You can probably find a quality maltese from a reputable breeder probably for the same price as you're paying for a puppy from a pet store. You can buy from someone who knows their lines and tests their dogs for congenital diseases. If you buy from a pet store you don't know where the dogs come from. A lot of pet stores like to say, "our dogs come from reputable breeders", but mainly the pups come from puppy mills. Go to
www.foxstonemaltese.com and click on the button that says Links, and then look for a button that says maltese breeders. Most of them are reputable breeders and if they don't have pups they can point you in the right direction or refer you to a friend of theirs who may have pups. Good luck in whatever you do! I know what it's like to fall in love with a pup
As far as taking your dog to a vet, I would definitely take her to your vet, not theirs...