Why NOT to buy from a pet store. (tissue alert!)

[6_Time_Momma]

Found this little piece while looking through breeder websites. Very sad.

PET STORE PUPPY




I don't remember much from the place I was born. It was cramped and dark, and we were never played with by the humans. I remember Mom and her soft fur, but she was often sick, and very thin. She had hardly any milk for me and by brothers and sisters. I remember many of them dying, and I missed them so. I do remember the day I was taken from Mom. I was so sad and scared, my milk teeth had only just come in, and I really should have been with Mom still but she was so sick, and the Humans kept saying that they wanted money and were sick of the "mess" that me and my sister made. So we were crated up and taken to a strange place. Just the two of us. We huddled together and were so scared, still no human hands came to pet or love us.


So many sights and sounds, and smells! We are in a store where there are many different animals! Some that squawk! Some that meow! Some that Peep! My sister and I are jammed into a small cage, I hear other puppies here. I see humans look at me, I like the 'little humans', the kids. They look so sweet and fun, like they would play with me! All day we stay in the small cage, sometimes mean people will hit the glass and frighten us, every once in a while we are taken out to be held or shown to humans. Some are gentle, some hurt us. We always hear "Aw they are so cute! I want one!" , but we never get to go with any.


My sister died last night, when the store was dark. I lay my head on her soft fur and felt the life leave her small, thin body. I had heard them say she was sick, and that I should be sold at a "discount price" so that I would quickly leave the store. I think that my soft whine was the only one that mourned for her as her body was taken out of the cage in the morning and dumped.


Today, a family came and bought me! Oh happy day! They are a nice family, they really, really wanted me! They had bought a dish and food and the little girl held me so tenderly in her arms. I love her so much! The mom and dad say what a sweet and good puppy I am! I am named Angel. I love to lick my new humans!


The family takes such good care of me, they are loving and tender and sweet. They gently teach me right and give me good food, and lots of love! I want only to please these wonderful people! I love the little girl and I enjoy running and playing with her.


Today I went to the veterinarian. It was a strange place, and I was frightened. I got some shots, but my best friend, the little girl, held me softly and said it would be OK. So I relaxed. The Vet must have said sad words to my beloved family, because they looked awfully sad. I heard severe hip dysplasia, and something about my heart... I heard the vet say something about back yard breeders and my parents not being tested. I know not what any of that means, just that it hurts me to see my family so sad. They still love me, and I still love them very much!


I am six months old now. Where most other puppies are robust and rowdy, it hurts me terribly just to move. The pain never lets up. It hurts to run and play with my beloved little girl, and I find it hard to breathe. I keep trying my best to be the strong pup I know I am supposed to be, but it is so hard. It breaks my heart to see the little girl so sad, and to hear the Mom and Dad talk about "it might now be the time". Several times I have gone to the veterinarians place, and the news is never good. Always talk about congenital problems. I just want to feel the warm sunshine, and run and play with my family. Last night was the worst! Pain has been my constant companian now. It hurts even to get up and get a drink. I try to get up, but can only whine in pain. I am taken in the car one last time. Everyone is so sad, and I don't know why. Have I been bad? I try to be good and loving, what have I done wrong? Oh if only this pain would be gone! If only I could soothe the tears of the little girl. I reach out my muzzle to lick her hand, but can only whine in pain. The veterinarians table is so cold. I am so frightened! The humans all hug and love me, they cry into my soft fur. I can feel their love and sadness. I manage to lick softly their hands. Even the vet doesn't seem so scary today. He is gentle and I sense some kind of relief for my pain. The little girl holds me softly and I thank her for giving me all of her love. I feel a soft pinch in my foreleg. The pain is beginning to lift. I am beginning to feel a peace descend upon me. I can now softly lick her hand. My vision is becoming dreamlike now, and I see my Mother and my brothers and sisters in a far off green place. They tell me there is no pain there, only peace and happiness. I tell the family goodbye in the only way I know how. A soft wag of my tail and a nuzzle of my nose. I had hoped to spend many, many moons with them, but it was not meant to be.


"You see", said the veterinarian, "Pet shop puppies do not come from ethical breeders". The pain ends now, and I know it will be many years until I see my beloved family again. If only things could have been different.


(This story may be published or reprinted in the hopes that it will stop unethical breeders and those who breed only for money and not for the betterment of the breed. Copywrite 1999 J. Ellis)

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

And even on the offchance they ARE healthy, pet shop puppies often have behavioral problems that are a nightmare to fix. I have a friend who is a dog trainer and she gets so when people bring her pet shop puppies because they are the hardest to break of some bad habits, such as house littering (peeing). She says that because they become accustomed to peeing where they sleep (something normal dogs NEVER do), it's almost impossible to break them of that habit.

TOV

 

[meandtheguys2]

That was so sad! I bought a puppy mill puppy years ago. I had no clue! She was the sweetest Westie, Winnie, who wound up having an intestinal disorder that was prob. due to poor breeding. She went in for the surgery, and reacted to the anesthetic and died. I was devestated! I also developed issues with anesthesia!

On the positive, I had the best vet in the world. He never charged me for her last visit there (several days) x-rays, or any of the work on the day of the surgery. So there was a sweet lesson to learn about him. If I could have wrung the neck of the breeder, however, or the store (which dispapeared on night!) I would have gladly!

Michelle

eta: TOV is so right. She was never well housebroken! I still loved her, though!

 

[stinkerbelle]

omg...I wanna go home and hug my dogger right now.

she was worth every penny of that $500. (pure bred)

I feel so sorry for those animals at the 'mall stores'...I seriously cry when I see what they are forced to live in.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

We are so lucky our mall doesn't have a pet shop. We have a cart that sells Hermit Crabs and one called Square Ocean that sells beta fish, but no pet store thank goodness. ALthough...right across the street is a Petland which I avoid like the plague because the sell puppies and kitties.


TOV

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I hate pet shops. They make me so sad. The animals look so cramped and unhappy. We got our last dog from a breeder. He cost $700 and he was worth every penny....except that he died at age 7 of a heart attack. Who knew that purebred Doberman Pinschers have heart defects? Supposedly purebred dogs die a lot younger than mutts.

 

[binny]

that was really sad.

 

[totalia]

My family doesn't own a single pet store owned pet. And yet we do. Let me explain...

There is something in my city called PAWS Society. It's a non profit pet adoption society owned and operated by local people and local volunteers.

PAWS takes cats and dogs that are strays. They have them fixed, give them their shots, make sure they are healthy and set them in foster care homes for a while. When they believe they have adjusted and seem like they would make good pets, they bring them to the local pet stores.

The local pet stores have set up whole rooms for the animals to play it and the doors are locked so that no one can get inside unless a store clerk is with them.

They do have cages but the animals are put in them only if the room has to be cleaned and at night.

This is one of the most ingenius ideas I have ever seen anyone come up with. Almost 500 cats and dogs have been adopted out of this society within the last two years. After the adoption, the society calls the new pet owner (and yes, you need to fill out forms, give your number and licence, that kind of thing) about once a month for the next six months to check up on the animal to be sure that there is nothing going wrong and they will ask to see the animal once to be sure its not being abused.

We have adopted many pets from these people. All of our cats are strays adopted and cared for. Some require more love and understanding than others but every single one of them is worth it. The cost of each adoption is $125 and includes their shots, spaying/neutering, and deworming as well as the next vet visit (all of the local vets take part in this).

If you are so concerned about these animals, why not start putting them out of business and start doing this exact same thing? Instead of crying about it, do something about it. I'm sure you can find others in your area to help create the same kind of non-profit society for these beautiful animals.

 

[Rajah]

That one didn't just need a tissue alert, it needed a whole tissue BOX alert.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

If you are so concerned about these animals, why not start putting them out of business

That would be the point of not buying from them.

Instead of crying about it, do something about it.

Why the condescending (IMO) attitude? Just make the suggestion (a good one) and leave it at that. No need for attitude.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

It depends on the pet store. Independently owned stores often hand pick puppies from local breeders. The one I worked at years ago did. They had a vet on site, the employees often took the puppies home with us at night, and every puppy stayed until he found a home.

We often would rescue pups from the pound and give them a second chance. Every one of them found a home due the exposure of being in a pet store window.

We eventually went OOB because our operating costs to keep up our standard of ethics was more than we could afford when they upped the cost of our lease.

Chain pet stores are terrible for the most part; but please don't lump every pet store in with them.

 

[totalia]

God, I can't say a thing without someon taking it as being condescending. Overreaction much??

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Also, the small crates puppies in pet stores are in, are not much different from crates used to crate train puppies at home. My puppy was crate trained. He was not bought at a pet store. There is nothing wrong with keeping a puppy crated. It helps them feel secure and it helps to housebreak them.

Also, the store I worked at only ever had one dog die during the 3 years I was there. He was a german shepard. He had some sort of weird thing; I can't remember what it was but it was very rare and in 3 years, he was the only one.

We (the staff) cried for days. We buried him on the store owners farm next to some of the owners personal pets that had crossed the rainbow bridge in years past.

 

[whirlsy]

I bought a puppy from a pet store 13 yrs ago and she is still going strong, she has been the best puppy since day one and her health is top notch. you are taking a risk with any dog you get, not just from a pet store.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I don't think it is so much the crate size, but the fact they defecate in the cage. This taught her to do her business in the cage. My sheltie, my next baby, was much easier to crate train.

EsmeraldaX, I would never believe that you wouldn't care for the animals you worked with! Or most of the workers. My concern is irreputable owners who buy the cheapest pups that can be produced and then charge $600 for them. That was what I paid 15 years ago.

Whirlsy, I am tickled that all went well for you.

Michelle

 

[JVL1018]

I just bought a black lab-from a pet store, and other than kennel cough-which is now gone, the vet pronounced her in great health.
She is in her crate for sleeping, and has never went to the bathroom in the crate-elsewere in the house, yes. @@ Potty training a puppy is not fun. LOL But the crate is the one place she never goes.
Also my FIL's shih-tzu just died, a pet store puppy, but he was 15 years old, so no problems there, either.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Originally posted by totalia

Overreaction much??

Not really.

But yea, it came off, to me, as condescending. If it was not meant that way, then great, I'm sorry for thinking it was.

 

[SnoWhite]

We did a LOT of research when we were buying a dog. We went to breeders, and we also looked at every pet store in our area. (there really aren't too many).
The place we ended up buying Lilo from is a family owned pet store that has been in business for over 35 years. They get their dogs from local breeders, and we are able to contact the breeder if we like.
Lilo is about 4 1/2 months old and so far has had no problems. She is healthy and very well behaved.

I also hate the "mall" pet stores, but we really don't have any of those left around here. I think that some pet stores that have been around a long time and that are reputable, can be a good place to buy pets, you just really have to do your research.

But I do agree that backyard breeders are the worst. We hear stories about them all the time and it just makes me sick.

Lisa

 

[Cantw8]

....instead of crying do something about it?


Isn't that a little harsh? The OP came upon something that she felt was very sad and deceided to share it here. It's called compassion or empathy.

 

[Laura]

Good for you for spreading the word, 6_Time_Momma. Lots of people don't realize the problems of puppy mills and pet stores.