I bought a puppy from a pet store years ago. He was a german shepherd. I instantly fell in love with him. He was a wonderful boy who was loving and never mean or vicious. Before he was a year old, he was having problems walking. I took him to the vet and they x-rayed his his hips. The doctor said they he had never seen hips this bad. He would not be able to walk. He would have to have surgery and that wouldn't guarantee anything. He might not even make it through the surgery. The vet suggested we put him down. I held this huge baby in my arms as they did it. I knew it was the best thing for him, but I cried hysterically and could not stop. I could not leave him. How could this have happened? When I calmed down, the vet asked if I got him from a breeder, and I said from a pet store. He said sometimes dogs have hereditary problems like this and puppy mills will keep breeding as long as the dogs can still produce. This made me angry. I don't get angry very often. My greif was overwhelming. I made many phone calls and finally found the puppy mill owner. I wish I still had her name and number. She lived in Missouri. When I called her, she apologized and said she would send another puppy to me, but how did I get her name and number? I told her that I would never take another puppy from her. I asked if she had problems with her dogs hips. She said which ones. Oh a large breeder she was. She was happy to say she was. Her german shepherds never had to get tested to sell them. She sold them for $150 each. Well, I bought him for $750. I had a long talk with that woman and she kept assuring me that her puppies and dogs were healthy. I cried and never did anything...
I wish I had done something for my Louie. May he rest in peace.
I hope this helps some, I don't like to think about that time. It hurts so much. |