A dedicated human and an unusual shelter/pet shop hybrid are helping to combat the puppy mill problem. Dani Caouette’s non-profit Shelter Hope Pet Shop is rescuing pups from high-kill shelters and bringing them to “alternative pet stores” throughout California.
Caouette screens each potential adopter for compatibility to ensure that the pup is going to a good home. The idea came about when the rescuer heard the story of twenty dogs being pushed out of a moving van. The mall storefront model is helping to bring awareness to puppy mills, and provide an adoption alternative to buying a dog in a pet shop.
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Shelter Hope is completely staffed by volunteers, some as young as twelve years old.
The organization’s misson statement says, “Shelter Hope Pet Shop was created to aid shelter pet adoptions … and aims to eliminate puppy mill pet shops in our malls across the nation.” If you’re in California, go check out Shelter Hope!
