in another area (such as in back of the store) for kennel cough or other illnesses in order to prevent the spread to your other dogs. Make sure you have ample space to keep the quarantined dogs comfortable until they are ready for adoption.

Resources

• Pet Store in Los Angeles Goes Humane
• Pet Store in San Fernando Valley Goes Humane
• Best Friends: About Puppy Mills
• Best Friends: Puppies Aren't Products Campaign
• LCA: Ban Puppy Mills

[ilivetoteach]

on 6/20/2009 Great suggestions.

[bikewithmydog]

on 6/1/2009 I am printing this one and giving it to ALL my retailers in Canada!