The place to find a pet is in a shelter

Re “Animal group says Westside pet shop sold from puppy mills,” Dec. 12

As long as people are willing to pay large sums of money for breed dogs, the practice of breeding and exploitation will continue. The female dogs are bred continuously with no rest between heat cycles. The mothers and their litters often suffer from malnutrition, exposure and lack of adequate veterinary care. Puppies being shipped from mills to brokers to pet shops can be transported hundreds of miles without adequate food, water, ventilation or shelter. When a breeder or puppy mill is discovered and the many sick animals have to be euthanized, the perpetrators are often just slapped on the hand. They should instead be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

In today’s society, where unwanted dogs and cats are killed by the millions every year in animal shelters, there is simply no reason for animals to be bred and sold through pet stores. Only when people refuse to support pet shops and breeders will this chain of misery be broken.

Laura Frisk

Encinitas

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The article notes that the West L.A. animal shelter has several adoptable mixed-breed puppies. Several isn’t many, and that’s because people in the West L.A. area tend to be responsible about spay-neuter. Sadly, the city shelters do not share dogs, and the South L.A. facility kills dozens every week. People on the Westside willing to take the half-hour drive to another shelter will find scores of available puppies of all shapes and sizes, and older dogs of every breed, looking for love.

Karen Dawn

Pacific Palisades

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Puppy mills raise dogs in filthy and cramped conditions. The confinement and lack of veterinary care often results in unhealthy animals that are abandoned shortly after adoption by frustrated buyers, making the animal overpopulation crisis worse. With millions of animals dying every year in animal shelters, there is no good reason for the pet-shop trade.

The best way to find an animal companion is through an animal shelter or rescue group, and the best way to curb the animal overpopulation crisis is through spaying and neutering.

Anthony Montapert

North Hollywood