I'm really glad Oprah dedicated an entire show to puppy mills last week. I really hope it inspires people to go to shelters to adopt pets instead of going through more nefarious routes.
The best place to find a pet or shelter near you is through Petfinder.com. I've found all my beasts through the site and all the animals were wonderful.
I know what you're thinking. You love one breed and you think that the only way to get one is through a breeder or store. The thing about Petfinder is that if you love Pomeranians or Siamese there are plenty available. I love Persians, and in the past two years I've adopted two as well as a Himalayan. There are a million reasons why an animal ends up at a shelter, and any home -- even a studio apartment -- is better than a cage.
Here are two shelters that I have worked with and can vouch not only for the quality of their animals, but the character and dedication of the people who run them.
S.A.V.E.: Located in Whitestone, Queens. This is where I found Peppe. They have lots of wonderful cats and dogs and they personally visit your home to make sure their creatures are going to a good place.
Canadian Pet Rescue: Two years ago I traveled all the way to Montreal to rescue Maestro and Mozart, who still live out in Greenwich. Maggie, the woman who runs the operation, started saving just Persians and Himalayans, but has since expanded to other breeds of cats and dogs. Make a weekend out of it and go get yourself a beautiful animal.
