There’s a backdrop to the recent Signal story about Kyle Harris and her Garage Mahal conversion in Canyon Country. From solo rescue efforts to boutique virtual rescue operations to breed-specific and traditional boarding facilities, pet rescue and adoption efforts are quietly sprinkled throughout our valley.
We got a real taste of it recently and ended up working across the rescue spectrum to find our 2 year old Boxer, Mavis.
Along the way we met Hsiawen Hull, a volunteer at the Castaic Animal Shelter, member of the Animal Rescue Volunteers organization in Simi Valley, and the SCV-based “Don’t Shop, Adopt” group.
“Every time you buy a puppy at the store, you kill a shelter dog.”
Hsiawen is passionate about animal rescue. He explained foster parents learn the temperament, quirks and endearing aspects of each rescued animal, that many are already housebroken, and 25% or more shelter dogs are pure-bred. All are spayed or neutered, many are healthy, up to date on shots, and in some instances already microchipped.
“Don’t Shop, Adopt” is fervently working to lobby the City Council to ban the sale of puppies and kittens for profit. That would affect Pet Adventure of Canyon Country and Just Jaws Pets, located adjacent to the children’s play area in the Valencia Town Center. Hull described the process by which puppies end up in the mall window. ”They generally are sold by a breeder from out of state for $100-$200, packed in a truck and shipped to the pet store, which then sells the dog for $1500-$2000.” Hull claims some breeders are operating environments that are questionable at best and inhumane, dirty and sickly at worst. He draws hope for the group’s efforts from a Missouri ballot initiative due before voters this November that seeks to regulate conditions in puppy mills, similar to CA Prop 2, which passed overwhelmingly in 2008 but focused on farm animal conditions. Still, banning the sale of animals and addressing breeder conditions are two entirely different things.
Hsiawen speaks from experience when he says “every time you buy a puppy at the store, you kill a shelter dog.” Castaic is known to euthanize, and there simply aren’t enough foster homes to handle the excess of abandoned dogs and cats. Despite being one of the most pet friendly areas in the County, according to Hull, there are a notable number of ongoing instances of SCV families that abandon their pets due to foreclosure, lifestyle changes, or other unforeseen circumstances.
After meeting a number of dogs, our search led us to a ‘breed rescue’, Boxer Rescue LA, located in Sun Valley. We were fortunate to be introduced to our sweet Mavis, whose primary form of communication involves her tongue and tater-tot tail.
- What’s not to love?
Looking at her face and watching my boys experience the joy of having a new four-legged friend in the house, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to pay $2,000 for a puppy from the mall – especially when there are hundreds of other Mavis’s waiting for a home.
Should stores be outright banned from selling puppies and kittens for profit?
Stay tuned: the emotionally charged debate is likely headed to City Hall in the coming months.
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