I worked at an animal shelter for 18 years. Most of the animals produced in the County came from the lower income parts of the larger cities. We even went door-to-door in some neighborhoods giving away “free” spays/neuters but were declined. They just let the pets breed and let the pups/kittens wander off -— NO ONE is making money off these unwanted pitiful creatures. The city roads department scrapes them off the streets one by one, and then the next litter arrives. The rescue groups that get dogs to sell are taking in unwanted animals that people are turning in, usually after a change in life situation like a death or divorce. The folks turning in the animals get no $’s in return -— in fact, many of the rescues ask for a donation to take in a pet.
I’m not talking about just the shelter system, but the inflow of cute little mutts to the North from the South through informal, individually operated “rescues” up here. You often get dogs essentially bought for $400+ apiece, literally in some circumstances met at and taken off the truck or van being driven up from the South.
That is a profitable gig and I would be amazed if there weren’t some nefarious harvesting of such dogs going on in the South. This is one story that suggests that indeed it is being done.