Yabbas now a Pet Store + whether you should adopt instead

honeymoonx

Peeked in the other night and saw Pet food on the shelves. Then yesterday I saw they put up a sign reading Pup Slope.

considering they'red located on the PH side of Flatbush they could of used a better name. Prospect Pup?

the yarn monkey

How about Prospect Pup or Catbush? The options are endless.

brooksignal

LMAO!

bunnycup

A woman, apparently the owner, told me on Monday that they plan to begin selling dogs and cats shortly. I don't really want to buy pet food and toys from someone who thinks that's okay. But of course you might feel differently, so...

sje

Are you kidding? They're selling animals in there? Just about everyone knows not to buy a puppy mill puppy. I hope! Jeez, I so rather have yaba.

laura b

bunnycup wrote: A woman, apparently the owner, told me on Monday that they plan to begin selling dogs and cats shortly. I don't really want to buy pet food and toys from someone who thinks that's okay. But of course you might feel differently, so...

Anyone considering buying a cat or dog should read the following, from today's Daily News:

Your love can save her life

City's shelters desperate amid flood of pets

BY LISA L. COLANGELO

Mom and her kittens are among scores of pets shelters are trying to save.

City animal shelters are being inundated with unwanted dogs and cats - and officials are desperate to find them homes before they're forced to put the pets to sleep.

City shelters are taking in 85 cats and kittens a day - up from about 50 a day just a few months ago, said Richard Gentles, director of administrative services for New York City Animal Care and Control.

Some strays are being plucked off the streets, but many more are being dropped off by fickle owners who no longer want their pets because they're headed on vacation or the animals are going into heat.

Shelter officials said they worry they will be forced to euthanize scores of friendly cats and dogs because no one will come in and adopt them.



"We are being inundated," Gentles said. "Adoptable animals are being put down, and one death is too many."

Unlike the ASPCA, Humane Society and other shelters, Animal Care and Control cannot turn away any animal brought into its three shelters or left on the street.

It is the only nonprofit organization that holds a contract with the city to handle its stray and unwanted animals - about 44,000 every year.

Rescue groups, such as the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, pitch in and take many cats and dogs out of Animal Care and Control shelters. But they also are getting overwhelmed, according to Mayor's Alliance President Jane Hoffman.

"Having a pet really needs to be a lifetime commitment," Hoffman said. "People are turning in their pets because they want to go on vacation. Or they got puppies and kittens and never spayed or neutered them, and now they are unhappy with their behavior because they are going into heat."

The number of unwanted animals euthanized at city shelters has dropped dramatically in recent years, thanks in part to groups like the Mayor's Alliance, which provides grants to smaller rescue groups.

"We have been making such good progress, this is heartbreaking," Hoffman said. "We need New Yorkers to step up now and help us."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/07/11/2007-07-11_your_love_can_save_her_life.html

veggiequeen

Yea, that's really bad news. I'm already going to send out a boycott notice to all my friends.

vanilla

bunnycup wrote: A woman, apparently the owner, told me on Monday that they plan to begin selling dogs and cats shortly. I don't really want to buy pet food and toys from someone who thinks that's okay. But of course you might feel differently, so...

nnnoooooo.... that sucks so bad!!

sweet tea

bunnycup wrote: A woman, apparently the owner, told me on Monday that they plan to begin selling dogs and cats shortly. I don't really want to buy pet food and toys from someone who thinks that's okay. But of course you might feel differently, so...

did you tell her that? because i'm with you on that one, and maybe if enough people tell her it's a bad idea -- that she'll lose food/toy/wee-wee pad business over it -- she won't do it.

besides all the ethical considerations, i've gotta think it's a pain in the ass to decide to be that kind of store -- why not stick to inventory that doesn't need you feeding it all the time? so maybe she can be swayed.

poppy13

It certainly is kitten season. What should be done is try to despirse these cats and dogs to smaller towns. My godmother who is in PA had gotten a cat from the local ASPCA, and the poor thing already had an infection. Now that the cat got loose and all, the ASPCA is reluctent to give my godmother another cat. It was her fault that the poor thing was already sick and scared. So anyway, now she has to go to another small (even smaller) town to try to get a cat. This lady has had cats in her home as long as I can remember. If she doesn't find anything, I'm going to bring her one from NYC.

the yarn monkey

Still thinking of names for the store. How about "Bewteen Bird-gen and St. Bark's"

sje

Screw names Yarn Guy, if they're selling dogs and cats while animals are being euthanized for lack of homes, I'll never spend a single damn cent in there. Besides, I love Acme on Vanderbilt. Ask them how much I spend, it's not an insignificant amount! I also patronize Top Dog {or whatever it's called} by the 7th ave. Ozzies in PS.

Selling puppy/kitty mill animals is barbaric. I will boycott the place. This truly is no laughing matter.

bunnycup

Wow, being new here (to the forums, but several years in PH/PS) and firm in my stance that it's unethical to sell dogs and cats when so many are homeless and suffering and being euthanized, I am so thrilled to see all the responses to boycott Pup Slope and speak to the owners to urge more ethical actions. Those are some great ideas, and perhaps if the owner is adamant that she wants live animals available she might agree to instead sponser adoption days because doing so will obviously garner her more community support.

caseopele

bunnycup, I think you'll find that there will be alot of opposition to a pet store selling animals around here. There are a few local rescue groups in the PS/PH area (I foster for one of them). I'm pretty surprised that this woman thought it would be a good idea to open a place like that on Flatbush. Everyone I know (including customers) with pets is going to hear about this. This woman is no better than a pimp, making money off the backs of suffering animals. Pet stores selling cats and dogs don't just get them from puppy mills, they get them from backyard breeders too (which are just as bad). Thank you so much for letting us know about this!

the yarn monkey

Uhhhg, this post bugs me a lot.

For those that want to adopt a pet, you are correct, save a soul at any of the NY adoption anegcies. I've done that before.

But here's my question. Before the villagers burn down the pet store, did anyone stop in to ask what they are up to? Not all breeders are mill-type places. Good dog breeders are very aware of "close" breeding and the horrible defects that go along with that. A bad reputation can shut down your business overnight.

Someone gonna stop in and for a little Q&A?

emily

Is the place open yet, or is there someone in the store? I'm not sure there's anything to boycott yet, but I'd definitely go and talk to the person.

bunnycup, there are so many pet-lovers here! I also think that the involvement of some posters with TNR and trying to get animals adopted has raised the profile of that issue among people who post/read here a lot. =D>

sje

If someone is dead set on a particular breed, there are rescue organizations for every single one. Or Petfinder.com is also very good for all states. Both my dogs are pure-bred {pure chance, actually} rescues {chihuahua and a MinPin, Kitty was born in a deli in Jersey!}, so there simply is NO NEED to sell a pure breed animal from a store. If your going to professionally show and get one directly from a breeder, that's another story, however I'll wager no-one gets a showdog from a pet store! Yarn Guy, please research this subject, it's awful!

I do plan to stop in and see what up myself.

the yarn monkey

You're a doll Emily.

A good suggestion is see if they are willing to post an adopted "Pet of the Week" from Hope, or any of the adoption agencies. People that adopt pets are not people that buy by breed.

I admit, I stop in and play with the prisoners at Hope, but allergies take their toll.

stacey

bunnycup wrote: Those are some great ideas, and perhaps if the owner is adamant that she wants live animals available she might agree to instead sponser adoption days because doing so will obviously garner her more community support.

I think that would be the best idea - that was how I got my kitties was at an adoption day at Petco. I will definitely let her know how I feel.

I feel the same as SJE about Acme - plus I love going to visit Knuckles

poppy13

Hahaha

bunnycup

I also have two purebred dogs by chance (a Chi and a MinPin who is weirdly more like a MediumPin) that were given up by previous families and adopted by my family, although overall I am truly much more of a mutt person. I'm also looking to perhaps adopt a cat in the near future, but that's still under family discussion. It's so great to talk with some other animal lovers!

And just to clarify, I think the store is open. I walked past on Monday with Mr. Bunnycup and our Chihuahua, we peeked in the window and were invited in. The woman I spoke with was very nice and offered Lulu, who was panting from the heat wave, a sip of water. What we both think we heard next was that they'd be selling dogs soon too, but I'm HOPING that it was a misunderstanding!

I will try to stop in again and see the same person and ask her whether I heard her right. If I get anymore details, I will let everyone know. I don't want to ruin the store's rep if I am possibly wrong, but if I am right...well...that's a whole different story.

medusa

I walked by today. Puppies are in the window (at least they looked like puppies to my untrained eye). Mini Dachaunds maybe. I did not go in to deny or confirm the sales aspect of things. Maybe a more intreipid reported will be able to provide more infor after the PM commute.

sje

Bunnycup, that's funny that we ended up with the two exact same breeds by chance! My Minpin is 21 lbs, we call him a "MaxiPin". :-D

I'm all for supporting local businesses, that's widely known, but if this place sells lives animals, my "rabid" response is nothing compared to how others in the 'hood will react.

bunnycup

sje wrote: My Minpin is 21 lbs, we call him a "MaxiPin". :-D

I love it! And it is hysterical we have the same breeds!

A little off topic I guess but I'm convinced I have a Chi and a Minpin because so many people get tempted by their teeny cuteness as puppies in stores that sell animals and then get them home and realized what you and I know - even though small, they are tyrannical little MONSTERS, horrible with children, bossy and independent, and not at all like the helpless quivering cold cute little thing they saw begging in the cage!

(But I love 'em)

veggiequeen

Medusa wrote: I walked by today. Puppies are in the window (at least they looked like puppies to my untrained eye). Mini Dachaunds maybe. I did not go in to deny or confirm the sales aspect of things. Maybe a more intreipid reported will be able to provide more infor after the PM commute.

I'll have to put my blinders on... I'll want to cry and scream if I see them.

sje

bunnycup wrote: [quote=sje]My Minpin is 21 lbs, we call him a "MaxiPin". :-D

I love it! And it is hysterical we have the same breeds!

A little off topic I guess but I'm convinced I have a Chi and a Minpin because so many people get tempted by their teeny cuteness as puppies in stores that sell animals and then get them home and realized what you and I know - even though small, they are tyrannical little MONSTERS, horrible with children, bossy and independent, and not at all like the helpless quivering cold cute little thing they saw begging in the cage!

(But I love 'em)

Totally true! My 10 lb chichi rules the whole house! And the Maxipin didn't sit down for the first 5 years I had him!

I'm really not happy that we have a pet shop in the 'hood selling dogs. It's so unethical and unenlightened. Going to go by and see for myself, then let the owner know why I won't be shopping there.

bunnycup

Just wanted to let people know I stopped in on my way home from work. There were about 10 people outside looking in the window at 2 puppies and a kitten. I went inside and asked at the counter and was told the animals ARE for sale.

Wow I can't believe it - I thought my 9lb Chi was a lil' cow, and well Mr. "I'm passing myself off as a giant MinPin" is probably about 18lbs right now. I really thought there couldn't be twins but there are!

Just got home going to play with the monsters.

medusa

The thing is, the puppies in the window will lure people in. Maybe reps from the animal shelter should set up a table nearby with adorable animals for adoption as a counterpoint.

the yarn monkey

Subject: Epilogue

bunnycup wrote: Just wanted to let people know I stopped in on my way home from work. There were about 10 people outside looking in the window at 2 puppies and a kitten. I went inside and asked at the counter and was told the animals ARE for sale.

Ok people, breath. When the number of ogglers out-number the number of pets 10 to 3, it doesn 't seem like much of a mill. Sounds more like a promotion than a sales point. If this is the case, you just helped them along with each post.

sje

YG, puppy mill doesn't refer to the actual store, please Google it! It's where they come from. Why should animals be bred to sell in stores when there are THOUSANDS of them needing home? etc....

Here: I did it for you.
http://tinyurl.com/697pq

brooklynleather

Yeah I went in today and I was sketched out that they were selling puppies!