No need to use a breeder when looking for a dog

I've called Thousand Oaks my home since 1972. Rarely do I read an article in the Acorn that touches a nerve in a negative way, but the recent article titled "Humane Society offers tips on finding a healthy puppy, avoiding puppy mills" did just that.

Now don't get me wrong, I applaud the Acorn for addressing the deplorable issue of puppy mills and reiterating how we need to do all we can to put them all out of business.

What I don't understand is how the Acorn justified having "When looking for a new dog, it's important to find a good breeder," as the first sentence, and what eventually proves to be the focus of the article.

The focus of this article is off.

The solution to the tremendous overpopulation of domesticated animals in our society isn't for you to avoid buying a dog from a puppy mill by not going to the pet store, instead opting for a "good" private breeder.

The solution is to adopt!

After reading this article, I researched the referenced Internet link, www.humanesociety.org/ puppy. I was surprised that the Humane Society would suggest that a good breeder would be an appropriate source for a dog when efforts to find one at a shelter/rescue group have failed.

There are so many dogs at shelters/rescue groups that need homes. I find it impossible to believe that someone couldn't find their "dream dog" after spending some time researching the shelters/rescue groups in their area.

The only way that someone could honestly "fail" at finding a compatible dog at a shelter or through a rescue group is by not putting in the needed time/research. The Humane Society will receive a copy of this letter as well, but I hope that any further articles the Acorn publishes will focus on adoption, the only real solution to finding homes for all the homeless animals out there that are the product of irresponsible owners who have not spayed/neutered their animals.

For every dog purchased from a "good breeder," another shelter/rescue pet will go without a forever home. Emily Stewart Thousand Oaks