Good stuff...and right-on, sister!
10 Reasons Not To Buy A Puppy From A Pet Store
I just received an email from dogster and I thought it was excellent:
10 Reasons Not to Buy a Puppy From a Pet Store
![]()
Most dog lovers know about the often horrid conditions of puppy mills, the unregulated breeding facilities owned by disreputable breeders. Dogs are often bred far too frequently, are kept cramped together in squalor, and are not socialized with humans. In addition, these breeders do not care about the health and strength of the breed, which often results in genetic illnesses, poor health in general and unlikable personality traits. But many of these same dog aficionados, who have t-shirts and bumper stickers denouncing puppy mills, don't know that most puppies sold at pet stores come from there.
There are some pet stores that buy their puppies from commercial kennels regulated by the Department of Agriculture. However, even these pups tend to be unhealthy and unsocialized. This is partly due to the fact that commercial kennels tend to breed many different breeds in one facility and they breed for quantity, not quality. Therefore, their interest does not lie in the healthy promotion of a certain breed but rather in how many sales they can get. So, before you buy that cute puppy in the window, consider the downsides of pet store pups:
10 Reasons Not to Buy From a Pet Store
1. Bad Health: Because so many pet store pups come from puppy mills, they are not the result of careful breeding and they are usually not well cared for before coming to the store. Some common illnesses and conditions are neurological problems, eye problems, hip dysplasia, blood disorders and Canine Parvovirus.
2. Behavioral Problems: Because breeding is indiscriminate, behavioral problems are not weeded out generationally. You'll also find that a pet store's staff is not likely to have any training in dealing with behavior issues so the puppies continue to do the wrong things, which become habit.
3. No Socialization: Pet stores pups are often pulled away from their litter at far too young an age, often at only four or five weeks. The earliest a puppy should be separated from his pack is eight weeks and most reputable breeders will say at least 10 weeks. This lack of time socializing with his siblings means that puppy will not develop important canine skills. Likewise, a puppy who has not been handled by people from about three weeks will not naturally socialize well with them.
4. The Downfall of the Standard: In a broad sense, purchasing a puppy from a pet store and then breeding her means you are ruining the standard of that breed because the previous breeders were not concerned with it.
5. Lack of Information: A member of a pet store staff is not an expert on a breed and often not on dogs in general. Purchasing a puppy from a store means you will not get the lowdown on that breed or likely help with any behavioral or other questions.
6. Return at Your Puppy's Peril: Most pet stores do offer a warranty of sorts where you can bring the puppy back if he has problems. They don't tend to tell customers that the puppy's fate, once returned, is usually euthanization.
7. Housebreaking is a Chore: Pet store puppies have spent all their short lives in cages. They do not have the opportunity to develop the natural canine instinct of eliminating away from their food and bed. This causes problems when you try to housebreak them.
8. What You See Isn't Necessarily What You Get: If you see what looks like a Maltese in the window, you may find, as she grows, that there's a little Maltese in there somewhere but mostly she looks like a Terrier. There is no guarantee you will get a purebred dog if that's what you're after.
9. Poor Value: A puppy from a pet store generally costs between $400 and $2,000. This is often more than you'd pay at a reputable breeder who can ensure you get a healthy puppy and provide support afterward.
10. Questionable Pedigree: You're paying for a pedigree, or AKC papers, when you buy a puppy from a pet store but it's very likely that it's not genuine. If the papers are genuine, it still doesn't mean the puppy is a good example of its breed - you need a reputable breeder to prove that.
What are our options other than pet store puppies? Reputable breeders are always a good choice. They are very knowledgeable about the breed they represent and can help with behavioral and physical issues that might come up later. These breeders socialize their puppies early on, breed in good traits and breed out bad ones and they can show you your puppies' parents and give you their history.
Another great option is adopting a puppy. Human Societies, local animal shelters and breed rescues are all good places to look. True, you don't have the benefit of meeting you pup's parents but rescued puppies are thoroughly examined for any illness or condition, are socialized by staff and trained early on. Also, if you adopt a mixed puppy you will likely find he is very healthy as mutts are often healthier than purebreds.
So the next time you see that adorable puppy in the window, pause and think about the downsides of pet store pups. Buying from such a store is, in essence, supporting them and the horrible practice of puppy mills. It is also almost a sure bet that you'll have a bad experience.
10 Reasons Not to Buy a Puppy From a Pet Store
Most dog lovers know about the often horrid conditions of puppy mills, the unregulated breeding facilities owned by disreputable breeders. Dogs are often bred far too frequently, are kept cramped together in squalor, and are not socialized with humans. In addition, these breeders do not care about the health and strength of the breed, which often results in genetic illnesses, poor health in general and unlikable personality traits. But many of these same dog aficionados, who have t-shirts and bumper stickers denouncing puppy mills, don't know that most puppies sold at pet stores come from there.
There are some pet stores that buy their puppies from commercial kennels regulated by the Department of Agriculture. However, even these pups tend to be unhealthy and unsocialized. This is partly due to the fact that commercial kennels tend to breed many different breeds in one facility and they breed for quantity, not quality. Therefore, their interest does not lie in the healthy promotion of a certain breed but rather in how many sales they can get. So, before you buy that cute puppy in the window, consider the downsides of pet store pups:
10 Reasons Not to Buy From a Pet Store
1. Bad Health: Because so many pet store pups come from puppy mills, they are not the result of careful breeding and they are usually not well cared for before coming to the store. Some common illnesses and conditions are neurological problems, eye problems, hip dysplasia, blood disorders and Canine Parvovirus.
2. Behavioral Problems: Because breeding is indiscriminate, behavioral problems are not weeded out generationally. You'll also find that a pet store's staff is not likely to have any training in dealing with behavior issues so the puppies continue to do the wrong things, which become habit.
3. No Socialization: Pet stores pups are often pulled away from their litter at far too young an age, often at only four or five weeks. The earliest a puppy should be separated from his pack is eight weeks and most reputable breeders will say at least 10 weeks. This lack of time socializing with his siblings means that puppy will not develop important canine skills. Likewise, a puppy who has not been handled by people from about three weeks will not naturally socialize well with them.
4. The Downfall of the Standard: In a broad sense, purchasing a puppy from a pet store and then breeding her means you are ruining the standard of that breed because the previous breeders were not concerned with it.
5. Lack of Information: A member of a pet store staff is not an expert on a breed and often not on dogs in general. Purchasing a puppy from a store means you will not get the lowdown on that breed or likely help with any behavioral or other questions.
6. Return at Your Puppy's Peril: Most pet stores do offer a warranty of sorts where you can bring the puppy back if he has problems. They don't tend to tell customers that the puppy's fate, once returned, is usually euthanization.
7. Housebreaking is a Chore: Pet store puppies have spent all their short lives in cages. They do not have the opportunity to develop the natural canine instinct of eliminating away from their food and bed. This causes problems when you try to housebreak them.
8. What You See Isn't Necessarily What You Get: If you see what looks like a Maltese in the window, you may find, as she grows, that there's a little Maltese in there somewhere but mostly she looks like a Terrier. There is no guarantee you will get a purebred dog if that's what you're after.
9. Poor Value: A puppy from a pet store generally costs between $400 and $2,000. This is often more than you'd pay at a reputable breeder who can ensure you get a healthy puppy and provide support afterward.
10. Questionable Pedigree: You're paying for a pedigree, or AKC papers, when you buy a puppy from a pet store but it's very likely that it's not genuine. If the papers are genuine, it still doesn't mean the puppy is a good example of its breed - you need a reputable breeder to prove that.
What are our options other than pet store puppies? Reputable breeders are always a good choice. They are very knowledgeable about the breed they represent and can help with behavioral and physical issues that might come up later. These breeders socialize their puppies early on, breed in good traits and breed out bad ones and they can show you your puppies' parents and give you their history.
Another great option is adopting a puppy. Human Societies, local animal shelters and breed rescues are all good places to look. True, you don't have the benefit of meeting you pup's parents but rescued puppies are thoroughly examined for any illness or condition, are socialized by staff and trained early on. Also, if you adopt a mixed puppy you will likely find he is very healthy as mutts are often healthier than purebreds.
So the next time you see that adorable puppy in the window, pause and think about the downsides of pet store pups. Buying from such a store is, in essence, supporting them and the horrible practice of puppy mills. It is also almost a sure bet that you'll have a bad experience.
1 - 20 of 28 Posts
Yes-so true! On a positive note, none of the pet stores where I live sell puppies. They are all involved in adoption and every weekend the shelters bring over puppies and kittens and many homes have been found for them. Believe it or not-the word IS getting out. B)
April(Rose & Lily)
April(Rose & Lily)
Attachments
Where else?
Honestly I've been looking at pet stores to get my Maltese puppy. I don't known where else to get my puppy less than $800. I don't have a lot of money but I've always wanted a little girl Maltese puppy. And I'm so afraid to buy from classified ads.
I'm very envious of many of you for having such adorable malteses. I use to have Shih tzu & cocker spaniel boys but never the Maltese I've always wanted. So I've recently been looking at pet stores.
The one place I looked at the pet store had a Maltese girl and said
She is a purebred AKC puppy. She is priced at $699 which includes our health guarantee as well as a life and heredity guarantee.
Doesn't that mean its ok? They give a health guarentee. I don't know now.
any advice?
Honestly I've been looking at pet stores to get my Maltese puppy. I don't known where else to get my puppy less than $800. I don't have a lot of money but I've always wanted a little girl Maltese puppy. And I'm so afraid to buy from classified ads.
I'm very envious of many of you for having such adorable malteses. I use to have Shih tzu & cocker spaniel boys but never the Maltese I've always wanted. So I've recently been looking at pet stores.
The one place I looked at the pet store had a Maltese girl and said
She is a purebred AKC puppy. She is priced at $699 which includes our health guarantee as well as a life and heredity guarantee.
Doesn't that mean its ok? They give a health guarentee. I don't know now.
any advice?
Oh please, read this thread and the others that tell the story of what really is behind the petstore puppies. It is the worst place to go to get any pet. Do you want to support people who breed for pure profit motives and do not care what happens to the parents of the puppies? Here is an example of some of the types of abuse and neglect that go on to breeding dogs in these type of comercial operations:Honestly I've been looking at pet stores to get my Maltese puppy. I don't known where else to get my puppy less than $800. I don't have a lot of money but I've always wanted a little girl Maltese puppy. And I'm so afraid to buy from classified ads.
I'm very envious of many of you for having such adorable malteses. I use to have Shih tzu & cocker spaniel boys but never the Maltese I've always wanted. So I've recently been looking at pet stores.
The one place I looked at the pet store had a Maltese girl and said
She is a purebred AKC puppy. She is priced at $699 which includes our health guarantee as well as a life and heredity guarantee.
Doesn't that mean its ok? They give a health guarentee. I don't know now.
Saving money is not a good reason to buy from a petstore. Too often you will face medical bills that may mount up throughout the dog's life. So many pet store pups come home sick. And the health guarantee, as this article says means even if you are willing to give back your puppy for the purchase price, the puppy will often pay with their life. Even if you get lucky, and you get a healthy dog from a petstore at a good price you are still perpetuating suffering to the poor animals who are treated like livestock and not raised in loving homes.
If you cannot wait to save the money needed to buy from an ethical breeder consider adopting an older retiree from reputable breeders (who may place beautiful champions after they have been bred a few times) or from rescue. Before I became active in showing, I adopted several Maltese from rescue and have been blessed by each and every one. I also fostered many lovely dogs for rescue groups. It can take time to find the right match, but if you are willing to consider rescue it is a great option.
There are several options, but please do not include any petstore, or classified ads in your search. Not just for the sake of yourself and your puppy, but also for the sake of doing the right for the parents of your puppy, do not support the suffering.
Carina has made some outstanding points. The reason for not buying from a pet store goes beyond just the puppy to the parents - for every cute puppy in a pet store there is a mom who spends her entire life in a cage having babies. The mom's do not receive medical or dental care and are used as breeding machines until they are done - then they are dumped or sometimes even killed.Oh please, read this thread and the others that tell the story of what really is behind the petstore puppies. It is the worst place to go to get any pet. Do you want to support people who breed for pure profit motives and do not care what happens to the parents of the puppies? Here is an example of some of the types of abuse and neglect that go on to breeding dogs in these type of comercial operations:![]()
Saving money is not a good reason to buy from a petstore. Too often you will face medical bills that may mount up throughout the dog's life. So many pet store pups come home sick. And the health guarantee, as this article says means even if you are willing to give back your puppy for the purchase price, the puppy will often pay with their life. Even if you get lucky, and you get a healthy dog from a petstore at a good price you are still perpetuating suffering to the poor animals who are treated like livestock and not raised in loving homes.
If you cannot wait to save the money needed to buy from an ethical breeder consider adopting an older retiree from reputable breeders (who may place beautiful champions after they have been bred a few times) or from rescue. Before I became active in showing, I adopted several Maltese from rescue and have been blessed by each and every one. I also fostered many lovely dogs for rescue groups. It can take time to find the right match, but if you are willing to consider rescue it is a great option.
There are several options, but please do not include any petstore, or classified ads in your search. Not just for the sake of yourself and your puppy, but also for the sake of doing the right for the parents of your puppy, do not support the suffering.
The other challenge with a pet store puppy is that they often come home with pneumonia, kennel cough, parasites, or a combination of all of the above. That health guarantee is usually good only at a certain vet and only for a short period of time. Someone I know at work recently bought a cute puppy at a pet store in spite of warnings from several of us. That puppy was sick from the day she brought her home, and the pet store's vet (health guarantee) kept saying that the cough and diarrhea were nothing serious. She finally went to her own vet, and more than $1000 later, the puppy had pneumonia, giardia and coccidia. The puppy didn't survive, and her house had to be disinfected to protect her other dog.
Please save until you can afford a well bred dog or consider adopting from a rescue who has already treated any health problems that might exist.
Harley's story began 12 years ago when he was born into a puppy mill. Instead of being sold as a puppy in a pet store, he was kept and used as a breeding dog. ...
He lived his entire life in a filthy little wire cage. He never knew a kind touch. He never knew a soft bed. He never knew what it was to run, jump and play. He didn't even know what sunshine was. He lost his eye to a power washer which was used to periodically clean cages. Some of his friends had no eyes. Eyes weren't necessary in the puppy mill.
Two years ago, near death, Harley was rescued. In spite of the emotional and physical damage, Harley now knows how love feels. He has made it his mission to spread the word about puppy mills and save the puppy mill survivors. The following message is from Harley:
"I know many of you think I'm a pretty special, but really I'm just an old mill dog, I'm not the only one. Thousands of dogs right now need to be rescued from puppy mills.
1 - 20 of 28 Posts
