The Dog Merchants
Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers
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- $20.99
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- $20.99
Publisher Description
In what promises to become an "Omnivore's Dilemma" for dog lovers—breed devotees and adoption advocates alike—The Dog Merchants is the first book to explain the complex and often surprisingly similar business practices that extend from the American Kennel Club to local shelters, from Westminster champions to dog auctions.Without judging dog lovers of any stripe, The Dog Merchants makes it clear that money spent among these dog merchants has real-world effects on people and canines. Kavin reveals how dog merchants create markets for dogs, often in defiance of the usual rules of supply and demand. She takes an investigative approach and meets breeders and rescuers at all levels, shedding much-needed light on an industry that most people don't even realize is an industry.Kavin’s goal is to advance the conversation about how all dogs are treated, from puppy mills to high-kill shelters. She shows that a great deal can be improved by understanding the business practices behind selling dogs of all kinds. Instead of pitting rescue and purebred people against each other, The Dog Merchants shows how all dog lovers can come together, with one voice as consumers, on behalf of all our beloved companions.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Journalist and volunteer foster care owner Kavin (Little Boy Blue) takes on the industry of dog breeding and selling, interviewing puppy mill operators, hobby breeders, shelter operators, dog auctioneers, and others all of whom swear they prioritize the welfare of the dogs they deal. Kavin portrays some businesses in a negative light, especially those immersed in breeding and showing purebred dogs (Kavin himself owns two mixed breeds). This undermines the stated goal of "mov the conversation forward so that all dog lovers can understand exactly what we are buying into." The book will inevitably raise the hackles of breeders who believe they are being depicted unfairly. But those who are breeding and raising dogs responsibly will find validation in their endeavors and consumers seeking to buy or adopt dogs will benefit from the information Kavin has gathered as they make their decisions.
