I?ve heard about this place and never been near it but this afternoon I was in that area and I though *Heck, I should go in and see how bad it really is just so I have had the experience*.
And as I was about to pull into the parking lot I remembered that the second I walked in I would be flooded with helpless animals that I would not be able to help and I would be reminded that their parents were existing in puppy mills and would never get help.
So I kept driving.
I know many pet store dogs who have good homes and I think that their people should send money to puppy mill rescue in the off chance that they will be able to help their dog?s parents. My family got our first dog, 75% off, from a department store pet shop and she was amazing. She came from Kansas which is a pretty big puppy mill state. Surprisingly, the Amish in PA are among the biggest puppy milling community because God gave them power over the animals and the animals bring them money.
But back to the fact that I let my guard down for a few minutes and almost entered a store which represents everything that I despise about people making money by using animals. And, in a way, this tiny event in my life made me appreciate my Dogger friends because when I told Christina what *I almost did* she was horrified because she knew what seeing those little faces would have done to me.
I would have remembered them forever and would have been able to do nothing to help them.
If you want to learn about how bad this is go here:
http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/
I have a friend we?ll call *Nameless* and she has a little Dog who has not left his home or yard in about 3 years. He is reactive to many things and she doesn?t want him traumatized by anything out of his routine. She has created a terrified little Dog. He has had so much ?sameness? for the last few years that any scent or new place is horrifying to him.
She needs to walk her Dog. Dogs love to smell different smells and to see different sights. She thinks she?s protecting him from the world and the world from him but what she?s really doing is creating a paranoid Dog who thinks that the neighborhood he?s lived in his entire life is fraught with danger and scary things.
She needs to walk this Dog even if it?s only for half a block. He will have fun and she will have a better and more balanced Dog in her life.
Introducing dogs to each other should always be done on neutral grounds and not in the yard or home of the dog as it could start a dog fight as territorial needs may come into play. A Park or even on the street many houses away is all you need to do. The introduction should be on a loose leash for both dogs. People make the mistake of bringing the dogs together head on, this is a no no in doggie terms. When dogs meet they usually will go to the middle of the new dog, and then sniff places where most people are embarrassed this is the “Doggie Hello”. Dogs may circle each other first it will be up to you to keep the leash loose and let the dog move around this is normal behavior for a dog, and allowing them to meet on their terms is best.
Once the dogs feel comfortable with each other go for a short walk on leash with the dogs, in most cases they will soon become good friends. If for any reason they take a dislike to each other don?t push it try again another day. You may find that some dogs just don?t want to be around some other dogs. Just as you meet people you don?t care for dogs can be the same way. If they don?t get along after a few meetings you may just have to assume they will not be fast friends. Dogs are social animals so they are more likely to get along than not.
