Mitch, there are plenty of full line pet stores that do not sell kittens or puppies (or herps). Many facilitate shelter adoptions. IMO that's win/win because the store benefits from sales of supplies for adoptee dog or cat.... and the store gets a warm fuzzy for rooting for the underdog (pardon the pun!), and the local SPCA gets some relief, as well as many animals get a reprive. I don't know of many dog breeders, but I can't say I know of any that supply pet stores - and we've all seen the newsmagazine stories about "puppy mills". IMO most people who are serious about buying a pedigreed dog will seek out a breeder, do lots of research, see the sire and the dam, you can't do that at a pet shop, because when asked, the pet dealer isn't going to reveal who the breeder is, lest the customer go straight to the breeder and cut out the middle man - aka the pet dealer. That's a fact.
I guess you could file me in the "saltwater snob store" because that is all I do, unless you count the two dozen Betta splendens I keep on hand. Although last time I checked I didn't consider myself a snob.... maybe I should stick my nose in the air?
I prefer to think of my place as a dedicated hobbyist store - we only do this, and we do it well. Those interested in quality and service come here, instead of anywhere else.
FWIW I've posted flyers for puppies, bunnies, birds for sale or to give away from private individuals, and will continue to do so - and I don't stock supplies for any. For me it's just the right thing to do.
Just as a concerned reefkeeper makes his statements with his buying dollar, so does the pet shopper at large.
I guess there are no LFS in Anchorage....
Jenn
