Why are there people that still don't know about pet stores!?

[ziggystardust]

<<VENT>>

A co-worker of mine was telling me how tired she was b/c her husband unexpectantly brought home a puppy yorkie last night. She admited that she wasn't ready or prepared for a dog. And then she says that he bought the puppy at a Pet Store.

How do people not know how awful those places are and how abused those animals are? I wanted to send her info on puppy mills but I figured that might be a little rude, and uneffective since they already bought the dog.

 

[MagicalMom]

Well, I guess you can throw me on the list of the "unknowing". I had no clue that pet stores were bad places.

 

[binny]

I know what you mean but at the same time they did, in a way, rescue this little guy.



bad situation all the way around. I know she put money in their pockets but she did get him away form the store. I hate going by the pet store because I would like to all of them home ( ok all but the reptiles and the bugs )

 

[Disney01]

There are pet stores that soley do adoptions, like Petco. But, most people, like some on this board I won't mention, buy at a petstore because they want a purebreed, cute puppy and they justify it by saying they feel "bad" for the puppy. But, really, they are supporting puppy mills and the increased breeding of the dog that they just bought and nothing they say can exuse it, in my opinion. If you want a purebreed, trust me, there are rescue groups for every breed that exists, that usually end up with these dogs, sometimes from puppy mills that have been shut down. I recently adopted two black labs from a rescue group that had gotten over twenty dogs from one house. I paid her $200 for each dog, knowing that all my money was going right back toward her rescuing other dogs. I think there should be a moratorium on breeding until the animal overpopulation has been controlled. Sorry, but this is one of my "hot" buttons.

Oh, and if you feel really bad for the poor puppy in the pet store, report it to the SPCA, and they will take care of it. Adopting it to "save" it is no excuse, because what are you going to do about the next litter that comes along that your dollars helped to create?

 

[Christine]

I'm ashamed to admit that I did the same.

For me, it's all about impulse. I was thinking about getting another dog and, in fact, I had phoned a few breeders. Most that I called, either didn't return my call right away (or for a week or so) and they were located out in the boonies and I just couldn't get there.

One day, we were at one of the local strip malls and there was a puppy store there. The kids wanted to go in. Since we were in the market for a dog, we just couldn't walk out. The dog we wanted was right there. I will say that this place did not keep their puppies in cages. There were all down on the store floor in large pens with each other. All the dogs were clean and didn't have "crap" all over them like you would expect. All the dogs seemed healthy. So we got a dog there. Had a breeder been right there, I would have chosen the breeder first, but it was too difficult.

The pet store did close down a few weeks after I got my puppy. I never knew why. Maybe they just didn't make enough money but I often wondered what would have happened to my dog had I not bought her that day--and what happened to all those other puppies there.

Anyway, it's all about emotions. You kind of feel like you're "saving" a life in that moment but, logically I know, it's the wrong thing to do.

How about if I promise not to do it again? And, three of the other dogs I have had/have have been shelter rescues.

 

[Chicago526]

It's tough. You don't want to support the puppy mills, but you don't want to punish the puppies in the pet store, either.

All you can do is warn your friend that pet store dogs can have a lot of health and behavior problems. Not much you can do about the health problems, but if she gets help with proper training maybe they can avert any behavior troubles...

Maybe we should push to change the laws that pet stores can no longer sell dogs? If the pet stores can't sell them, the puppy mills would dry up, I'd think.

 

[Kallison]

My DH gets annoyed because I go into the Mall pet store and always announce loudly how people should not support puppymills, or buy their dogs, and then I start telling people in the little rooms looking at dogs that they can get rescue dogs in the same breed, even puppies for free or low cost. So he walks away and pretends he doesn't know me.

 

[Disney01]

Christine,

Do you really think there is that much difference between a "breeder" and a "puppy mill"? Sometimes, usually, they are one and the same.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I know, it's tragic. The only way to stop is to stop buying. I don't agree with buying them in any circumstance, each and every day dogs that need to be "rescued" are in shelters and rescues all over the country so that's not a valid excuse at all, IMO.

I think it mainly comes down to instant gratification. Getting a well bred dog from a reputable breeder takes time and patience, and people lack that alot (I know I do). There is nothing wrong with buying from a GOOD breeder, but a puppy mill is not that.

 

[Christine]

Christine,

Do you really think there is that much difference between a "breeder" and a "puppy mill"? Sometimes, usually, they are one and the same.

Well, I've been told that if you want to buy a puppy, you should go to a "reputable breeder." Have I researched this? No--I have no clue. I just read that you should go to a reputable breeder. These "breeders" in the paper advertise their credentials and health exams and what not. How am I to know? I really don't. I do know that my DD's daycare provider was a breeder of King Charles Cavalier Spaniels. She loved her animals but, in my opinion, she way overbred her dogs and it used to make me sick. She got $800 for those dogs. I don't think the female was healthy. In my mind, that was definitely a puppy mill.

 

[Christine]

I think it mainly comes down to instant gratification. Getting a well bred dog from a reputable breeder takes time and patience, and people lack that alot (I know I do).

In total agreement. That was my logic when I bought from the pet store. I wanted a dog that day. I had a runaround with the breeders and I couldn't drive the 2 hours in each direction to "go look" at the dog. Now, I'm not always that way, but I was at that particular time. That was my first pet store dog after having 5 dogs before that.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

There are pet stores that soley do adoptions, like Petco. But, most people, like some on this board I won't mention, buy at a petstore because they want a purebreed, cute puppy and they justify it by saying they feel "bad" for the puppy. But, really, they are supporting puppy mills and the increased breeding of the dog that they just bought and nothing they say can exuse it, in my opinion. If you want a purebreed, trust me, there are rescue groups for every breed that exists, that usually end up with these dogs, sometimes from puppy mills that have been shut down. I recently adopted two black labs from a rescue group that had gotten over twenty dogs from one house. I paid her $200 for each dog, knowing that all my money was going right back toward her rescuing other dogs. I think there should be a moratorium on breeding until the animal overpopulation has been controlled. Sorry, but this is one of my "hot" buttons.

Oh, and if you feel really bad for the poor puppy in the pet store, report it to the SPCA, and they will take care of it. Adopting it to "save" it is no excuse, because what are you going to do about the next litter that comes along that your dollars helped to create?

I suppose you are referring to me. .But just so you know,I Did Not buy from a pet store.

 

[bellacam]

Christine,

Do you really think there is that much difference between a "breeder" and a "puppy mill"? Sometimes, usually, they are one and the same.

If you are truely dealing with a responsible bredder, there is a huge difference! When we bought our lab (from a registered breeder) they came to do a home inspection, have done several follow up visits, and keep in regular contact about our dog. We also signed papers stating that if the breeder felt at any time the dogs surroundings or care were sub par, she had legal rights to take back the dog! When is the last time a pet store did that?

 

[Chicago526]

Christine,

Do you really think there is that much difference between a "breeder" and a "puppy mill"? Sometimes, usually, they are one and the same.

There is a huge differance between a breeder and a mill!

A mill will breed the maximum amount of puppies possible, regardless of the health of the mother, often in filthy conditions not fit for a rat. The also disregard any type of breed standard, do not try to impove the breed AT ALL, and often in-breed. They'll sell to anyone with the cash, usually pet stores. All of this is done in the name of profit and not love of a particulare breed or dogs in general.

A breeder does just the oposit. They want to improve the breed, they breed in healthy conditions, often just one litter per year (mills will do three or more in a year), they NEVER in breed. They either break even at best, and often lose money. They carefully screen all potential buyers to make sure that the dog will "fit" with their new home and that the new owners are responsible people who won't dump the dog when training gets too hard or their are one to many puddles on the carpet.

 

[ballroombelle]

Had I not read about it on the DIS some time ago, I would not have known either. Then again, where we are there simply aren't "pet stores"-or at least I have never ever laid my eyes on one around here.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Puppy mills are run as factories. Breeders have litters maybe twice a year. In between are casual or backyard breeders that advertise in newspapers.


Two friends bought Golden Retrievers from the same litter that were advertised in the newspaper. One bit a child badly on the face and was put down.

Another friend bought a Golden Retriever from a newspaper ad that guaranteed the hips were sound. The dog was found to have bad hips requiring a $1500 operation (10 years ago-prices have gone up). The guarantee turned out to be that if the owners had the dog put down and brought in a death certificate, then they would get the $600 purchase price back.

We bought our dog from a breeder that we met at a AKC show. We went specifically looking for a Golden Breeder. Our breeder was head of the Breeders club to ensure quality breeding of Goldens. He has the most lovely Golden Temperament. My daughter stumbled on top of him on meeting him and the dog just casually licked her. He was sold as pet quality and I have to have him neutered before receiving his AKC papers.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

When I got our golden 6 years ago I talked extensively with my old HS friend who has been involved with the AKC and dog breeding for years. One of the main things was not to buy from the paper. The best breeders often have pups "spoken for" before birth. Very rarely do they have dogs at the "ready to go home" age without a home already set for them. Just recently I was looking at goldens again and my original breeder had a litter of 3 week old pups, and only one was still available. Of course she wanted $800 plus tax. The golden breeders in the paper want between $200 and $450, most don't mention clearances on eyes, hips, heart, etc., one even said "4 litters to choose from"--like that's not a puppy mill!
I bought a german shepherd from a breeder when I was young and stupid (23) and it was probably a puppy mill. She had several different breeds spread around her farm. He only lived to be 2 before he started biting children without provocation and I had to put him down. His hips also were starting to look bad. I called to tell her about what had happened for informational purposes and she said "that's never happened before!" Well a few years later a chow=chow in a local suburb attacked a child and it made the news. Sure enough, same breeder and "that's never happened before!"
We just got a retriever "mix" from a rescue group and he is the biggest doll baby. $125 and he's already neutered, and the $ goes to help more dogs. I am going to get a membership in this group as soon as I can swing it. There adoptathon at Petco was very well organized and they grilled us (the whole family had to be there) like we were murder suspects in regards to whether we would be a good fit for this dog.
In regards to the OP, there will always be some people who don't know about pet stores, I just "educated" some friends of ours last week when they wanted a lhasa apso. But you can keep trying to get to people before they buy dogs.
Robin M.

 

[Disney01]

Well, sorry, but I wouldn't buy from a breeder or a pet mill, if there is a difference. There both in it for profit and are ignoring the thousands of dogs in rescue. Our former next door neighbor loved, loved Golden Retrievers and had dedicated herself to adopting elderly Goldens that ended up in rescue. She usually had two or three that were "older"-10 years or so, and would take care of them until they died, and then adopt another older one from rescue. She was a saint, and a true lover of the breed, while at the same time not encouraging or supporing breeders.

And no, luvindisneyworld, I was not referring to you at all. I had no idea you adopted a dog from a pet store.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Well, sorry, but I wouldn't buy from a breeder or a pet mill, if there is a difference. There both in it for profit and are ignoring the thousands of dogs in rescue.

I encourage you to sit and talk with a true reputable breeder sometime about how much "profit" they truly make. I think you'll be surprised. They make very very little, if anything at all, after the amount of testing they do, medical costs, etc.

A lot of breeders I have heard of also help in rescue and such, as well.

But I do understand what you are saying, and yes many breeders do it just for profit as well. Most of them are usually referred to as "backyard breeders"

 

[ckay87]

I'll adopt from the Humane Society every time.