My Petstore Pug
 

Seven years ago, my husband and I were wandering through the mall and browsing the puppies in a pet store with no intent to buy. We saw the cutest little pug dog, she was $1400. We weren't looking for a pet, so we carried on. A month later, we were wandering through the same mall, and saw that she was still there. Noone was buying her! We went over to the cage to talk to her. She listened intently and responded by tilting her head back and forth. We felt sooooooo sorry for her. She was so small that her little feet fell through the grates in the bottom of the cage, so she couldn't move around. The pet store owner had her in the bottom row of cages, she was shivering like mad. Even I could feel how cold it was in there. No toy...no blanket. I approached the manager and pointed out that she was cold. He said, "Oh they all do that, she's fine". It broke our hearts, so we bought her. She's always been timid and afraid of everything, which was my first hint that she came from an unkind place.

Soon after getting her, we discovered she has a partially collapsed trachea. We have learned to live with that and help her the best we can.

She also started to develop Hip Dysplasia just after her first year of life. It was mild enough that she was still able to go for short walks of 15 mins at a time.

Last year, at 6 yrs of age, Tang had to have 12 teeth extracted despite my efforts of brushing her teeth 2-3 times per week, and using an Oral Cleansing Gel recommended by my vet. The vet said her teeth were bad due to poor genetics. She has always been fed dry dog food.

Fast forward to today, my poor little pug dog has a genetic disorder called Spondylosis. It is to the point now where she can hardly move. Her back legs have almost no mobility, she can't run or jump or play. When she stands her back is sloped like a slide, soon I am afraid she will just be dragging her back end along. She has developed incontinence and literally does not feel when she has to pee or poop. It just falls out. She is on medication for pain and inflammation, in hopes that it will help. It isn't doing anything. I worry that she won't even make it to Christmas.

THIS my friends, is why you don't buy from a pet store. Yes, I'm happy we bought her. We gave her 7 wonderful years of life, but this is SO unfair to her. She has lived half of her life expectancy. She is a wonderful, well behaved, loving pet...and she deserved so much more.

I am so sad and angry. :(:mad:

I wish that I knew then, what I know now. I will NEVER spend $ in a pet store that sells puppies again. I won't even step foot in one.

Thank you for listening. I just had to share with other dog lovers like me. People, that I know will understand how I feel.

I am so sorry!!:( Bless your heart.

I am so sorry. It is terrible what the pet store puppies go through and then the genetic maladies they suffer from...It makes me sick that people breed dogs and sell them like electronics or any other commodity.

I know your precious pug was grateful to have such an awesome home for her 7 years. I am sorry it couldn't be longer...:(

Your story broke my heart.....I am so sorry your pug had to go through all this pain for all of her life. She was very fortunate to have an owner like you who truly cared about her & tried to help her as best as you could.

I'm so sorry that this is happening to her. Don't regret going into the pet store because she would never had had those seven wonderful years if it hadn't been for you! You really helped out a poor defenseless pup. Be very proud of yourself. :)

Thank you :rose40:

I am so sorry and I am sending healing vibes to your precious lil baby <3

Look what you have done for this little one.
You have given her, so far, seven wonderful, loving, caring years.
Chances are she would not have had that if you did not buy her.
Don't regret it for one second.
I often think where my Buddy would be if I did not buy him and I
shudder at the thought.
Yes, we have learned much from YT about puppymills and pet stores.
I also will never walk into any pet store that sells dogs/cats. I avoid
them altogether. I hope they all go bankrupt sooner or later when
word get's out about where their pups come from.
All we can do is try to spred the word.
Good luck to you and your pug. I hope she can be kept free of pain.

Your dear little pug's story broke my heart. I'm sorry you *and* her are going through this.

Poor sweet thing. You did a wonderful thing getting her

oh my, you made tears run down my face with your story.. what a wonderful person you are with a heart of gold... i will pray for all of you.

I'm sorry if I made you cry. I too was crying when I wrote it.

Thanks for reading.

we are here for you anytime...