Just curious....Have any of you purchased a dog from a pet store?

 I've often wondered where the slightly older dogs go, since all  you ever see in those cages are very young pups.

 
 
I know where the ones from the two local stores I mentioned go. In high school, I knew someone who worked at the store with all of the mill puppies part time. He said that they sent those puppies back to the mill they came from and got half of their money back per pup. We both assume that the mill bought them back to use as breeding dogs, but we don't really know.
 
The other store, the one who sold BYB puppies, told me that they sold the older puppies to a "third party broker." They told me they didn't know where they went after that...but I do know that alot of labs purchase their "random source" dogs from brokers. Wherever they go, I think it's safe to assume it isn't good. []

I guess my question is ...Ok so DONT buy from a petstore...health issues, etc etc. So are we saying that these dogs dont deserve a loving happy home just like those in the rescues, shelters etc do??? What happens to those who arent purchased? Is it fair to NOT buy them simply because they are in the pet store? Did they have a CHOICE as to where they were bred from or sold to? NO. This concerns me, I mean...sure we all want a healthy dog, but a dog could have healthy issues regardless of where it came from. And are we saying that makes them undesireable? I dont know about you guys, but we all assume our pups are healthy, and we do what we need to to take care of them if issues arise...shouldnt it be the same for these guys?
 
I guess I just dont think its fair for everyone to preach this all day long when at the end of the day THEY ALL NEED HOMES...regardless of where they are coming from right???

But if you buy them you are contributing to the cycle.  I think we will see more and more stores that don't carry dogs because more and more people are becoming aware of rescue, shelters, etc.  I hope anyway.
 
You're right - these dogs deserve homes where they won't be repeatedly bred until they're no longer useful, but at the same time if we support them they'll keep doing it.
 
We've gone from 4 pet stores that sell dogs to 2 in the past 15 years.  I know it's not a lot - but it's something.  I won't buy from stores that sell animals and hopefully more and more people will eventually see the light...

ORIGINAL: silver_wlf

But if you buy them you are contributing to the cycle.  I think we will see more and more stores that don't carry dogs because more and more people are becoming aware of rescue, shelters, etc.  I hope anyway.

You're right - these dogs deserve homes where they won't be repeatedly bred until they're no longer useful, but at the same time if we support them they'll keep doing it.

We've gone from 4 pet stores that sell dogs to 2 in the past 15 years.  I know it's not a lot - but it's something.  I won't buy from stores that sell animals and hopefully more and more people will eventually see the light...

 
I agree with you that the cycle needs to end, but at the same time...What is to happen to these puppies? Should they suffer? I dont think so. I dont think its fair. Nor do I think the puppy mills should do what they do. I guess at the end of the day my main concern is offering a dog a safe, happy, loving home regardless of its origin.

Is it fair to NOT buy them simply because they are in the pet store?

Is it fair to comdemn their parents to a life of pain?

If people continue to feel sorry for and "rescue" pet store and flea market puppies, they'll continue to be produced. YES, it makes a huge difference for that ONE puppy. It does not help the bigger picture, though.

Do you really WANT someone to get PAID to kick the hell out of a ten pound dog, day after day after day? Do you want to finance an additional, windowless kennel, to be filled with breeding bitches? Do you want to pay for that puppy broker's (remember, they sell to labs, too) vacation, this year?

It isn't worth it. Dogs die every day, in shelters. Dogs die in puppy mills, too. Not buying from puppy mills slows down the production of dogs, and in an ideal world, slows the flow into shelters.

There are a couple reasons why people shouldn't buy puppies from a petstore

1. WAY overpriced.
2. Pet stores buy from puppy mills.
3. Puppies are brought up in crates.
4. Predisposed to illnesses.
5. Not properly socialized.

The main reason, is most of the puppies sold in petstores, are from puppy mills. Which means their overall health (physical and mental) is not guaranteed.

Always adopt. There are many purebreds in shelters (they're not all mixed breeds) that need loving homes.

I guess I just dont think its fair for everyone to preach this all day long when at the end of the day THEY ALL NEED HOMES...regardless of where they are coming from right???

Take the long view. If you don't buy that puppy today he is not going to end up in a good place, but since he didn't sell the pet store will think twice about how much inventory they get the next time. Ideally if they don't sell then they are not a good investment for the petstore, the petstore stops selling puppies.  If you DO buy the puppy, on the other hand, regardless of your motivation you have justified the pet store investing in the puppies and they will buy more. Regardless of why you bought the pup, you have just become part of the problem. By your attempt to alleviate the suffering of one dog you've garaunteed the suffering of more dogs.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Paula

I personally never have but my cousin got the cutest Boxer pup who they sold to her at ONLY 6 weeks old. By the time he was 4 months he had severe arthritis. By the time he was 6 months they had to have him put to sleep, his hip joints and cartilege were mush, he could hardly walk. It was such a terrible lesson for her and her family on BYB's and pet store puppies

Very nice, rational explaination.  Well done

I can see where you're coming from, butterfly, and it really is a Catch-22. Nobody wants to support BYBs and puppy mills - yet nobody wants to see a poor pup languishing in a cage in a pet store, either.  They really do ALL  deserve to be loved and have a good home.
 
Joyce
 

I have never bought a cat or a dog from a pet store.  DSs got their Guinea Pigs from Petco. I prefer to get my cats from rescue. My dogs have either been rescues or from a very, very reputable breeder.

I once got a cat from the petstore about 15 years ago.  He had no problems til he
was 8yrs old. He died from kidney failure.  Since then, all my pets were adopted
from the shelter.

Sorry it was a long road before I got educated and went the rescue route.  My first dog was from a Petshop, 2nd a breeder, 3rd the humane society, 4th Petshop, 5th Petshop, 6th and 7th breeder, 8th rescue group, and 24+ fosters.  In the 70's and 80's if you want a puppy you find one in the newspaper's want ads or a Petshop.  The internet is new and now information is readily available to make an informed decision.  All the dogs that I have had in the past were wonderful.  I don't begrudge the families or the individuals in the stores.  They served a purpose and fulfilled my need.  One of things that I have learned on this forum is that the best kept secret is the reputable breeder.  Only thought they were for the rich and the obsessed.

Another thing, I do go and visit the Petshop where I got my first Great Dane.  They have stopped selling the large breeds there.  I suppose if I saw another Great Dane that is too big for the cage, I would take him home.  Sorry my heart rules in that case.

They are all scum, plain unadulterated scum

 
And that is putting it nicely.

ORIGINAL: ron2

They are all scum, plain unadulterated scum

And that is putting it nicely.

 
Sometimes you are too violent for my taste.  I remember the families and the store clerks that assisted me in selecting my pups.  They don't deserve to be called scums, they helped me get want I needed.