Instructions
Contact Best Friends Animal Society or Last Chance for Animals (LCA) about converting to a humane model pet store. They will be glad to assist you with obtaining dogs from local shelters and rescue groups, as well as help promote your business. They are reputable animal welfare organizations that are known nationally (see Resources below).
Set up meetings with directors of local animal shelters and rescues in your area to see about an arrangement whereby you can obtain dogs from them to have available for adoption at your store.
If dogs are all you sell, odds are you won't be able to survive in business with just shelter dogs, as the adoption fee you'll charge will only be about $300. Look into hiring a full-time groomer and/or selling pet food and supplies. There are various pet stores in the Los Angeles area that have shelter dogs and are doing well (see Resources below). If you sell pet supplies, but still don't think you will profit with rescue dogs, look into expanding your inventory. In spite of the poor economy, people still love their pets and there will always be a demand for pet supplies, including specialty gift items. Consider unusual items that no other pet stores in the area carry. Pet food delivery might be a viable option for edging out the competition.
If you do convert to a humane model, especially if you are the first in your area to do so, alert the media including local newspapers and TV stations. People will be very happy to hear the news of a pet store in their area that has rescue dogs, and you will be giving a big boost to your business at the same time.
How to Go Humane if You Are a Pet Store Owner
If you own a pet store and purchase your dogs from large-scale breeding facilities ("puppy mills") either directly or through brokers (as most stores that sell dogs do), you can help put these inhumane breeders out of business by having homeless dogs from shelters and rescue groups available for adoption instead. Once the demand stops, the supply will have to stop and the puppy mills will be forced to shut down. The following are ways for you to join the humane pet store trend--in order to help alleviate the pet overpopulation crisis and save the lives of homeless pets--yet still profit from your business.