Not so fast there, Mr. fast-taliking, this-is-one-in-a-million-animal pet salesman. I want to know where that dog has been:
Indiana lawmakers set their sights on puppy mills, with a new bill that would let you see what you're getting when you buy a pet. The Indiana House has approved the bill that would require retail pet stores to give the customer information about a pet's background before selling a dog or cat.
That information includes posting the animal's medical history, including congenital disorders, right on its cage. The store would also have to put the name of the breeder on the cage and, when requested, disclose the address and size of the breeding operation.
So this would be pet fax, basically. I can see the commercial.
"I can knock $50 off this cat."
"Fine. Let me see the pet fax."
"Oh, you don't need that. I have a letter from the last owner."
"The pet fax, please."
I know this is meant to put the squeeze on puppy mills, but I can see it catching on just because it's a good idea. When I got cats Dutch and Maggie from the shelter, the employees there told me Maggie had been in a house before but was taken in off the street. Dutch was turned in by a family that "had too many cats" and picked him to get rid of. That was useful information helped me understand some of my cats' quirks.
Dutch, for example, has no idea what the outside is like, so he's always trying to escape. But, being clueless, he doesn't know what to do when he does get out, so he just sits on the porch till I pick him up and take him back inside. Maggie, on the other hand, knows exactly how mean it can be outside, so she likes it in the house, thank you very much. When Dutch tries to dart out the door, she usually just stands back and watch, with amusement, I like to think. On the rare occasions when she does dart out, though, she streaks
