Shelter or Store? Most Americans Say "No Question"
By SUE MANNING
Associated Press Writer

May 12, 2010

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Remember that old song, "How much is that doggie in the
window?" For most Americans, it seems it's no sale. More than half of people
in an Associated Press-Petside.com poll said they would get their next dog
or cat from a shelter, nearly seven times the number who said they would buy
their next pet from a store.

And more than four in 10 said they thought store pets could have hidden
medical or psychological problems. That's significantly more than those who
expressed the same concerns about pets from animal shelters or breeders. "I
believe they overbreed the pets. I believe they couldn't care less about the
pets, they're really in it for the money. I think you are more likely to get a
pet at a pet store that is ill or has problems," said Sandra Toro, 62, of
Colton, Calif.

Just 8 percent of those polled said they would get their next cat or dog at
a store, while 13 percent said that's where they got the pet they have now.

Fifty-four percent of those polled said they would probably get their next
pet from a shelter, while 23 percent went for a breeder. Toro, who has a
14-year-old rescue terrier mix named Dancer, said she doesn't understand how
anyone can buy a pet from a store or a breeder. "There are so many wonderful
pets out there that will be euthanized," she said. "There's no reason for
it."

John Knight, 45, of Dallas, got his 3-year-old mutt named Liesl (rhymes
with diesel) from an animal shelter that was holding a weekend adoption day at
Petsmart. "There are plenty of animals out there that need good homes that
don't have them. There's no reason to continue to breed animals when there
are so many that have to be put down," he said.

When asked where their present pets came from, 26 percent said breeders and
30 percent said shelters — a much smaller number than said they would go to
a shelter for their next pet.

More than half of those polled said their dogs or cats came from places
other than shelters, breeders or stores. They might have been strays, gifts
from friends or favors for neighbors. Since some people have more than one pet,
the numbers add to more than 100 percent. "I've probably had 50 dogs and
all but two came walking up our driveway," said Colleen Campbell, 71, of
Fairview, Texas. She and her husband have spent 50 years on their rural farm
outside Dallas and it has been a perennial dumping ground for strays. They also
take in any other animal that needs a home. Their vet talked them into Frito
and Burrito, a pair of donkeys Campbell knew would need special medical
attention.

The poll showed that dog owners (35 percent) were likelier to have gotten
their current pets from a breeder than cat owners (5 percent). Forty-seven
percent of those polled said they were strongly concerned that an animal from
a pet store would have medical issues they didn't know about, 38 percent had
similar worries about animals from breeders and 32 percent were concerned
about shelter pets.

As for psychological problems, 44 percent said they had significant worries
about pet store animals and 33 percent worried about both breeder and
shelter pets.

Fitting in with the family was of concern to everyone: 33 percent for
stores, 30 percent for shelters and 28 percent for breeders. When Mike
Stoutenburg, 36, of Mishawaka, Ind., and his family are ready for their next dog, they
will probably go to a breeder, he said, because they want an Australian
shepherd. He is sure he could see any health problems in a puppy, but said he
would ask his vet and groomer to check the pet out for any mental problems
because the dog will be around a very young and active child — and his
3-year-old son "loves to grab things." "Our groomer is extremely knowledgeable
about animals. We trust her opinion," Stoutenburg said.

Bill Machut, 40, of Rolling Meadows, Ill., got his dog, Sidney, a Siberian
Husky, from a pet store when the dog was 8 weeks old. That was 12 years ago.
If he were looking for a new pet, "I would buy from a pet store again. And
I wouldn't rule out a breeder if I was looking for a certain breed. But I
would probably start off at the shelters," he said. He said most people expect
things like kennel cough or worms. "There is an assumption there is a good
chance there is some sort of health issue, especially being at a shelter.
You deal with it. It's not that big of a deal," he said. Several years ago,
they got Sidney a playmate from a shelter, knowing before they took her in
that she was sick. "She had seizures from the get go. We knew she wasn't going
to be a long life dog. We had her six years."

People under age 30 (17 percent) were likelier to say they'd get a pet from
a pet store than older groups (all were 7 percent or less).

The AP-Petside.com Poll was conducted April 7-12, 2010, and involved
landline and cell phone interviews with 1,112 pet owners nationwide. It has a
margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. ———

By LINDA MULLALLY
Herald Correspondent
Posted: 03/23/2010
The Monterey Peninsula is dog crazy.

An abundance of restaurants, inns, trails, parks, beaches and businesses along the Central Coast cater to a canine clientele. Most famously, two of Carmel's classic dog-friendly spots are Carmel Beach, the cream of off-leash dog romps, and the Cypress Inn, anointed with Doris Day-style hospitality.

Whether you're the owner of one of the estimated 25,000 dogs that live around the Monterey Bay or if you're a visitor who brings your four-legged tourist to the Peninsula, your chances of exploring the region with your canine companion has improved considerably in recent years.

Bowsers can get VIP attention, for instance, on the Forge in the Forest's dog patio, where selections can be made from an exclusive "Dog Pound" menu. At the Mid-Valley Shopping Center, Jeffrey's is a dog-friendly breakfast and lunch refueling favorite, perfect for an exhilarating trek through nearby Garland Ranch Regional Park.

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