Originally Posted by ARCHIE

I guess by now you know I love the dog shows and the breeds are all the best that is out their. So do yourself a favor, next time you want a really nice puppy, spend a little extra, you won't be sorry, and you will thank yourself over and over, and will most likely have a puppy that you just can't quit bragging about, and a puppy that will not give you any health problem, just a little puppy that will be a great joy to own, and for sure one you can be proud of. Yorkies that are a bargin, beware of. As I said before, you get what you pay for!!!!!!!!!!

I do not agree with you on this quote. I have read on this site, hundreds of times, owners purchasing from breeders, not the same breeder and getting pups with all kinds of health problems and the breeders ignoring them when they request help or a refund! Some pups even die! They are no different than the puppy mills! Just because you purchase a pup from a breeder does not make that pup any better than the pet store pup. I totally agree with everything Carol Jean said. There are more health issues on this site from breeders than pet stores pups. Pet store pups are highly over priced! They cost more than the breeders charge. Yorkies in NY are selling for $2,800.00 in a pet store. Buddy came from a pet store. His has been healthy from day one. He is beautiful, smart, loving and fully trained by 5mos. I paid $1,400.00 for him. When I read some of the nightmare stories on here I thank my lucky stars I bought him in a pet store. At the time I did not know about puppy mills but that would not have stopped me. He has a wonderful home and we have each other. The pups are not to blame. They deserve a loving home like any other pup. Authorities need to go after the puppy mills and back yard breeders. Easy task, they just don't want to do it. All they have to do is see the invoice from
the pet store and go investigate the breeder. If they find abuse shut them down. Too easy or too lazy? Carol & Buddy

Originally Posted by Breeze

We all have done things in the past we did not realize was wrong but now knowing what we know now, can look back and change our actions in the future. Its ok to make a an inoccent mistake but to deny it, defend it and encourage others too make the same mistakes is wrong.

Originally Posted by Breeze

We all have done things in the past we did not realize was wrong but now knowing what we know now, can look back and change our actions in the future. Its ok to make a an inoccent mistake but to deny it, defend it and encourage others too make the same mistakes is wrong.

Originally Posted by Breeze

The problems we see on the site are from uncaring backyard breeders or puppymill type breeders..... not "true" reputable breeders. I think those saying "buy your dog from a breeder" are meaning buy from a reputable one not any old BYB. And you can tell the difference with a little time and research.

I think some get mixed up on these and think all breeders are bad (not saying you, just others in general).

Originally Posted by red98vett

That's EXACTLY what I was going to say - No ETHICAL breeder would ever knowingly pass on devestating traits (I'm not talking about parasites - i mean life threatening or traits that could possibly require surgery).......Ethical breeders don't use the word TEACUP ...breed tiny females...or abandon you when your puppy is sick - :( like Pet stores and run of the mill breeders seem to be doing so often.

we do see many puppies here with all sorts of things - LP and LS being at the top of the list - but there's a big difference with your average BYB breeder and a true ethical breeder - Ethical Stands behind their lines.

The difference with a Pet Store puppy compared to an ethical breeder is vast - you don't know what you're getting 99% of the time. Of course the puppies are cute - but they also MAY be coming to you with a world of problems. Pet Stores and Mills don't care & won't care - and are only in it for the profit.

The reason we see so many puppies with big problems is there are way too many people breeding and selling puppies who shouldn't be.

and Kathy - thank you so much for sharing...Pepper is my hero and always has been ....to know how much he goes thru on a daily basis breaks my heart and good for you speaking up and sharing him AND your experience with people...I know how hard it is for you and hugs to you friend....

Originally Posted by Breeze

Thanks V, you have that wonderful way of explaining these things so much better than me. :iheartu:

Originally Posted by PCMom

First let me say this is all my opinion.

I've had both ends of the petstore thing. My first Yorkie, Charlie, came from a petstore. He was healthy and just the sweetest little guy you would ever want to meet. After almost 9 years my baby died. Instead of doing what I should have: RESEARCH!!! I went back to the same petstore and saw Pepper. OMG what a scruffy little guy...but what a personality! I fell in love! I paid my $1600 dollars and took him home. But that night we found out that all was not right with my guy. He woke up from his nap with very wobbly legs...seemed almost drunk, couldn't stand up right..he was also coughing badly. Took him to the vet the next day. And after a whole lot of tests and heartache...we found out he had "something neurological" that was what the vet said. After fighting with the petstore for weeks they finally took him back and gave us our money back. But we couldn't forget our Pepper and even though we knew his life was going to be shorter we bought him back. More tests to elimentate various illnesses and we finally had a name: Cerebellar Abiotrophey. An illness that is crippling. It attacks his nervous system so he can't walk, stand, eat, drink, play without help. I have to hold him up sometimes just so he can pee. The vet said we would be lucky to have him make it to his first birthday...Pepper will be 3 in february. I have watched him go from having these "dingy" spells every few days to being like this 80% of the time. He has periods now when he doesn't know what is happening to him and it scares him so badly that all I can do is hold him so he knows he is not alone...and it breaks my heart. Pepper's time is coming to an end because he goes through days when he can't eat. He vomits everyday. He doesn't want to play much anymore when that's all he wanted to do before. I am going to have to have him put to sleep because his life is becoming a burden to him instead of a joy. Pepper arrived at a petstore through the biggest broker in the country. When we took him back to the store the broker replaced the "defective" puppy with a new yorkie. After 2 years of searching I finally found his "breeder" I had to get really nasty for her to agree not to breed his parents anymore...and then it was only Peppers mom she agreed to retire. This illness is genetic...every one of his siblings probably have it. It breaks my heart to know that because I bought him more puppys are doomed to this illness. Because I bought from a petstore more puppies ended up in that hell! Yes, I would love to save them all but I found out too late that I am responsible for puppymills because I helped keep them in business. You are right that there may be some petstores who don't buy from brokers or puppymills but almost all of them do and since that is true how can you take the chance that the store you are buying from is one of the rare ones who don't deal with puppymills or brokers? My Pepper's life is hell. My heart breaks everyday watching him struggle just to go pee or drink water. I get up everyday wondering if this is the day that I will have to make that decision to end his life. Please for Pepper's sake don't buy from petstores. If we stop buying live animals from them...they will stop selling them! Anyway, that's Pepper's story. I love him wholeheartedly and he and I will keep fighting for time.

Originally Posted by Brookef18

I would just like every one to know that I am not thinking for one minute that pet stores are the best way to get a puppy. I know they are not.

But I look at this differently from some of you (Maybe all of you) I feel I saved Chewy from where he was... He deserved a good home and I fell in love with him. I hate what a puppy mill does to the dogs they breed, and how the dogs dont matter the them. But I don't believe that to stop buying pets from pet stores will change anything.

I have a different view is all. I won't try to change any ones mind. But i think it's ok to have my own opinion on this and hope I'm not making any enemies here...:(

Originally Posted by Brookef18

I would just like every one to know that I am not thinking for one minute that pet stores are the best way to get a puppy. I know they are not.

But I look at this differently from some of you (Maybe all of you) I feel I saved Chewy from where he was... He deserved a good home and I fell in love with him. I hate what a puppy mill does to the dogs they breed, and how the dogs dont matter the them. But I don't believe that to stop buying pets from pet stores will change anything.

I have a different view is all. I won't try to change any ones mind. But i think it's ok to have my own opinion on this and hope I'm not making any enemies here...:(