Dog Community

Pet Store Puppies...

Posted : 8/18/2006 9:38:15 AM

I see so many posts about not buying puppies from pet stores. Much of it is because of feeding the puppy mills. I have seen some posts about how many puppies are impulse buys and will be taken to shelters within a year or two. The reasons why abound on that subject. I just want to make the case that there are people out there who take buying a puppy from a pet store seriously.

Shannara is a pet store puppy that we bought Halloween of 2001. I freely admit that she was an impulse buy. My son, who was terrified of dogs of any size, loved her from the start. He was the reason we got her. Out of all the dogs in the world, there was something about Shannara that had my son not fear her. Despite owning Shannara, my son still feared other dogs for a few more years after owning her. My son was 2 when we got her. Our family took owning her seriously. She sees the vet for yearly shots and check-ups. We spayed Shaun as soon as she was old enough. She has been socialized and trained. When we moved from a townhouse with a backyard to what the military base referred to as base housing, we litter trained her. We had moved into a second floor apartment. We knew that exercising her as often for potty trips, would be difficult. We did exercise her with long walks twice a day though. The litter training came in handy in the Blizzard of '03 when more than 4 feet of snow fell in a 48 hour period.

Shannara has shown great love and loyalty to our family. I always felt safer with her around when my husband was deployed. She gave me and my sons several episodes of comic relief. Now we have Bubbles and, since my husband has had to take a few business trips to Dallas, I have seen Bubbles take cues from Shannara about keeping an eye on the house. Bubbles was a little new for DH's first trip. Only Shannara was hyper alert. This most recent time, they both were. Bubbles, who normally sleeps with my son, wanted to sleep with me since Shannara is in her crate at night near the children. Shannara is also able to visibly see both entries into the house. Bubbles wanted to keep an eye on the garage entrance which is on our side of the house. Now that DH is home, she is fine with going back to her "boy's" bed. (Bubbles was adopted from the shelter here.)

At the time, I knew not to buy from pet stores. I was knowledgeable in owning dogs. I was also knowledgeable about puppy mills. I was also knowledgeable about breeding and what defined great breeders and bad ones. Dh and I both knew how to be a responsible dog owners. I did not know about the Pekingese breed. I immediately went and read up on them and called local breeders about them. I also want to say that if my son had not shown fear of a large breed dog, we would have gotten one of those. There was something about Shannara that shined to my son amongst the many dogs in the world.

I just wanted to say that I do think that puppy mills are wrong. Pet stores selling pets are in the wrong as well. I know that with Shaun's purchase, I helped the puppy mill. But I wished to mention that there are the precious few who take their puppy "purchase" seriously. There are people who go to the shelters who do not have a clue as to what they are doing. Some of those adopted dogs and cats, are returned to the shelter. Even shelter pets are "impulse" adoptions. Along wiith other stereotypes, there are the few that should not be lumped into the sterotype because of their good reasons, qualities and etc... Like the bully breeds for another example. Most of them are NOT mean, nasty dogs. But there is that sterotype for the breed. I felt that I had to tell about the decent dog owners who get their pets from pet stores and haven't turned their back on them no matter what.

--Sara

Julitza

Posted : 8/18/2006 10:13:33 AM

People like you are a minority and I applaud you for standing behind your puppy. You did not know better.

Im am glad you were one of the very few people who get a healthy, happy, well adjusted puppy. This is why we dont support pet shops. You get one happy healthy puppy and then everyone else thinks that all pet shop puppies are wonderful and they are in for a nasty surprise.

You were lucky to get a good pet shop pup, but I will make it clear that not everyone will be so lucky

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/18/2006 10:36:39 AM

I really don't care how "serious" you are about your pet-store puppy, or how happy you might be with your dog. Do you care at all about your dog's MOTHER? trapped in a tiny cage, bred over and over again until she drops dead? consider that many of these places perform brutal c-sections without anesthesia on the mothers. Your choice to give money to the pet store is the direct cause of dog torture. You buy one pet-store puppy, you are dooming multiple dogs to a horrible life.

dogslyfe

Posted : 8/18/2006 10:54:17 AM

I'm sorry to be blount.

You did not know better.

Yes, she did. She says she knew better in her post, and chose to do it anyway.

I just want to make the case that there are people out there who take buying a puppy from a pet store seriously.

I'm touched that your son was able to overcome his fear of this particular dog. However, serious does not equal responsible or right. I think you already know this, and I *think* maybe that (hopefully) was part of your point, so I'm going to say this for the lurkers and new folks out there.

Taking something seriously does not mean that one is doing the right thing - it just means they're serious about what they're doing. Most people who commit felonies are also very serious about it - but that doesn't make what they're doing the right thing to do.

For the next person that buys from a pet store even knowing what its all about, know this: If you are lucky enough as this poster to not have a dog with serious problems, just because the situation works out OK and you guys are dedicated owners, STILL doesn't relieve you of the responsibility for doing the right thing.

Again, even if it (by chance) works out to NOT be a total disaster, it is STILL wrong to support buying from pet stores, and thus supporting puppy millers.

sillysally

Posted : 8/18/2006 10:57:16 AM

ORIGINAL: LizzieCollie

People like you are a minority and I applaud you for standing behind your puppy. You did not know better.

Actually, the OP stated that she DID know better.

The wrong thing done for the right reason is still the wrong thing. JMHO.

Aimee

Posted : 8/18/2006 11:34:10 AM

"I really don't care how "serious" you are about your pet-store puppy, or how happy you might be with your dog. Do you care at all about your dog's MOTHER? trapped in a tiny cage, bred over and over again until she drops dead? consider that many of these places perform brutal c-sections without anesthesia on the mothers. Your choice to give money to the pet store is the direct cause of dog torture. You buy one pet-store puppy, you are dooming multiple dogs to a horrible life."

I have a bit of a problem with this. First, not every single pet store out there is bad. Some places have standards you know. The reason not to buy from a pet store is that you don't know if the dog cam from a puppy mill. Don't assume that every store out there does not care where they got their dogs from. While I don't know about the place I got Bailey one of the breeders had been posting on line about her litter of puppies. When I called about it she gave me the number to this place called "Missy's Puppy Land" I ended up falling in love with a diffrent breeder than the one who posted on line but who is to say if they were a bad breeder or a good one? No, I didn't go to a shelter but, at least I went to a place that was able to give me info about the breeder I even got an adress where I could write to them if I wanted to. Isn't this better than going to a pet store in the mall?

Caprice Christian

Posted : 8/18/2006 11:38:18 AM

ORIGINAL: BaileyIsMyStar

I have a bit of a problem with this. First, not every single pet store out there is bad. Some places have standards you know. The reason not to buy from a pet store is that you don't know if the dog cam from a puppy mill. Don't assume that every store out there does not care where they got their dogs from. While I don't know about the place I got Bailey one of the breeders had been posting on line about her litter of puppies. When I called about it she gave me the number to this place called "Missy's Puppy Land" I ended up falling in love with a diffrent breeder than the one who posted on line but who is to say if they were a bad breeder or a good one? No, I didn't go to a shelter but, at least I went to a place that was able to give me info about the breeder I even got an adress where I could write to them if I wanted to. Isn't this better than going to a pet store in the mall?

No half decent breeder would ever need to or want to sell their puppies to ANY pet store, JMHO.

alieliza

Posted : 8/18/2006 11:42:15 AM

When I called about it she gave me the number to this place called "Missy's Puppy Land" I ended up falling in love with a diffrent breeder than the one who posted on line but who is to say if they were a bad breeder or a good one?

Well, I hope YOU are to say if they were a bad or good breeder. You should know. You should do your research. No reputable breeder is going to sell their dogs to a pet shop, knowing the reputation. Most reputable breeders needn't do any advertising either! They have a waitlist for their pups!

Buying a puppy from a pet store, no matter how serious or "responsible" you are, is irresponsible.

Aimee

Posted : 8/18/2006 11:51:08 AM

Not to up set anyone but, I spent months and months trying to find a breeder. I did do my home work...I even spoke to the people. I realize going to one breeder would have been better than going to a group of them but, I thought it was very good that they provided me with all the contact info I needed. If they had something to hide wouldn't they not give out the contact info? They even had breeders giving out care sheets, things to make sure the puppies food smell stronger so that they would be willing to eat in a strange place and lots of stuff to read about caring for your dog correctly? Bailey had even already been trained to sit on command it seems to me that she was at least getting attention and being very well cared for accoding to her doctors visit. If I was wrong about this please let me know but, doesn't it at least sound like these breeders were at least trying to insure the dogs would be taken care of?

Aimee

Posted : 8/18/2006 12:05:35 PM

Also, I want to say something else...just so I don't seem like horrible person. I really tried going to different shelters and looking around. I did this for at least 2 or 3 months. I had strict requirements. The dog had to be small and young. I wanted a puppy because I had an older dog and I knew my heart was not going to take dealing with another dying dog so soon. I didn't know how to search for a breeder other than checking ads and looking on line. I had even down loaded a check list on how to find a good breeder. I did not go right to a pet store with out checking up and doing some serious home work about getting a puppy (even though she is my 5th dog in my life time.)

Terri

Posted : 8/18/2006 12:11:40 PM

I know that people are being harsh because it's important on forums like this to educate people--posters and lurkers alike--about the dangers of buying from pet stores. I think everyone's points about how bad pet store puppies and puppy mills are very valid. So to the lurkers, please don't take any of this to mean that pet stores are a good place to buy a dog.

But to Sara, I completely see your point. It's great that you got such a wonderful puppy from a pet store. Years ago, before I knew anything about puppy mills or the evils of pet stores, my family purchased a Norwegian Elkhound puppy from a pet store. He was days away from dying because they had misdiagnosed him with kennel cough when he actually had worms. We saved his life--and yes, I acknowledge the fact that we could've saved a shelter dog (which I've done) or bought from a breeder (which I've done). But there is no way I would ever trade the years we spent with Rockit. He was such a wonderful dog and a great friend for so many years. So even though pet stores are horrible, I do sympathize with the intention behind your post.

Kristal Jenkinson

Posted : 8/18/2006 12:12:49 PM

Not to up set anyone but, I spent months and months trying to find a breeder. I did do my home work...I even spoke to the people. I realize going to one breeder would have been better than going to a group of them but, I thought it was very good that they provided me with all the contact info I needed. If they had something to hide wouldn't they not give out the contact info? They even had breeders giving out care sheets, things to make sure the puppies food smell stronger so that they would be willing to eat in a strange place and lots of stuff to read about caring for your dog correctly? Bailey had even already been trained to sit on command it seems to me that she was at least getting attention and being very well cared for accoding to her doctors visit. If I was wrong about this please let me know but, doesn't it at least sound like these breeders were at least trying to insure the dogs would be taken care of?

I've met "breeders" who love their puppies more than anything...but didn't bother getting any health tests done on either parent. No matter how much they want their puppies to live a happy life, they have already set them up for a potential disaster, and to me that's the most irresponsible, selfish thing they can do. Just because puppies are well cared for does not make a breeder responsible or ethical in any way!

dogslyfe

Posted : 8/18/2006 12:24:41 PM

I thought it was very good that they provided me with all the contact info I needed.

Did you visit the actual breeder's home, and see the dogs and puppies? Do you have any way of verifying how many dogs they have, and in what conditions? What breeds? It is good that they provided you with contact info, but until you see it with your own eyes, I wouldn't trust it. Even though they provided contact info, that's no assurance of the situation, in my opinion. Also, a lot of puppies come to the stores by way of brokers - they can give you info on the breeder itself, but they're still cranking them out like potato chips.

I have waited for my puppy (the one coming home in four more weeks) for a YEAR. I have wanted a PB Border Collie puppy for almost TWO years. That's how long it took me to find the right breeding. I became active in the BC world, got to know people and their dogs. I then was put on a waiting list for a puppy from a litter that was from two very excellent dogs, proven on the national level, and they have had the appropriate health tests for the breed. This was a very carefully planned and researched breeding, and I couldn't be happier. Both dogs bring to the table something that I desire in my next Border Collie, and I think the pups are going to be a good combination. I have seen these puppies, held these puppies, no less than once a week since the day after they were born. I think it's important that we, as consumers, take an active part in acquiring our animals - whether it be from breeders, or from rescue or shelter.

Aimee

Posted : 8/18/2006 12:30:46 PM

I've met "breeders" who love their puppies more than anything...but didn't bother getting any health tests done on either parent. No matter how much they want their puppies to live a happy life, they have already set them up for a potential disaster, and to me that's the most irresponsible, selfish thing they can do. Just because puppies are well cared for does not make a breeder responsible or ethical in any way!

ORIGINAL: JRTmom

I guess you are right JRTmom. I just liked to think that I got my dog from a better place than a chain or "mall pet store." This one seemed a bit better to me. You are right though, I really don't have any way of knowing that the parents were checked or anything. I could write to the adress they gave me but, unless I actually went and saw Bailey's actual parents I wouldn't know. Honestly, I got fed up with not finding what I wanted at shelters and fooled my self into thinking that going to this place was better than just any old pet store out there. Part of me still does feel a bit better because they were not some mall pet store . I feel bad now[]

KCSO

Posted : 8/18/2006 12:30:46 PM

This thread is about two different things.

First topic - There's a supposition about "all" pet shop puppy buyers - that they are impulsive, and uneducated about the dogs. That they may get the wrong thing on a whim. That they may dump the dog when the going gets rough. That because they "didn't know better" about not buying at the shop, that they wont know better on any other topic of ownership.

Second topic - There's the problem with pet shops and the puppies they sell. That retailers are there for the sale, any sale. That the puppy mill dogs are miserable. That the puppies are unhealthy and/or have genetic issues. That there is misrepresentation or poor breeding, etc etc.

If I am not mistaken, SaraD's post is addressing the first issue that not all pet-store-puppy buyers fit the first stereotype. Some could be perfectly wonderful owners - educated, caring, dedicated. She even admits what she did was wrong. She went on to get a shelter dog, and sure sounds like she's a responsible pet owner for the long haul. The ensuing thread flogging her for the second topic isn't really productive, even though some will argue its directly related.

As a newbie to all this I feel its much more impactful to me to understand that SaraD (apparently) got EXTREMELY lucky with her dog. The odds are really against this. I personally wouldn't risk it. I would hope she doesn't use her dog as an example to other people of good dogs from the pet shops, as its a bit like showing off your lottery winnings (i.e. really great, but wont happen to the next guy!).

I understand the frustration of many on this board. They want to reach the 99% of buyers who DO fit the stereotype, but oddly enough those people aren't educating themselves on this forum. Attacking the 1%, for being not perfect enough, is not an avenue for significant or positive change.