Montecito Pet Shop to Sell Only Rescued Dogs

It's about time. Someone has to make a stand against puppy mill breeding and who better than the pet shops!!!

Outstanding!!!!!

Outstanding is right - and I hope the fees for the rescued puppies and dogs are reasonable.
Certainly the shop has to make a profit to stay around, and caring for rescued dogs is costly with vet and grooming bills...what is being charged for the puppies?

Just under $400. Pretty steep for a rescue dog.

This is wonderful!!! Thank you for taking a stand for the dogs that fall through the cracks and for setting a fine example for our community. SO great. I hope that other cities will be inspired by your stand, as well ;o)

It's expensive savings dogs, actually. I think that $400 is a bit much, but considering that many rescues charge about $200 for dogs from the same sourcing as these rescues, this isn't too, too horrible. I'm really glad they are finally helping instead of adding to the problem.

The real challenge becomes changing the customer's mind. As long as people still think it's a good idea to go spend $1500 on a "designer" dog, the rescues will be overlooked at any price.

But this is a HUGE step in the right direction. Yahoooo!!!

This is a great thing! I bet they will actually save money their overhead. I know for a fact from someone who was an insider that a lot of the pure-bred puppies that the Montecito Pet shop used to sell ended up at the vet quite a regular basis. I would think that frequency might actually be reduced with these rescues.

Purebred dogs often do have more health problems in general. I, too, am happy this store is carrying rescue dogs. I'd be much more inclined to buy one now. With all the poor animals that are euthanized because they can't find a home, it's just the right thing to do.

ABOUT TIME! These creatures deserve the chance they didn't have before! If any of you decide tio adopt 1 of these beautiful beings, remember the following: They ain't pets, they are FAMILY! Bless the folks who decided to give these souls a start over! :) henry

Steep price? Maybe; just depends how you look at it. It's awesome they are doing this. Great step in the right direction. I love all dogs, but "rescue" dogs always seem to be best.

Elyse - I LOVE YOU TO PIECES FOR DOING THIS! You have helped me in the past with the 5 or 6 doz. rescue dogs I've rescued....oh, to know the bliss and glow of a RESCUE DOG! they are so grateful. I love the YouTube video of what you're doing...I loved your shop in Montecito, I love it even more now on the Mesa...and I love you forever for doing this....everyone who wonders about price - believe me, it costs a BUNCH to rescue a dog, I've pulled them out of pounds right and left, you pay the adoption fee yourself, the med/vet fee yourself, and you're lucky if you get 5 cents. You just feel grateful a little life is saved. Elyse! this is just the best, you go big time, and good on you! big love, Hillary

$400 may seem steep, but don't forget this is a pet you will have and love for many many years! If you got a small latte every day for one year, you'd be spending more that $400! And think how much more enjoyment you'll get from your dog (who will get you to go out for a walk - which will wake you up and perhaps you won't need that latte!!!)

I am so pleased that Montecito Pet Shop is making such a great switch!

First off, purebred dog's do not have any more health issues than mixed breeds do. They are all animals, and animals are all subject to a variety of positive and negative hereditary conditions. The reason people believe purebreds have more health problems is because purebreds have pedigrees and are easily documented. Mixes don't have this advantage, thus researching and documenting health issues are nearly impossible.

In other words, mixed breeds are just as susceptible to health and temperament issues as purebreds, but it's easier to hide problems such as these when they crop up in mixes, as there is no pedigree nor definable "breed" to blame.

People should have the opportunity to buy their pets from whatever source they choose, whether it be from a shelter, reputable breeder, or private rescue.

Someone who wants a purebred Lab is not going to go looking for a Cocker mix...and shouldn't be forced to....any more than they should be forced to marry someone they don't love just because it's the currently politically correct thing to do.

I personally have a huge problem with selling dogs in pet stores, at "adoption" fairs, etc...and I am more than a bit uncomfortable even with public shelters. There is no way to investigate the homes these animals are going to; anyone with the $ who wants a puppy can just walk in and get one.

At least with a reputable breeder or private rescue, there are serious hoops to go through, homechecks, references required, etc, before a buyer can take a puppy or adult animal.

Also, "Designer dogs" ARE mixes. Labradoodle, Schnoodle, etc....all mixed breeds with made-up names and phoney papers....and all the health problems of any other living creature. And no way to track and eliminate them, because they are mixes, they don't breed true, and there is no way to keep accurate pedigree records.

Want a cute mix? Go buy one at a shelter or a rescue; don't pay $1500.00 for one. Want a cute purebred? Go to a reputable breeder who raises their dogs in their home, keeps immaculate conditions and records, and stands behind their animals for life.

That said, I see where this pet shop is filling a need, and I just hope the dogs all end up in safe homes.

As for the comment on pet shops "taking a stand against puppy mill breeding", that's completely erroneous. Most pet shops get their pets from commercial kennels to begin with. Additionally, reputable breeders do not sell to pet shops, period.

Selling mixes at this pet store is not going to change the euthanasia rate at the shelters, neither is mandatory sterilization. We need to start by addressing uncomfortable subjects such as lack of rental housing for pet owners, soaring veterinary costs, and despite all the pretending otherwise, a generally VERY dog-unfriendly area.

We need to make it EASIER, not harder, to own a pet. We need to educate and support pet owners, not criminalize them.

Selling mixed breeds in the Montecito pet store is a nice gesture, and one which will make plenty of money for the owners, with a nearly 100% profit margin (mixed breed pups are nearly always free or near-free to obtain) and the cachet of political correctness as icing on the cake as it becomes the "in-thing" to buy a mix from the Montecito pet shop. A win-win for the shop owners and the fashion-conscious puppy buyers.

Hopefully, the buyers will realize these are living creatures, and will make and see through the appropriate commitment to these babies for the rest of their natural lives, and not abandon them when they become expensive, inconvenient, or Bob Barker, Pam Anderson, Oprah and Ellen find another cause to embrace.

A dog, whether purebred or mixed, is a living being deserving of a lifetime of love and good care...regardless of where s/he looks like or came from.

Bravo and thank you, Montecito Pet Shop ! You see the problem and the tragic consequences for so many beautiful and innocent victims and you are doing something about it. All the dogs of my life have come from rescue situations,each bringing his or her own story. Good luck to the pets and their new guardians.

Awesome. What an example for everybody to follow!

I see a nominee for many awards here. Very good example to set and I am glad it has worked out for them and more importantly for the dogs.

this is wonderful..I have always purchased my supplies from Elyse...now I acknowledge her for taking this brave step for the benefit of the animals involved

I paid $450 for my purebred, so yes, $400 is "a bit steep."

Well done, Elyse. Things like this will certainly earn my business.

As for more pet friendly landlords, if there were more pet conscientious tenants, that would be likely. Leaving a dog alone all day and dog barking and not picking up poop are too frequent. (The first, of course, is a real problem for so many people who struggle to live here and pay the high costs of living.)

That aside, good luck to the Montecito Pet Shop.

...and Kratatoa, there is the old saying "one cannot by love". Is a puppy more or less deserving or more capable of offering more unconditional love to his guardian if the guardian pays $40,$400,$450 or $4000! Our pure bred Alaskan puppy dog came with his Kennel Club papers and large bag of dog food because his owner had to leave the country and could not take his beloved pet with him. He did not want to return him to the breeders and a stud/kennel environment. He just wanted to be assured of the happy family environment we could give the dog for the rest of his life, instead of the $2,000 offer from the breeder. Why so uppity about paying $450 for you puppy? You are both lucky. No doubt you love him, just as much those who pay $400 for these rescue dogs, from whom they will receive boundless and endless joy in return. Let it go.

So why not just get a dog for free from the pound?

To Kratatoa - dogs are not "free" at the pound. To Holly: Just an FYI - commercial kennels ARE puppy mills.
To all who believe purebreds have more medical issues than rescues: True. The reason behind this is because dogs bought at pet stores come from puppy mills and the parents of those dogs receive little to no veterinary care. In addition negative hereditary traits are not bred out of puppy mill pups as they are with a responsible breeder, hence more purebred dogs (and I use that term loosely since you will NOT meet its parents) have more medical issues. Oh, one more thing: all here are assuming that no rescue dogs are purebred. Not true. Many, many purebred dogs are relinquished into rescue, usually for reasons of incompatibility with the original owner (and because pet stores will not take that dog back like a responsible breeder would). Please people - do a little research into breed personality, etc., before entering into what should be a lifetime commitment.
Congratulations Elyse! The world needs more people like you.

Good work Elyse. Now, can we work on bunny sales? Our family rescued a bunny from a neighbor who no longer wanted it, a bunny she purchased this year at the Mesa shop. When I explained to the staff that I needed the accurate age of the bunny so that I could schedule the nueter/spay of the bunny they were surprised that I would want to go to the expense, actually discouraging the operation. They had no records so I guessed at the age based on proper weaning ages but after several vet exams it was clear that this bunny was much younger than weaning age, too young to have left it's mother and siblings and end up in a pet store!
Besides, there are ALOT of local rabbits that need homes (check the shelter). I hope Montecito Pets can help rescue them just as they have helped the dogs by no longer selling bred-for-profit bunnies.