The Dog Merchants, Kim Kavin
The Dog Merchants, Kim Kavin
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The Dog Merchants
Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers

Author: Kim Kavin

Narrator: Tamara Marston

Unabridged: 9 hr 56 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/02/2016

Synopsis

We love them with all our hearts, but do we really know where our dogs came from? Kim Kavin reveals the complex network behind the $11-billion-a-year business of selling dogs. A must-listen for the benefit of all dogs everywhere.In what promises to become an Omnivore’s Dilemma for dog lovers—breed devotees and adoption advocates alike—The Dog Merchants is the first book to explain the complex and often surprisingly similar business practices that extend from the American Kennel Club to local shelters, from Westminster champions to dog auctions.Without judging dog lovers of any stripe, The Dog Merchants makes it clear that money spent among these dog merchants has real-world effects on people and canines. Kavin reveals how dog merchants create markets for dogs, often in defiance of the usual rules of supply and demand. She takes an investigative approach and meets breeders and rescuers at all levels, shedding much-needed light on an industry that most people don’t even realize is an industry.Kavin’s goal is to advance the conversation about how all dogs are treated, from puppy mills to high-kill shelters. She shows that a great deal can be improved by understanding the business practices behind selling dogs of all kinds. Instead of pitting rescue and purebred people against each other, The Dog Merchants shows how all dog lovers can come together, with one voice as consumers, on behalf of all our beloved companions.

About Kim Kavin

Kim Kavin is a widely published award-winning journalist, as well as a volunteer worker dedicated to fostering puppies who have been saved from high-kill shelters. She lives in Long Valley, New Jersey, where her hobbies include cooking, wine tasting, and hiking local park trails with her dogs, Blue and Ginger.

About Tamara Marston

Tamara Marston has been an actor, singer, and director for more than thirty years. A career performer and musician, she has toured nationally with several groups and appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show and A&E’s Goodtime Café. Dividing her time between acting and singing gigs, choral conducting, music and stage directing, jingle and voice-over work, private and public teaching, and family, Tami feels very fortunate to make her living working in the arts.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Judy on January 06, 2016

I believe this book should be required reading for anyone who owns or plans to own a dog. The book is meticulously researched and enjoyable. I'm a "dog person" and consider myself a responsible, informed dog owner. Yet, as I read this book, I learned so much about the market forces and the rescue mo......more

Goodreads review by Nancy on April 02, 2016

Pets are a product. They are developed, marketed, and sold for profit says the author of The Dog Merchants, Kim Kavin. And too often buyers do not consider all the ramifications of what their dollars are supporting. Once we understand the business, what can we do about it? Kavin believes that smart s......more

Goodreads review by Margie on February 06, 2016

This is a book that really makes you think. It's an interesting read and covers puppy mills, breeding farms, rescues, shelters, etc. Of course, there are parts that are a little difficult to read ; that is, the cruel ways of some people towards dogs, how easy some pet owners abandon their dogs, and......more

Goodreads review by Susan on October 04, 2016

At this very moment, there is a battle going on in Montreal over whether certain breeds of dogs ought to be "banned" from our society. Why did this happen? I think a big part of it is because unscrupulous breeders and distributors have failed us. They have emphasized profit to the detriment of the a......more

Goodreads review by Ginni on April 23, 2016

People who are passionate about things tend to be bad about nuance, so I expected this book to be the equivalent of the vegan friend who posts inappropriate pictures of tortured animals on Facebook. Instead, this book looks at the dog business realistically and comprehensively, with all its ethical......more

Quotes

“We must be their ally, their voice. The Dog Merchants shows you that the way to start is to be a conscious consumer.” Robin Layton, Pulitzer Prize nominee and coauthor of A Letter to My Dog

“That Kim Kavin sees questions where the rest of the world sees everyday life is what makes her a great reporter. That she gets answers is what makes The Dog Merchants such a necessary and compelling read.” Jim Gorant, New York Times bestselling author

“A riveting, informative, and important look at how man’s best friend became man’s hottest commodity. Brilliantly explores both sides of every issue in a surprisingly even-handed manner, while steadfastly remaining a passionate advocate for the dogs caught in the middle.” Teresa J. Rhyne, New York Times bestselling author

“The book’s primary focus is an investigative examination of the business practices of dog sales, and it is clear that Kavin’s intent is for conscious consumers to use their pocketbooks to force all breeders to produce healthy dogs that are ultimately good family members. Essential reading for all dog lovers, this balanced work will become the standard on this topic.” Library Journal (starred review)

“Will inevitably raise the hackles of breeders who believe they are being depicted unfairly. But those who are breeding and raising dogs responsibly will find validation in their endeavors—and consumers seeking to buy or adopt dogs will benefit from the information Kavin has gathered as they make their decisions.” Publishers Weekly

“Kavin wades into the eleven billion dollar dog business in this devastatingly clear-cut exposé…Kavin’s findings are enraging, and there is no one to blame for this mess but ourselves.” Booklist

“A hard-hitting exploration of the idea of ‘dogs as a product’…A scathing indictment of an industry run amok; belongs on every pet lover’s bookshelf.” Kirkus Reviews

“Deeply researched, entertainingly written, and incredibly thorough. Read it before you pick out your next puppy.” Josh Dean, author of Show Dog

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