Which Is a More Logical Option? (Pet Store Protests)

[NashVegas]

to reduce the amount of shelter animals?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2919923&mesg_id=2919923

December 14, 2006
BY KHADIJA ALI Naperville Sun

A local merchant is challenging animal lovers who have been picketing one of his stores by threatening legal action against the protesters.

Picketers last month showed up in front of a Happiness is Pets store that recently opened in Warrenville, protesting the store's practice of selling dogs. One of the store's six locations opened in Naperville four years ago.

The protest was led by Warrenville resident Therese Davis and husband Gary, who want the pet store to stop selling dogs and restrict its sales to pet foods and supplies.

"I'm not against the store, but I'd rather see the adoption of dogs," Therese Davis said.

The Davises and others want Warrenville to approve an ordinance banning stores from selling live animals.

[Redstone]

1. Whatever doesn't interfere with someone else's right to make a living.

This is no different from, say, vegetarians picketing Sal's Deli because he sells corned-beef sandwiches.

It's just wrong.

Redstone

[NashVegas]

2. I Have a Confession to Make

I hate corned beef. No fun on St. Pat's at all.

[Redstone]

16. I'll have yours. I love the stuff.

Redstone

[AlienAvatar]

3. might anger some, but it's not wrong

Picketing is a laborious tool used to publicly display a groups feeling about a certain issue. It can be done legally or illegaly. Since no one in this instance has been arrested or fined, it seems apparent they are protesting in a legal manner. It is their legal right. If I want to stand on the sidewalk and protest the Salvation Army's giving away food to the homeless, I can do that.

[NMDemDist2]

6. welcome to DU AlienAvatar!

:hi:

[AlienAvatar]

7. Thanks AZDem

Actually I'v been here since spring of 2000. I might have had a few hundred posts back. I forget the details, but somewhere along the line DU changed in someway that required rejoining. I never did till just a month or so ago, but I've been an active lurker all along.

[NMDemDist2]

8. surely you mean 2001 as DU didn't start up until Inaugural Night 2001 n/t

[AlienAvatar]

9. guess I'm wrong

I got my first computer on Christmas of '99. I thought I remembered DU being a sane refuge during the Gore-Bush election but I guess I'm wrong about that. I guess it was in 2001-02 that I used to post. I thought it was a year earlier. It just seems as if it's been around longer than several months before 9/11.
I used to be sammythecat. Recently I've become a fan of space music and now I'm AlienAvatar.

[NMDemDist2]

11. sammythecat was an old member for sure

and still listed

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=123059

[AlienAvatar]

13. Holy Crap!! that's me!

I thought I was deleted. Now, what to do? I'll have to think about this.

Thanks again, AZDem.

[AlienAvatar]

4. not much of an option

Most people don't have the option to work and get paid whenever they get the urge to support a cause. Their worktime is limited, and, for too many, they have nothing to spare. Overtime is not available to all. They live paycheck to paycheck and any work they could pick up outside their job would most likely be at, or near, minimum wage level.

It would have to be oddjobs like mowing lawns or shoveling snow. It would be dishonest, as well as a big hassle, to get yourself hired for a job and then quit after 4 hours.

The option you provide just isn't there for most. And, in this particular instance, the option to picket for 4 hours has seemed to be far more effective than mowing grass and sending $30 to an animal welfare group. Plus, raising awareness by picketing just might have prompted someone else to send the $30 in their stead.

[NashVegas]

10. Interesting

The story noted that the couple who are spearheading the protests say they want an ordinance to outlaw the sales, yet they've not filed any papers at all and instead are focusing on future protests.

The thread that inspired this poll had over 300 responses, yet there are less than 20 votes.

It just strikes me more and more, lately, that people seem more interested in venting their anger than affecting positive change.

[AlienAvatar]

12. why no papers filed

If that's true then I can't say why they haven't done that. Maybe they think it will involve a lawyer and they can't afford one. Maybe they're lazy, maybe they're stupid. Maybe they'll get around to fileing papers on Monday. I don't know.

All I'm saying is that, if they are following legal regulations, they have a perfect right to protest till they drop dead in their tracks if they want.

In my previous response I gave reasons why I didn't think the option provided was realistic.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. A local group in my area

uses fundraisers not to picket breeders or pet stores but to sponsor low-cost spay/neuter programs. When I worked with them, we got volunteer vets to come for a day or two and do the surgeries as well as give shots. Yeah, there's a lot of resistance from some local vets, but since the folks who come usually don't have the $100 + to lay out for spaying or neutering, we are catching a LOT of animals that would otherwise keep on breeding. I'm working full time now and don't have the time to spend with this group - but my pet is a rescued animal who was spayed as soon as it was time by a vet-I could afford to pay full price and didn't want to take the place of someone who couldn't afford the service by going to the low cost program.

[Skip Intro]

14. Well, donations woudln't exactly garner media attention and subsequent discussion

so I'd say donate and continue to protest.

[Quantess]

15. People need to be conscious of their own personal impact when choosing a pet.

It's really no use trying to prevent anyone from making money.

It's going to be a personal choice whether to get their puppy from a puppy mill, from a respected breeder, from a shelter, or whether they should opt for an adoptable adult dog.

And then, the pet owners need to be aware of the need to spay / neuter. I do think more pet owners would spay / neuter their pets if it were even more affordable than it already is. The spay/neuter costs are prohibitive to a growing number of pet owners.