"By purchasing a puppy instead of adopting, Mr. Biden is setting a poor example and is unwittingly promoting breeders and puppy mills. There are millions of dogs, puppies, cats and kittens who, through no fault of their own, end up in shelters and abandoned by owners who weren't prepared to take on the responsibility of a pet. Because not enough people are adopting homeless animals, over 65% of healthy, adoptable, loving and lovable pets are being killed every day for lack of homes. It's appalling and tragic and cruel to keep popping out pups on the one hand while killing so many on the other."

--Cheri Shankar on HuffPo, denouncing VP elect Joe Biden for choosing a breeder pup, not a shelter dog, as his new pet.

Susan sez: While I agree that too many animals are overbred and homeless animals need care, this rankles me. A family pet is a personal enough choice that this feels a little too close to telling people that choosing to have children is akin to abandoning foster kids. I don't think that equation really computes--what matters more than whether people adopt shelt pets or breeder stock is that people who get animals don't abandon them after they lose their cute--and don't get pets in the first place if they can't handle the care.