Anyone Have Anything to Add?

This is the list of specific criteria that I brainstormed and sent off to Legislator Jon Cooper this evening to be considered for his Pet Store Companion Animal Rating System. I'm still begging my readers to make lists of their own, and send them out soon while this new resolution is still being drafted. I know a rating system will not induce change the way a law banning the sale of puppies in kittens in pet stores might have, but hey, I believe it's a step in the right direction, and one we should all take the time to participate in.

Specific Criteria for Rating Pet Stores

Stores should receive poor ratings if:
- If the store is dirty or smells bad
- If the animals are housed in filthy kennels or cages, or if they have dirty dishes
- If the animals’ fur looks dirty, matted, or smells bad
- If the animals look sick or have visible, untreated wounds
- If the animals don’t look like the breed they are labeled to be
- If the store receives poor inspections from governing agencies
- If the kennels or cages only have wire flooring to stand on, with no access to solid surfaces
- If the animals do not have access to water at all times
- If the animals do not have adequate bedding
- If the store frequently changes its name
- If the store uses misleading advertising (ie: claiming they are a breeder over the phone, or in newspaper ads)
- If the animals are in crowded kennels or cages
- If the store charges additional fees or higher than average prices for ‘rare’ colors, or ‘designer’ mixed breeds
- If any of the employees or owners have ever been brought up on cruelty charges

Stores should receive good ratings if:
- If they provide documentation of where each individual animal was obtained
- If they provide health certificates, including vaccination records, for any dog or cat they sell
- If the store continually purchases animals from the same breeders (and those breeders are rated highly)
- If the salespeople are knowledgeable when questioned about breed traits and hereditary issues for the animals they are selling, or at least attempt to find out the information for the customer, before the sale
- If the store checks the animal abuse registry before selling an animal to a customer
- If all of the animals are AKC registered, and not registered through a mishmash of other, lesser known registries that do not conduct routine breeder inspections
- If they provide a health guarantee. NOTE: The rating should increase or decrease depending on the length of the health guarantee and how many illnesses and conditions are covered / The rating should decrease substantially if conditions are only covered by the store's vet, rather than a vet of the consumer's choosing

Stores should receive above average ratings if:
- If the animals have toys in their kennels or cages
- If the animal's parents were screened for hereditary diseases, and if the store can provide copies of screening certificates to the consumer
- If the kennels or cages are extremely roomy
- If the animals have actual beds, instead of just paper or wood shavings
- If the animals have access to a flat surface to stand on (and it is clean)
- If the dogs have access to the outdoors, and are taken there for daily exercise (this might be hard to accomplish with cats, for safety reasons)
- If the salespeople attempt to educate the consumer of breed specific needs before selling them an animal (ie: exercise needs, grooming needs, are they generally good with children, how well might they get along with other pets, do they have a high prey drive, are they dog friendly, etc.)
- If the salespeople attempt to educate the consumer about the breed’s specific health issues and what to watch out for (hip or knee problems, heart issues, epilepsy, allergies, etc.,)
- If the store also has homeless animals in need of adoption available on the premises
- If the store actively promotes adoption as an alternative to purchase
- If the store checks the customers references before a sale, including veterinarians and landlords

Items I would also like to see noted:
- What does the store do with puppies and kittens that do not sell?
- How many sick animals are returned each year?
- How many dead ones?
- How many consumer complaints are filed each year?

Specific Criteria for Rating Breeders

Breeders should receive poor ratings if:
- If the facility is dirty or smells bad
- If the animals are housed in filthy kennels or cages, or if they have dirty dishes
- If the animals’ fur looks dirty, matted, or smells bad
- If the animals look sick or have visible, untreated wounds
- If the animals don’t look like the breed they are reported to be
- If the breeder receives poor inspections from governing agencies
- If the kennels or cages only have wire flooring to stand on, with no access to solid surfaces
- If the animals don’t have adequate bedding
- If the animals do not have access to water at all times
- If the breeder frequently changes its name
- If the breeder sells animals over the internet
- If the breeder has multiple websites
- If the animals are in crowded kennels or cages
- If the breeder charges additional fees or higher than average prices for ‘rare’ colors, or ‘designer’ mixed breeds
- If the animals are registered through a mishmash of registries
- If any of the employees or owners have ever been brought up on cruelty charges
- If they breed animals with food or environmental allergies, mange, or other obvious genetic defects
- If the animals are not given routine vet care
- If the animals have parasites
- If the breeder participates in animal auctions
- If the cages and kennels are smaller than required by the state they operate in
- If they have ever had their breeding license revoked
- If they have ever had their AKC membership revoked

Breeders should receive good ratings if:
- If they provide health certificates, including vaccination records for all dogs and cats they sell
- If all of their animals are AKC registered, and not registered through other, lesser known registries that do not conduct inspections
- If the cages and kennels meet the minimum requirements required by the state they operate in
- If customers are welcomed to the facility to purchase an animal on the premises
- If the facility is well ventilated, heated, and air conditioned
- If the animals are fed a premium diet
- If the animals are routinely picked up, removed from the cages, and cuddled
- If the animals are routinely screened for intestinal parasites and Heartworms

Breeders should receive above average ratings if:
- If the animals have toys in their kennels or cages
- If the animals have actual beds, instead of paper or wood shavings
- If the animals have access to a flat surface to stand on (and it is clean)
- If the dogs have access to the outdoors, and are taken there for exercise daily (this might be hard to accomplish with cats, for safety reasons)
- If the animals are raised inside the breeders home
- If the breeding animals are screened for hereditary diseases, and copies of the screening certificates are sent along to the pet store
- If the breeder actively socializes the kittens and puppies to new places, people, and experiences
- If the cages and kennels are larger than required by the state they operate in
- If the breeder participate in dog sports, shows, or other outside activities with their adult dogs
- If the breeder DNA tests their animals to prove parentage and provides results upon request
 
Items I would also like to see noted:
- What does the breeder do with animals that can no longer be used for breeding?
- What does the breeder do with animals that are suffering from incurable diseases?
- How many sick animals are returned each year?
- How many dead ones?
- How many consumer complaints are filed each year?