So I'm thinking of going to my local Petland..

I've been to one Petland, with my family in VA, they had 10 puppies in tiny cages(2' x 2'?), Basset's, Chihuahua's, Pomeranian's, Shih Tzu's, Poodle's, and Mix's. I felt so bad for the puppies, and my aunt was just like 'Ohh, how cute! Oh my god that puppy is $1300! Are they sapposed to be THAT expensive?!' I wanted to smack her. Of course, she wanted the cute little, floppy-eared, wrinkly-face Basset. Who just happened to have a runny nose and extreme eye-discharge. My cusion asked if they were taking it to the vet(a 8 year old little boy, mind you) and the girl that worked they're just took him to out of the cage and to the back. Of couse, me being me, I opened the door after her, and saw about 20+ cages with puppies in them.

I would ask them, and if they don't tell you, or you think they're feeding you a line of crap, go to Animal Control or some other organisation. Maybe they could help.

I have my doubts that the pet store would give you that information but it wouldn't hurt to ask.  Most puppy mill breeders sell to brokers who then sell to the various pet stores.  I recently found a cute stray Yorkie who had no collar/tag but she was chipped.  The chip was still registered with the breeder.  I called and it was a puppy mill breeder in Pennsylvania.  He told me he sold that dog to such and such broker.  This dog was in Texas, the point being that they ship them all over the country.  The breeder, when asked, said they bred Yorkies, Pap's and on and on.  I told him that I found this dog, etc.  He could not have been less interested in this dog. What a surprise.

I have asked at a pet store once just to see what I was told.  The puppies were a bully breed and the manager told me they were purchased from a breeder.  I asked if I could have the name and phone number so I could ask some questions.  I had no interest in purchasing ,I was just curious and suspicous that these were from a mill.  He told me that was confidential information and he would not give me the info.  This was long before the days of microchipping.

I might do it again just to cause a stink in the store and talk loudly and hopefully get some other customers' attention.  I just hate to go in these type of stores because I hate to see those puppies. I should stand outside with a sign and a petition but I would probably get in a hassle with the store management and end up getting arrested.  DPU, I know I should be willing to do this if I were really committed to shutting down mills but I am like so many and want to bury my head and hope it all goes away.  I do what I can and that is all I can do.

BTW I found the Yorkie a good home.  She was a little cutie pie.

 

JackieG

I might do it again just to cause a stink in the store and talk loudly and hopefully get some other customers' attention. 

Ahhh, a lady after my own heart. 

In *some* states they are required to post information regarding what vet has seen the dogs - but typically it will be one of the worst vets in town who simply sells his/her services to the puppy store.  IN Florida the current (last I checked) scam was to make you sign "adoption" papers when you buy a puppy that gives you wowza "free vet care" for the first year.

That HAS to be at the vet of their choice (no surprise) which is usually a part owner of the store.  A vet who will look you in the eye and deny stuff like demodectic mange, hip/knee problems, and other genetic problems that even manifest early on.  Yes, they get shots galore and will see the dog but if there really IS a problem, typically you get the shaft and they deny deny deny that it's any sort of congenital problem other than to offer to give you another puppy and TAKE that one. 

By the time people pay 10 prices to get a puppy (and obviously haven't done a lick of research) they're so thrilled to get "free vet care" (wow whata deal huh?  *sob*) they never ask questions and believe the whole line of malarky.

One of my coworkers bought a puppy from a pet store earlier this year (she didn't know the story behind these...but she does now!).  They told her up front that the puppy had luxating patellas, and she paid goodness-knows-what for the dog anyway, because she didn't know what they were, and the people at the pet store kinda downplayed the severity of the condition.  The only thing I can think of is there must be some kind of full disclosure law in NC, because otherwise I doubt they would have even let her know about it.  Anyway, they convinced her to see the vet that works at the pet store, who said it wasn't a very serious case in this particular dog.  Myself and another coworker of mine, who is very, very active in greyhound rescue and understands fully where these petstore dogs originate, and also understands that a vet who works AT one of these stores is shady at best, advised her to get a second opinion.  I don't know if she ever did.  I think I remember her saying something about a "warranty" relating to the luxating patellas and her having to use the vet at the store.  Is this a car, or a dog?  Unbelievable.

EXACTLY my point -- people have been trained by the media to think if they have to 'sign' something (like an adoption agreement) then WOW these people must be cautious!! NO -- they're marketers!  They know that lulls people into a false sense of security and gee, warranties all come with exclusions you gotta follow? right?

WRONG.

Of course any sort of health problem will be excluded for some ridiculous "fine print" reason.  Most people who buy puppies no matter where they buy them become very quickly attached and they don't want to return the puppy for another one, which is usually the option offered if the health problem is serious enough.  So the new puppy owner is stuck with huge Vet bills and possibly the prospect of very expensive care for the rest of the dog's life.   Bottom line is that puppies purchased in pet stores are usually purchased by uneducated people.  Uneducated in the world of dogs and dog breeding.  These people are in love with their pups and most are heartbroken by the health issues but do not want a replacement they want a healthy dog!

Having said that, even very responsible, careful breeders have an occasional puppy with serious health issues but they are much rarer and the breeder is usually as horrifed as the owner and will work with them to find an agreeable way to make it right.

Ok, Callie, you and me, off to the pet store and we will make them wish they worked at McD's!!

IrishSetterGrl

, and asking the employees there where they get their puppies from. Anytime I go in there (I NEVER spend one cent in there, but I go just to see the puppies even though it makes me extremely upset), there are at least 20 puppies of all breeds and mixes in their little "wall cubbies" on wire floors with drip water bottles to drink from. I want to ask the employees where they get their puppies from, and once I have the information, if it is close enough I would like to go check out the facility in which they are born.

Is the pet store required to give me this information, and also would this be inappropriate (asking about the dogs backgrounds)?

 

This is a great idea.  Go at a busy time.  If they won't disclose the info, ask why not.  Ask a few more pointed questions like, what health tests did the parents have, what were the temperaments like and what were they like with children?

Good luck and may the Force be with you.

Shadow was purchased by friends for $200 from Plano Pets and Grooming in Plano, Texas, now located in the shopping center at Spring Creek Pkwy. and Alma Rd. The breeder's name is listed in the papers as Mike Yaeger. I cannot find him listed on any breeder list in Texas or Oklahoma. I've tried both Lab breeders and Sibe breeders. I've contacted local breeders to see if they have ever heard of the guy. Nor is he on the stoppuppymills site. He's below the radar. Once, I called the petstore asking for info. No go. Another time, I went to the store, asking for info and offering mine. No go. They simply will not give the info. And yes, they had another litter of pups in a playpen there, for sale. So, just as likely, he might a byb, what I call a Bubba or redneck with a box of pups that he was able to sell on consignment. I don't know how the store gets pups and they are not releasing that information. Shadow was purchased Labor Day Weekend 2003 when he was 6 weeks old.

That's what one gets from a pet store that sells puppies. No info, shady characters, out and out deception. Bald-faced lying. Unethical behavior. So, I don't mind mentioning their business name and exact location. I could shut up if they would just give me info.

So, I can hope and dream that they will one day go out of business. And certainly, I can let people in north Texas know where not to go for anything pet related.

I thought pet stores only sold "purebreeds" or of course now the new "designer" breeds.   Ron by papers are you saying that they sold shadow as a purebreed, does he have some sort of registry papers?  Maybe you can track the breeder down through that registry?

On topic, No the store does not have to give you that information and probably won't.  I bet the employees wouldn't even have access to that info.

When my sister went to purchase her weim puppy I went along and asked one of the workers where the puppies came from. They told me "Each puppy is picked from a local reputable breeders litter." Ya and at the time I beleive that BS. There are many people who think that is okay and that an AKC registered dog is worth hundreds of dollars. :(

Good luck! I hope you turn some potential customers heads.

Kyda

When my sister went to purchase her weim puppy I went along and asked one of the workers where the puppies came from. They told me "Each puppy is picked from a local reputable breeders litter." Ya and at the time I beleive that BS. There are many people who think that is okay and that an AKC registered dog is worth hundreds of dollars. :(

Good luck! I hope you turn some potential customers heads.

If you can steel yourself not to feel the need to "rescue" a puppy from a pet store, you can actually have some sort of dark humored fun. OF COURSE the employee will tell you that the puppies all come from a reputable breeder. OF COURSE they aren't going to say, "oh these are mass produced puppies with no socialization from parents who are raised in cages and we have no idea what health problems exist in their lines because once the check clears, we pay no attention to where these puppies end up." So, pick a time when there are lots of customers in the store. Ideally wait until a person or two is mulling over purchasing a puppy. Then, all sweetness and light, ask the employee if these puppies come from puppy mills. When they give you the inevitable "come from health guaranteed high quality parents raised by reputable breeders" line, just say "oh that's wonderful! I'm really interested in that adorable golden retriever puppy. She's just sooo sweet! May I see the OFA numbers on her parents?" When you get a blank look from the minimum wage employee, sweetly ask, "you do have OFA numbers on the parents don't you? You did say the breeders were responsible and used high quality breeding stock didn't you? So, surely the parents were OFA'd weren't they? Oh, and while you are going through the files on Goldie, oh gosh she is just the cutest thing, I must have her, could you pull out her CERF registration as well?" When the minimum wage employee who thinks you are speaking in tongues at this point begins to stammer something about health guarantees, reply "Oh, excellent. I was really worried for a second there. But since you offer a life time guarantee that Goldie, oh just look at her, she's soooo precious, I MUST have her, will not have hip dysplasia, I guess I don't really need the OFA numbers then. What do you mean, a two week health guarantee? Surely you are mistaken! EVERYONE knows that a two week or two month or two year guarantee against genetic defects like hip dysplasia, PRA, cardiac problems, and hypothyroidism is meaningless. I'm sure you are confused on this. Please double check and see where it says that you offer a life time guarantee against those sorts of genetic problems." By this time the store will be empty of customers for the day, and you can go home knowing that you've educated a few folks, and made life just a teensy little bit less comfortable for the commercial puppy mass production industry.

Geez, haven't any of you been in a pet store?  The book is usually kept on the counter around the register.  Take a look, it has where the dog came from.  If its not there, simply ask for the dog's birthday and the clerk will reference the binder.  Wow, get to know what you are advocating against.

I've never seen a book listing where the pups come from? if you go ask they always lie and say the pups come from local reputable breeders. Most of our local pet stores have switched to selling the most bizzarre mixes so you can't even track down where they came from via registration papers. Often the source is further confused by the use of puppy mill brokers who buy them from their horrible birthplace and sell them on.

There are 2 pets stores around my area that actually sell dogs and cats....All About Pets and Animal Circus.

All About Pets mainly sells kittens, bunnies, rats, mice, hampsters, and ferrets...they do have Chihuahua pups or other small breeds once every few months to a year. But only one litter(so no more then, 5 pups?). They have kittens year round that come from 'reputible breeders', yet I have never know any breed of cat tho have Blacks, Tabby(both brown and orange), Grays, Whites, and Combo's of all those in the same litter....other then the very common house cat.

Animal Circus on the other hand, is a little shop that is 'aging' with 10 - 15 cages at the back. I have bought one puppy from them. She was a Lab/Dalmation. I was 10. I thought I was 'saving' her. She was also the cheapest pet store puppy I have ever seen...$50. The women who ran the store also had Chihuahua's, Shih Tzu's, Pom's, Schnauzer's(spelling?), and a few other mixed breeds. Behind the swinging doors(the kind with the little glass window), there was a boarding kennel, and another set of cages with puppies. I will never buy from that place again, I never even went back after we brought home Oreo.

Sorry, I haven't really really read the other posts, I figured I would share thou....

 

Edit - Now that I think back, Oreo didn't even come home with a shot record. We got her at 10 weeks, the only thing they had done was feed and water her. Put her in a cage, and called her healthy. No wormings, no shots, nothing.