Pet Store Puppies...

This is why I was always afraid to mention how we got Shannara. I know I took a risk when it came to how healthy she was. Everyone takes risks by going to shelters and adopting there too. We adopted a puppy from a shelter several years ago, and she died 2 weeks later from Distemper. She even had gotten her shots right after we adopted her. When I said we took owning her seriously..I did mean responsibly. Yes we got her in an irresponsible way.

I feel for the newcomers who come in here asking for advice and who may get flamed because of where they got their own new puppies.

Shannara was and will always be our only pet store dog. All of our other pets were strays or adopted. Shaun came into our family because of a boy's love for her. To this day, I do not know what caused my son to stop crying and screaming about dogs when it came to Shannara. Even after her, he was still fearful of other dogs for many years. Even ones smaller than Shaun. I have always thought that his love for her was worth the risks and my knowledge about where she may have come from.

I regret posting this thread. I had only wanted to say that not all pet owners who purchase their pets from pet stores, will be irresponsible pet owners. Yes money changes hands toward the puppy mills. So does our money when it comes to the meat we buy. Have you ever read about how poorly poultry and cattle are treated and bred? What about clothes shopping? Our money goes to companies with deplorable working conditions for many people. There are tons of examples.

Despite, where we got Shannara and the reasons, we are a responsible dog owning family. They get the top food, vet care when needed, exercise, training and socializing.



--Sara

Attacking the 1%, for being not perfect enough, is not an avenue for significant or positive change.

Attacking (flogging??) her would have been to say "You are ______". Saying that doing ____ action is irresponsible is in no way attacking her, or anyone else.

Many of us have already said that YES, we are glad that things worked out for her and her puppy. What's done is done. And, of course not everyone fits the stereotype - a stereotype is a generalization (that's what humans do, they put things into categories or manageable chunks in order to help them understand) and there will ALWAYS be people outside of that generalization.

Someone can be educated, smart, and dedicated - and still make an irresponsible or wrong decision (geez, I know I have). However, I don't think its fair to the dogs to advocate it, and sometimes in one's silence there is advocation. In some ways its WORSE to me to make the decision to buy a pet store puppy when you are already educated about what you're doing - although on an emotional level I can understand how one comes to that place.

However, simply by the way the post is worded, it would be awfully easy for someone to read it and say, "see - this pet store dog worked out fine for her. If its fine for her, we'll do it too." I don't think we can address pet store puppy, and anything associated with it, without addressing also responsible buying, responsible breeding, etc.

I could have written a similar post. Mine would be - I took a free puppy from a BYB. She turned out OK - she's a blessing to us. My decision to do so, however, was a bad one. In doing so I encouraged them to not spay and neuter their dogs that were breeding willy nilly. It was irresponsible of me, and my goal now is to make sure I do the right thing - support rescue, and support responsible breeders.

I'm not going to try to justify what I did. It was wrong. It turned out OK, but I'm still responsible for what my decisions perpetuate.

Sara, we still wuvs you.

I do agree - not all people who purchase pets from pet stores will be irresponsible in their ownership of their dogs. I'm glad you guys take good care of your pups. []

I don't think you should regret posting what you did. Like I said before, people are being harsh because they want lurkers to know that pet stores are bad places to buy puppies. I think a lot of times on this board people are criticized for one part of their post (ie I bought a pet store dog) without taking a look at the rest of the post just for the sake of educating everyone who is reading the post. Instead of doing that every time (because I don't think the OP in any way advocates purchasing pet store dogs or that her post indicates that people should do that), let's just be a little more understanding about the message of the post. This board is here to not only educate people about dogs, but for us to share our dog owning/training experiences.

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.

To me, this post is completly wrong. Someone is going to read it and they are going to think getting a dog from a puppy store is OKAY and it most certainly is not.

I agree with whomever said what about your dog's parents? You are encouraging puppy mills to exist and her poor mama dog is most likely sitting in a small cage pregnant or with puppies or if she is lucky she has passed away. This dog will never know love or affection or even that humans CAN be kind. Is that worth it to you? Sure you got a puppy and your son got over his fear, but is that worth all the dogs at the puppy mill suffering? Do you know what they do to dogs who dont sell? How could you support someone like this?

I admit I am guilty, when I first moved here I visited a pet store and thought about purchasing a puppy. Although I never did I contemplated it. However, I didnt know any better. You did! Had you not known any better it wouldnt bother me as much.

Bailey-You know there is such a thing as breed rescues, it would have been cheaper and you would have saved a life.

I really dont care if you think you did the right thing or not, if you knew about responsible breeding and shelters well you should have known better. No one here is going to agree with you knowing that it is wrong to buy a dog from a puppy mill (again NO respectable breeder will sell to a pet store) and you still buying it.

Please feel free to ask the responsible breeders on here if they would ever sell to a petstore, even privatly if you feel more comfortable. Breeders who sell to pet stores never take the puppies back and instead when the pups get too old to sell they either turn them into the shelter or euthanize them. This is a practice of ALL pet stores. You may think your pet store is special and if it helps you sleep at night that is fine, just look at the facts.

To both of you: Were the parent dog's tested? Were they titled? DId you actually talk to the breeder? Visit their facilities? I can already tell you the answer is no, if you had visited their facilities you wouldnt have taken the dog. It came from a puppy mill, you can fool yourself if you want to, but why dont you go to the petstore and visit the breeder now?

You can justify this to yourself and say it helped your son overcome his fear of dogs but I am sure had you adopted a dog from a shelter or bought from a respectable breeder your son would have gotten over his fear. Again I wouldnt be saying any of this had you not known better. And now you are ENCOURAGING people who are reading this to buy a dog from a pet store. Shame on you.

EDITED: I think you are nice people and I too am glad you take care of your pet store dog but you have no right trying to justify it. Doesnt matter if you were serious or not, people who kill other people are serious too, that doesnt make it right. Hoarders who keep hundreds of animals are serious too, they are wrong also. Just because you have good intentions and take care of the dog doesnt mean anything to me. Again, I think you all are super nice people I just wish you hadnt posted this, you are encouraging people to buy from pet stores if they are "serious". Serious or not doesnt matter. Dogs sold in pet stores are the lucky ones, the not so lucky ones are their parents who only get relief when they die.
 
 
SARA-By posting this you ARE encouraging people to buy from pet stores weither you think so or not. YOu are saying it is okay if you know better as long as you are "serious" about pet ownership.

ORIGINAL: KCSO

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.

 I have to say that I do NOT encourage anyone from buying from a pet store. I was never planning on buying a pet store puppy ever.  My son and whatever magic happened between him and Shaun was what brought her home to us. I also do NOT flaunt where I got her from nor do I also say that all pet store pets are healthy. I KNOW we were lucky. The vet we took her to that same day, said how lucky we were to have such a healthy puppy.

I really was only advocating for the precious few who take their purchase responsibly. I would never regret having Shannara. She has been a darling for us. She has openly accepted two new human babies in her life. She accepted losing a backyard for a long time. She knows that she is loved and taken care of. She considers us her pack. I have seen her change her demeanor when DH goes on deployment. She steps up her comical antics and her watchfulness over the house. We never taught her that. She does it because she knows that we lost an important element of our family. I am happy that she is with us and that we can show her love.

--Sara

I find it strange that you feel such a need to defend buying a pet store dog.  I dont know where it was ever said that ALL people who buy dogs from pet stores are irresponsible owners.. its just said that its not a good thing to do because of the puppy mills... that you have an increased chance of getting something other than what you were expecting because of things behind the scenes. 
 
I really dont get you comparing it to the chance you take when getting a shelter dog.  Um, first of all when you get a dog from a shelter you are saving a life from euthanization.  Second, you are aware of the risks and know what you are getting into.  You do it anyway to save a life of a loving deserving dog in need.  When you go to a pet store and pay thousands of dollars you *think* you are getting a heathy pure bred dog.  Not similar at all I dont see your comparison there.
 
I dont think anyone should flog you for what you did and I dont think you shoud be here trying to defend it.  It was wrong and you know it so why get upset when others reiterate that fact to you.
 
I think when people buy the pet shop dogs its important to tell them why they shouldnt in the future.  To educate them on where that dog came from and all of that, not to bash them for not knowing.  If you knew and did it, well reasons aside, people think its wrong.  Im glad you are happy with your purchase and gave that dog a loving home.  Why do all of this to defend it?  Theres nothing wrong with your dog, it deserves a great home too, and lucky to have one.  All that aside, it supports puppy mills.
 
So you think its not so bad because there are clothing companies with deplorable working conditions?  Okay whatever makes you feel better.
 
Again, I dont think you needed to defend it in the first place.  It was a decision you made and hopefully you wont do it again knowing the things you know.  To the people you are speaking to it was done and they are just saying its not a good thing.  You cant really get upset and defensive about that. 

ORIGINAL: mmthomason 
And now you are ENCOURAGING people who are reading this to buy a dog from a pet store. Shame on you.

 
I completely disagree that the OP was encouraging anything of the sort. She was sharing her dog related experience with other people on a dog related forum. She clearly prefaced her post with the fact that buying from a pet store is not a good thing to to. She just wanted to share the fact that she got a wonderful dog and a friend for her son. Yes she got the dog from a pet store, but she has not once said "and everyone else should do the same."

She is talking about what a wonderful dog she got from a pet store, that is encouraging people to buy from a pet store.
 
She said she knew better and still bought a dog at a pet store. She makes it sound Okay, she makes it seem like well if you are "serious" then you can buy from a petstore. It is silly and we all know this.
 
She shouldnt have even posted this and obviously feels guilty or she wouldnt have, knowing no one was going to agree. I personally really like Sara. You can like someone but not agree with the choices they make. I deal with the dogs who get rescued from the puppy mills, plesant it is not. So I am here to help clean up the mess and she gets a great puppy out of it. Wonderful for her. The puppy mill rescued dogs NEVER ever ever recover from the horrid life they have suffered. It is SO hard to find them homes because they have so many special needs.

Aimee, I don't know if this is the same Missy's PuppyLand as the one you went to, but I thought I would post this just to alert people - Missy's PuppyLand in Stoughton MA is infamous for selling sick dogs. Here's a 2004 Boston Herald article about them -
 
[linkhttp://www.finial.com/billy/20041213-herald-PetShopHorror.pdf#search='missy%27s%20puppyland']http://www.finial.com/billy/20041213-herald-PetShopHorror.pdf#search='missy%27s%20puppyland'[/link]

Were the parent dog's tested? Were they titled? DId you actually talk to the breeder?

ORIGINAL: mmthomason

Actually, I did talk to one of the breeders before I even went to the place. I am not telling people to go out and buy from pet stores. I never said that at all. I actually said that you don't know what you are getting in to and have suggested people always try shelters and pet finder first. I was wrong to go to this place but, please do not tell me that I am trying to tell others to do the same.

ORIGINAL: mmthomason

She is talking about what a wonderful dog she got from a pet store, that is encouraging people to buy from a pet store.

She said she knew better and still bought a dog at a pet store. She makes it sound Okay, she makes it seem like well if you are "serious" then you can buy from a petstore. It is silly and we all know this.

She shouldnt have even posted this and obviously feels guilty or she wouldnt have, knowing no one was going to agree. I personally really like Sara. You can like someone but not agree with the choices they make. I deal with the dogs who get rescued from the puppy mills, plesant it is not. So I am here to help clean up the mess and she gets a great puppy out of it. Wonderful for her. The puppy mill rescued dogs NEVER ever ever recover from the horrid life they have suffered. It is SO hard to find them homes because they have so many special needs.

I posted this thread because of another thread on bullie breeds being in a pet store. There were a few remarks about people going into a pet store, impulse buying these dogs and giving them to the shelter or dumping them when the owners learned it was harder to have one. I felt the need to say that not everyone who buys from a pet store will dump the dog when things get rough. This is why I posted the thread.

Shannara has and will only be our pet store bought dog. I used to be a foster home to dogs and cats before I had my kids. I helped authorities take notice of a city shelter because they weren't following their regulations. They were also shooting the dogs to euthanize them when they had a functioning gas chamber.

--Sara

I have to say that I do NOT encourage anyone from buying from a pet store. I was never planning on buying a pet store puppy ever. My son and whatever magic happened between him and Shaun was what brought her home to us.

 
SaraD, this part of your overall message really bothers me. IMO you're saying "pet stores are horrible, never support them...unless of course you see a cute little furry puppy that your family loves and needs to have".
 
I think at one time or another we've all had a special moment with a puppy staring back at us through a glass cage, but doesn't mean we just forget our morals and support something that we know is wrong. What brought her home to you was your cash in the pet store's pocket; not magic.
 
I'm glad your son and Shannara have such a special bond, but I have no doubt that if you took the time to visit puppies in shelters or rescues you could have found one that was equally as special.

I helped authorities take notice of a city shelter because they weren't following their regulations. They were also shooting the dogs to euthanize them when they had a functioning gas chamber.

--Sara


 
I dont want to get flamed either but to tell you the truth I would much prefer a dog be shot than to be euthanized in a horrible gas chamber. As long as the shot was instant and killed it, it is a WHOLE lot better than the animals suffering in a big pile until their poor bodies eventually give up on them. Gas chambers are beyond horrible and again I would rather someone shoot a dog (again as long as it was quick and painless) than to suffer minutes in a gas chamber and die on their former kennel mates.
 
I am glad you fostered and hope you will consider it in the future