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03-25-2006, 03:18 AM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 370
| Rescuing a pet shop Yorkie! I have a beautiful 5 month Yorkie female,whom I planned to get for a year,looked carefully for a good breeder,travelled for 5 hours to get,have taken to puppy preschool,socialised with people and dogs and love to death! she is great,and not the problem. Just after I got her and was worried about her not eating much and not growing much,I saw a Yorkie in my local pet shop.He was only 2 days older,but three times her size. I remember thinking"He must eat alright", but hoped he would find a new home quickly and be as loved as my Holly. Well over two months have gone by and Holly and I have done all the things mentioned above.She is eating better and has grown,but is still a little 3lb dot. I was at that pet shop again yesterday and what do I see but that Yorkie! He has disappeared from there and the pet shop lady said he had just come up from Christchurch. I am haunted by the thought of this poor pup being around all the pet shops in NZ and missing out on all I had done with Holly.I don't know for sure it's the same one,but the birthdate is the same. I have been thinking about getting Holly a sibling next Christmas--because that is when I get my long summer break and can be home for 6 weeks like I was with Holly. Should i go rescue this pup,even though I don't know what he has been through and can't take time off to socialise them together? I feel so sorry for him!!
__________________ Sandra J and Holly |
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03-25-2006, 05:19 AM | #2 |
My Best Friend Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: oklahoma
Posts: 2,258
| It is very sad indeed. All the advise that I can offer is this... If you purchase this pet shop puppy you are supporting puppy mills. The puppy mills will never stop as long as they have people purchasing what they are selling. It is very hard to think about the fact that this is a poor little puppy and it has no home. But you also don't know what kind of medical problems are going to arise from this puppy either. Puppy mill puppies usually have loads of medical problems. If you do "rescue" this puppy just be prepared for the worst in way of medical problems. |
03-25-2006, 05:24 AM | #3 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 1,840
| Sandraj, forgive my ignorance, but are their puppymills in New Zealand?? People are basically the same everywhere, so I assume there there are, but perhaps there are better laws to protect animals in NZ than there are here.... |
03-25-2006, 05:50 AM | #4 |
Stewie Rox the Sox Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago
Posts: 6,306
| I think you should get the pup if you know where he came from
__________________ Kristy & Stewie |
03-25-2006, 06:18 AM | #5 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 687
| i dont envy you.. what a hard choice... i had gotten snickers from a petstore before i knew about puppymills... at the time i had fallen in love with her and i was so upset about the petstores conditions i couldnt wait to get her out of there - at the time i didnt realize i was contributing to something larger that a bad petstore but i wouldnt trade snickers for anything... i will tell you she is sick and has been for 50% of the time i have had her... she looked healthy enuff but turns out she wasnt... again i would take her home all over again but as far as buying a puppy from a petstore for my next (and very far in the future) yorkie baby i will not... instead i just wont go in to petstores to kinda help me not give in i dont envy you... i think in situations like this there is no right answer... to not buy her/him it takes a stand against puppymills... but also leaves this puppy in a bad place and who knows what will happen to all these unpurchased puppies - it breaks my heart good luck w/your decision and if you DO bring him/her home post pictures... i'm with you either way |
03-25-2006, 06:37 AM | #6 |
Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa
Posts: 12,552
| Boy that's a tough one. I have all of those same feelings when I go into pet stores that sell puppies, so I avoid them. But on the other hand, ignoring the problem does not make it go away. If no one adopts them do they go to shelters? How much are they asking for him. If he's been there for 2 months, he must be getting pretty big by now, they should give you a bargain on him. He is now almost to the age of being unadoptable. Maybe you could just offer to take him off their hands so they don't have to take him to a shelter. You know from the postings on here that oversized yorkies are not very expensive. I believe I would go and try to bargain with them, if they won't bargain then give them your phone number in case they change their minds and walk away. |
03-25-2006, 12:22 PM | #7 |
YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 370
| They want $995 for him,which is cheaper than last time I saw him,when they wanted $ 1600. I have to return something to that shop today-Holly's jacket I bought was too big!--so I will have a chat with the staff and see if it is the same boy for sure and what his background is.Hopefully he will have been bought already!
__________________ Sandra J and Holly |
03-25-2006, 01:10 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada
Posts: 860
| Difficult decision! I know myself, I'd be wanting to rescue him from his sad life, but the logical part of my brain knows that with puppy mills it's supply and demand...if there's no one buying these little guys, there's no need to produce more and more puppies. It's a tough one, for sure. "Pet" stores in my city aren't allowed to sell puppies...only things like birds, fish, and all kinds of supplies. Any time puppies are for sale, they're on loan from the SPCA temporarily. I'm so thankful for that. I don't envy you your position. |
03-25-2006, 01:26 PM | #9 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA
Posts: 2,992
| I got my very healthy little 7-month old boy from a pet store (and he was not a puppy mill pup). I have since met and corresponded with the woman who bred him.... Anyway - If you revisit this little guy - and feel he appears to be happy, friendly, and healthy - and is a puppy that you would truly like to have (not a rescue sob purchase) -- I'd get him. Five months is still a very young little guy. Just being with him in the store for a while should help you recognize any real problems he might have (I'm talking about personality). And, at five months, you'll certainly be better able to assess his health - more so than you could with a very little pup. Don't get this little puppy only because you feel sorry for him. Get him if you really like him and want him to become part of your family. Sounds to me like he is sitting there waiting for someone to take him home. I hate puppymills, and I'm sure you do too. --- But, I would take that little guy home in a jack minute if I felt he was a dog that I wanted to have. I don't think it's a hard decision to make. First - don't get any pup - only to rescue it because you feel sorry for it; and second, spend more time with him and see if you feel that he really is a pup that you want to have. If he is, I would take him home. I'm sure he'd be one lucky dog if you did. **** Always hate to go into this, but they should at least give you a day or two to take him to your vet for a well puppy check up. At his age, any serious problem should show up. And, you already know that he eats well and has gained weight well. And, you can assess his sense of well being at the store, his friendliness, playfulness, activity level, etc. Good luck! Carol Jean PS: It's easy to say you wouldn't buy a puppy from a pet store - until you meet one that you want to take home. Especially, if you don't get him just because you feel sorry for him, but rather because you like him and had intended to get another little Yorkie anyway............ |
03-25-2006, 01:36 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Fredonia, KS
Posts: 755
| Not all pet store puppies are puppy mill puppies. I have a friend that had labradoodle puppies that she had tried to sell personally, but didn't have very good luck when it came to selling the last couple. We live in a small town and selling opportunities are very limited. She contacted a small pet store in a bigger city and took her puppies there to have them sold. I can tell you that her puppies were very much loved and played with by her daughters. I guess that you'll just have to decide what's best for you. I just wanted to get my 2 cents worth in.
__________________ Diana and Reuger Take time to laugh. It is the music of the soul. |
03-25-2006, 02:31 PM | #11 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 170
| Sandra, I bought my Yorkie from a pet shop and it was a very similar situation. I had gone into the pet shop for nail clippers and, of course, you can't help looking at the puppies. I had been trying to rescue a Yorkie but the rescues weren't wanting to adopt to me because I have Lupus. Anyhow, they had the Yorkie in a bottom cage in the corner and I did't even see him! A salesgirl asked what kind of puppy I liked and I said I was considering a Yorkie. She said, "Well, we have one Yorkie but he's too big and too old and no one wants him." She then tried to get me to consider a cairn terrier. I asked her to bring out the "big, old" Yorkie and just fell in love with him. He was so happy to be out of the cage and really sweet. Bobby was 5 1/2 months old, 9 pounds and had been at that pet shop for over 3 months. He is very healthy, happy and has fit into our home very well! The original price on him was $1,399 but they sold him to me for $300 because they just wanted to get him a home. At that price, I'm quite sure they didn't make any money from him. As for the puppy mill question, there is a breeder's name, address and phone number in his paperwork, as well as a shot record with vaccine labels and notes that the breeder kept. I searched her name on the Internet and found that she breeds Yorkies and Papillons and does some showing, too. I don't think it's a puppy mill. I say go for it! That Yorkie will be a wonderful companion and so grateful for a home! Bobby is healthy, smart and just a joy! Julie |
05-08-2006, 09:28 AM | #12 |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| Sometimes a vet checkup comes with the purchase. Mine did. I purchased Buddy from a pet shop and was given a free checkup by the store by a vet in the area. The vet happened to be my girlfriend's pets vet and he gave him a clean bill of health! He was 1,400.00 but because he was already 3 months old got him for 950.00. Have not been sorry. He is a love. |
05-08-2006, 09:53 AM | #13 |
Learn Yorkie CPR! Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 6,855
| I did it again! I'm sorry, but I really hate when old posts come up that really don't need to. This happened in March! !!!
__________________ Nicole & Baby "The more men I meet, the more I love my Yorkie!" Last edited by BabyFidgette; 05-08-2006 at 09:56 AM. |
05-08-2006, 10:07 AM | #14 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: California
Posts: 5,368
| Pet store puppies are almost always puppymill puppies or Back yard breeders. I don't go to those places so I won't be tempted. |
05-08-2006, 10:40 AM | #15 |
Little Boogers Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: virginia beach, va
Posts: 4,460
| very tough decision. my best friend purchased from pet store, my neighbors in-laws purchased two from pet store and all of the pups were in perfect health and in great standard to their breed. most pet stores in my area will give a 2 year health and genetic guarantee. but still, you are promoting someone who breeds for the money and not to encourage good temperament and all the other things that goes along w good breeding.
__________________ lisa lisa and the cult jam yorkies |
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