I did it and now I feel sad
 

This happened about 3 weeks ago:

I was picking up food for the babies at the petstore. The name is escaping me right now, but they are one of a few that sell Nature's Variety. As I was going to the fridge to get the food, I noticed a couple playing with a yorkie puppy in one of those play areas. I see a lot of people in those play areas, but I seldom see anyone actually buy a puppy afterwards.

I went to go check out the carriers they had on sale and then proceeded to the check out line. The couple was in front of me, and to my surprise, they were actually buying or inquiring about the yorkie :eek: I heard that the price was $1,900.00. The lady behind the register was reading over paperwork. She didn't have the information on the warranty, so she left I'm assuming to go to the back and get the warranty information. So there I am, in line, alone with this couple, and I decide to say something. I tell them that they shouldn't buy from a petstore because they probably bought from a puppymill. Then I gave them this site to do some research on reputable breeders. I also told them that they could probably find one at a better price. That's when the woman wrote down the site information,thanked me, and headed out the door. I was literally in shock.

After I paid for the food. I went to check out the puppy.... big mistake. She was so cute and wanted so bad to play with me. She was following my finger on the glass and was doing all the cute things puppies do. I left the store feeling very sad for her. She probably would've been home that same day if it wasn't for me.

It's 3 weeks later, and I still think about her. I'm typing this with tears in my eyes. Would you have done the same thing? If it was the right thing to do, why do I feel so horrible?

OOOhhh Girl ... please don't feel bad ... think about that Couple that listened to your advice to buy from a Breeder and NOT from a Puppymill .... how many do that ???? Somebody else bought her by now I am pretty sure of that ...

You did good ... don't beat yourself up over it .... I know those brown eyes can win you over within sec. !!!!

Just think about the puppy mill that pup came from. If you had not informed that couple they would have helped supprt that puppy mill, and yet another pup would full her spot supporting the mill further. All puppies deserve a home but by purchasing a puppy mill pup that is only helping them to continue their horrible practices. When you see that puppy think of her mom and dad who are probably living in filth, small cages, not being able to properly walk because they have never been allowed. When you feel bad go on YouTube and watch the horrible conditions these poor animals are subjected to. Even one makes a difference…
You did the right thing…sometimes the right choice is the hardest to make. :)

Thank you. I'm really surprised at myself for being so emotional over this. I played with her for maybe 5 mins, but not a day goes by that I don't think about her.

I'm actually going to head back over ther tomorrow because I'm almost out of food. I know I shouldn't look for her, but I probably will.

Thanks for your words... I wish there was more I could do to stop these puppy mills. To be honest with you, it's really hard for me to watch those clips on puppy mills. I wish I could get angry, but I end up feeling very sad afterwards.

:( ..... just try not to be too hard on yourself ... OK !!!!
You did the right thing !!!!

I think it makes me sad most of all that people would stoop so low…so very sad.
Don't be hard on your self. We are proud of you! :)

I'm a softy for any animal. I wish I could do something to stop anyone and everyone who treats animals badly but when I see an animal in a pet store or anywhere being sold and kept in bad conditions I can't help but try to rescue it.
I know it inevitably supports those cruel people but the animals don't deserve to be treated badly no matter what...

We don't see dogs in pet shops in England.

I think I would have checked with the Pet Store where he/she had come from. It might, just might have come from a good home.
If they were vague I wouldn't have entertained buying it.

Just my opinion. Isn't it time Puppie Mills were banned by law.

Hugs Shirl x x .

I am in agreement with the majority here , you did the absolutely right thing to inform the buyers . Here in Canada , the province of Quebec is notorious for puppy mills and the most beneficial thing you can ever do is write your concerns to the government for stronger legislation on these despicable fast -buck breeders . Remember the puppies always get sold in pet stores it is the parents of these dogs that live the horror all their lives in the puppy factories never seeing the light of day or grass to walk on .

That happened to me, I saw Roxie in the window and didn't know anything about puppy mills at the time. It was love at first site with her, she even melted and won DH over. Now that I know about puppy mills I keep my distance from that puppy store. Just a quick glance as I pass it by. But what will happen to those puppies if no one buys them? Will they be put down or go to a shelter or what? It breaks my heart. :(

you did the right thing, even though it doesnt feel like that at the moment. I know about puppymills (now) and while i know they are horrible places, I still feel very bad for the puppies at the petshops as well. They are innocent in all this:(I really hope it ends soon

Oh you dear sweet girl. What a brave thing to do. That couple probably doesn't know the blessing they received from you but the rest of us do. Thanks for stepping up to the plate. I hope we can all be that brave given the same situation.

I know you are grieving for that sweet little puppy but you know you did the right thing.

Hugs for you.
Lou

I too bought Max from a petshop before I knew better, and this one guy pointed out 2 bigger yorkies and said I have those 2 and they are 500 (meanwhile the smaller ones were 1600) I said wow such a difference in price! he said yea becuase they are big and ugly:eek:, nobody wants them. I asked what will happen if they dont get a new home he said he will give them away for free. How true is that? I dont know but I hope he was being honest

Oh my gosh you poor thing. There is only one pet shop around here that has puppies and I refuse to patronize that store as I will not support pet stores that sell puppies.

Please don't feel so sad, you know that darling puppy has found a new home by now with some unsuspecting person. You did the right thing!!!!

Don't be hard on yourself, you did the right thing. Our little guy was used as a stud dog in a huge puppymill in Mo. He will always have some issues but has done so well. It will be three years come Sept. that we have had him. People need to be educated on puppymills before purchasing a puppy. It breaks my heart too to see them in pet stores but I think of what the parents are suffering trying to survive. I say kudos to you for what you did!:animal-pa

What you did was great and as sad as it makes you it was the right thing to do. I watch those clips and cry everytime and them hug each and every one of my fur babies and it helps.

What a situation. Thats exactly how I would feel. You KNOW the right thing was to tell that couple about puppymills and looking for a reputable breeder. Educating people on things like this will go a ways towards stopping puppymills. However, yeah Id feel sooo bad for the pup also, not her/his fault where they were born and what conditions. :(

Wow that is sad.

Does anyone know what happens to the puppies if no one buys them? Do they go back to the puppymill and become what their parents are?:eek:

This is a great idea!!!! I will have to try to find another place that also sells Nature's Variety. I don't care how far I have to drive. I will no longer patronize shops that sell puppies.

Does anyone know where I can find information on what attempts have been made to stop petshops from selling puppies?

I know how hard it is to walk away from those little babies. I ended up buying Baxter from a breeder I didn't care for because he needed my love! People call me an enabler.

You did a great job. She might have seemed healthy, but you never know. Say the couple did get the puppy, they get home and the puppy starts to have diarrea. They take her to the vet and he has to put her on medication for a number of things. You probably saved that couple a lot of money. They would have less vet bills and probably found a cheaper yorkie. Don't beat yourself up. You did good.Here is a link to my club against puppy mills. It is called YAP aka yorkies against puppymills.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/group.php?groupid=61

Can you talk to the owner of the shop and ask her/him where the puppy came from? If you find out, see if it is a puppy mill and if you want to help stop them, get more info on it and go from there.

I'm sorry you're so sad about the puppy :(

I just called and apparently they buy their dogs from brokers :eek: She was really vague over the phone, didn't have many answers, and said the person ordering would have all that information.

They sold the little girl for $1999.00. The name of the petstore is California Pets in Orange, Ca.

You did a good thing be proud of yourself.

You saved that couple thousands of dollars on vet bills and future heartache. You should be so proud of yourself.

Personally I feel like everyone should help in getting the word out to not support these puppy mills, byb, brokers, etc but what happens to the puppies?

I got my Nala from a pet store. During and after my whole ordeal with her situation and learning, I shared my story with Petstore Cruelty. It mostly has stories from the chain I got Nala but overall a lot of information.

Don't be hard on yourself, you did a great thing. I know it's so hard to look at these poor guys and not want to take them all home, but then you would just be supporting the puppy mill they came from. Yes, every pup deserves a home, even those from puppy mills, but after they have been surrendered to a rescue and thoroughly checked, then they can be adopted out.

I would definitely not be shopping in any store that sells puppies. We only have one store locally that sells Nature's Variety and so far on 2 occasions, they have had puppies for sale. I asked about them, the first time they were mutts, that a friend of the owners dogs had, accidental breeding. They were just helping them find homes for them. I thought ok, I can live with that. But just recently they had lab puppies for sale, again friends that don't have they dogs spay/neutered bred and they had 11 puppies, they were trying to help sell the last 4/5 can't remember exactly. So now, I don't know what I'm going to do because now I think they are just perpetuating the overpopulation of unwanted dogs. It looks like I might have to start buying my food on-line, which will cost more because of the way it will have to be shipped!!

But we have got to put a stop to Puppy Mills!