|
My view on pet store puppies..... A bunch of us were discussing pet store puppies the other night at my house, and the end result was that we all admitted that over the years - all of our families have had many wonderful pets that were purchased at pet stores. And - almost none of us ever ended up with a pet that was sick or didn't thrive. In fact, none of us have. I hate puppymills as much or more than most people - and I think that every last one of them should be shut down. And, I think there should be serious fines and even jail time for most of the people who operate these facilities. But, I don't think that not buying puppies from pet stores is going to solve this problem or even put a dent in it. We need to go directly to the source and shut down the puppy mills themselves. This is the only way they will every be stopped. Puppies at pet stores are darling and cute and as loveable as any other puppy in the world, and they deserve a loving home as much as any other puppy does. For this reason - I have no qualms at all about buying a puppy from a pet store. I think during my lifetime I have owned four or five dogs and a couple cats that were purchased at pet stores. And, every one of them was a wonderful pet - and most of them lived a long and healthy life and died from old age.....or close to it. I have also purchased three birds from pet stores - and have loved and enjoyed every one of them. (I still have two of them.) I got my Yorkie from a long-time, family-owned pet store here where I live. I was given the breeder's name and have corresponded with her and have gotten pictures and have learned a lot about my Yorkie's parents. I know this doesn't always happen - it's just the way it worked out with the Yorkie pup I got. I got my Bichon, that I also have now, on line and he was flown from California to me in here in Washington. I went shopping on the internet because there weren't any Bichons in my area. And - he is a wonderful cute little guy that I am very fortunate to have. I was given a kitten for my birthday - bought another at a pet store - found one in a parking lot - and another was just a stray that showed up at my door. Two others were from a litter that one of my cats had. (Of course, I didn't have all these cats at the same time). When I was a child - one little puppy I got came from the dog pound - what a joy he was for nearly 11 years of my life. My point is that a lot of the most wonderful pets we will ever have will come from a variety of different places. And, all of them are loveable and deserve a loving home. *** I always feel bad when I hear people say, "I saw the cutest puppy in the pet store and I felt so sorry for him. I don't believe in buying puppies from pet stores, so I left - but I've cried for days -- I still cry every time I think about him." I wouldn't buy a puppy from a pet store if I didn't want a puppy, but if I did want a puppy, and I saw one in a pet store that touched my heart - he would be on his way home with me. And, he would be going to a loving home and have a good life. And he (like all my pets have been) would be worth a million dollars to me. ***** I'm sure if you are looking for a purebred and especially looking for certain traits, or if you're interested in breeding and showing, you are better off dealing with a reputable breeder. But, if your main goal is just getting a wonderful little pet -- why does it matter where it comes from? Especially, when we remember that we can't find a little puppy anywhere that doesn't need a loving home - and that won't love us back a hundredfold - if we give it a family to call it's own. Carol Jean |
My main issue is that a lot of Pet Stores/Puppy Stores are advertising that their puppies come from "PRIVATE BREEDERS" and I've got news for a few of you out there, that's exactly what you could label a Puppy Mill as! A private breeder that mass produces three or more breeds. Not enough people are educated on the little lies (mostly by omission) to make a safe and smart purchase. |
Who wouldn't like to save them all from pet stores? It matters where they come from because behind that adorable puppy are parents left behind in misery. They are the reason why anyone that knows mills exist should have qualms about buying puppies from pet stores. It is not as simple as taking a chance on getting a healthy puppy or that they all deserve loving homes. I don't know how to put an end to mills but I do know if you buy from pet stores...no matter how good your intentions...you are part of the problem. You are their customers. They couldn't stay in business without you. I'm sorry if that comes off as harsh, I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad. Just my point of view. |
I agree that no one should be helping them stay in business. I know people that have got petstore dogs and the it was horrible for them. One died and the other costs the person lots to keep it alive. I can't stand them having to live like they do just so they can make babies. When people buy puppies it makes the puppymills keep more dogs to live like that to provide all those poor babies. |
You make some excellent points. Another would be that we should not assume that all puppies from pet shops are coming from puppy mills. I know our local pet shop gets their Yorkies from a lady near here who breeds from her home. They offer up the name and location for the asking and you can check for yourself. My mom had a pet store years ago and she did not buy from puppy mills but she did not always have dogs and cats for sale either. It was usually the occcasional pet owner pleading for her to sell their last pup or find a new home for their own pet. She mostly dealt with tropical birds and tried diligently to avoid the abusers. Talk about some horror stories -- people smuggling them in to the country wrapped in nylon hose so they don't make noise or move -- arriving barely alive. She made sure to find people who bred their own and had a facility open to visit. Responsible pet store owners can still do some investigative work to make sure they are not buying from abusive sources. And responsible pet purchasers can do a little investigative work to find the source of the pet store puppies. Some may wind up pleasantly surprised. And sometimes you never know. I bought our first 6 month old Yorkie from a loving owner who was having health problems. She had a very nice, clean home and obviously spoiled her Yorkie. But when we unexpectantly lost her, a little research on her breeder led us to the town puppymill. So, although I thought I was buying from an excellent source, originally she had come from a cement block building with no a/c and no heat, a building stacked with cages and adult Yorkies who never know play. This time around I am buying puppies that I have seen as newborns and got to socialize a little along the way. Both come from home breeders who are very knowledable and have years of experience with their own Yorkies. I got to interact with the parents of both puppies and see just how loving, alert and happy they are. This is ideal for me, but I know it is not the only way to wind up with an excellent pet or even show dog. |
Honestly, I would go in and buy every single one of them. Who doesn't want to go save them all and give them a happy, healthy home? But, while they're living with a family, their mama is still back at the puppy mill. as soon as they get sold the owners call up the puppy mill "we need 3 more yorkie puppies." then the mama gets bred again. Another reason I will never again buy from a pet store? I don't want to do business with people who'll stand there and lie right to my face. "Our puppies came from private breeders. Not far away at all!" Why would I GIVE money to someone who's lying to me? Especially if I know they're lying to me? And then there's one more reason, the biggest one for me, that I will never buy anything, not even dog food, from a pet store again. I got a puppy last year from a pet store. We got him on my birthday (he wasn't a surprise, I went and picked him out and everything). He was my little pal. He followed me EVERYWHERE. For the time we had him, we were inseperable. Then, when he was 14 WEEKS old, and we had had him for a month, he started having seziures. I remember the day my dad and I drove to the vet and he was sitting in my lap. He was tired. I remember going into the vet and having him say that Bandit would need a lot of money put into him if he was going to survive. I remember asking my dad if he would live. I also remember when at 10 that night he started seziuring and my dad rushed him off to the vet. At 3 in the morning he called and said that the vet said there was nothing left that anyone could do, and Bandit had to be put to sleep. And, finally, I remember that my parents almost had to sue this stupid pet store owner to get any sympathy from him. He said that we shouldn't have put Bandit to sleep, we should have brought him back. What for? So he could suffer there until they got off their butts to bring a vet in? I couldn't even go with my parents when they went to get the check (almost 6 months later), because one look at that guy and I probably would have killed him. and those are all of the reasons I'm against pet stores. Sorry for that rant/vent/incredibly long post. I just feel very strongly about this subject. |
I wont even buy my fish food from a pet store |
I know one person too many who have bought pets from petstores and most are either sick, or have behavoral issues.......not my cup of tea. |
Vwery Well Said! Carol Jean, I think you are right on and agree 100% I love my little guy and wouldn't trade him for anything. It's to bad that people have such a hate for pet stores that they cant remember we are talking about babies with feelings, and love to give and needing love to thrive... Shutting down the puppy mills would be the first step in helping these dogs... since no one can do that these poor babies will be born and sold... I hate to think of the parents... I hate to imagine any poor dog suffering... but if I can save one baby and make him part of my family I will!!! (I DID) |
I think that there are tons of people out there that don't know that you can get a dog from any where but a pet store. And while I won't get a dog from a pet store, I don't hold anything against people who do. The whole puppy mill thing just drives me nuts though, and I think that pet stores are a very small part of their market. Puppy mill people are just everywhere. and sell there puppies in all sorts of different places, including a couple that have tried to sell puppies on YT. If I know of somebody looking for puppies on places like puppyfind I tell them to make sure to click on their name and see how many other dogs they are selling. It's amazing how many dogs some of those people have listed. One person had over 5 pages of puppies. I think that puppyfind should be responsible and turn these people in as a puppy mill. Also I warn people that just because a breeder has a web-site and the web site only has Yorkies on it that that doesn't mean that that is all that breeder breeds. I know of one person who had a different web-site for each of her breeds (like 5 different kinds). And on each site it sounded like she only breed that kind of dog. It just pisses me off. Of course if there weren't any puppy mills out there to flood the market where would all these people wanting $200 Yorkies get theirs from. |
This topic has been beaten to death over and over again. However, I think it's ignorant to think that if people stopped buying puppies from pet store, it wouldn't effect puppy mills. It's all about supply and demand. If people didn't buy puppies from pet stores, the pet stores wouldn't buy from the puppy mills, and the puppy mills would suffer. |
Right on!!! Sadly enough though, their are a ton of BROKERS, who look for these puppy mills, buy whole litters for very little, than try to make a ton of money off these babies. If you want a nice puppy, go the the dog shows, find the breed that you have an interest in, met the breeder, and know where your dog is coming from!!!!!! Visit the breeders home, meet the parents, grandparents, and maybe even the great grandparents, get references, Vet, neighbors, and other breeders, get the pedigree, and make sure it is AKC, and after you have done all your homework on the breed you want, you will be going in the right direction!!!!! You will most likely have these babies for 15 years or more, problems seldom show up before 6 mos. and than it is to late, that baby has your heart, and you will spend a ton of money trying to make the puppy whole, healthy,sometimes unable to even save this puppies life, it is the most heartbreaking thing you will ever live, watching a beautiful little puppy dying, pleading to you to help it, and sometimes you can, if you have enough money, and sometimes all the money in the world can not save this baby. believe me you get what you pay for!!!!! You either pay the price for a great puppy from a wonderful breeder, or you buy an cheap yorkie, and in a year it could triple the cost of what you could have paid from your show breeder, puppy mills do not show!!!!!! I doubt you would even be able to ever see the parents or grandparents of that puppy, they are probley dead or close to death. Do not buy any puppy unless you know exactly where it is coming from, spend the money to fly to the breeders kennel, check out all the dogs, they should have energy, should be well groomed, have a sparkle in their eyes, should know their names, should be friendly, happy and well adjusted, and should show great interest in their puppies, if a mom is not interested in playing with her puppies, she is worn down and needs to be rested. You don't want to see a mommy, tired, depressed, or in bad coat! You get wonderful dogs from show breeders, they may cost a little more, but in the long run you will save a lot of money and heart ache! This puppy is a 15 year investment, when you spread the extra cost over 15 years of maybe1,000.00 divided by 15 years is 66.00 a year, 5.50 a month, when you do the math you will be able to see which is the better deal! Have a puppy that is thriving, in good health, and a beauty to look at!!!!! Their is nothing more beautiful in this world than a yorkie in full silk coat to the ground, when they walk or run and that coat blows in the wind, it is breathtaking, you literally can not take your eyes off that dog! 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!!!!!!!!!! |
Donna Jean - I agree for the most part. The only thing I disagree with is if you buy from a pet store you're buying a cheap puppy. Most dogs in pet stores are actually VERY expensive and it's actually cheaper to buy from a good breeder most of the time. |
I would love to save a puppy from a petstore one day! My boyfriend ALMOST bought me a yorkie from a petstore until I found out what he was doing. I told him to get his deposit back ASAP and he did. He knew nothing about puppy mills and just wanted to make me happy, so I couldn't blame him, but then I helped him and we found the perfect one together :) Anyways, when I did a research on the store he was going to buy from, I got so many bad reviews. It was almost as bad, if not worse as the reviews we hear of one specific "breeder" whose been lurking on around here lately, threatening lawsuits. I wouldnt want to buy from a petstore, have my pup get sick and dye, and not even be creditting anything for it. I can't afford to spend that kind of money on an animal and have it pass on with in a year, only to have to spend more money. Also, I don't want to go through the heartache of buying a sick puppy. The worst moments in my life was having to put my dogs down, I can't imagine how hard it would be to put a puppy down :(. I know even the best dogs things can happen, but why make the chances higher? I try to avoid the heartache all together and not go to stores that sell puppies. In the malls I go to theres really no pet stores, just pet boutiques. Other than that we go to petco and petsmart who don't have puppies. So to me it's like if I don't see them, then what am I missing out on? |
Quote:
OMG I know! My boyfriend was about to spend over $2G on a yorkie for me! I've seen them priced around $1 so many other places! Also, his friends spent like $3G on an English Bulldog from the petstore! |
A few months back I was in Petsmart looking for Sunshine a shirt she was with me, a young lady came up to me and told me how cute she was.... She said she had bought a male yorkie there the day before and she took it to the vet and he needed knee surgery he was 12 weeks old and she was there to return him and get her money back $1,200.00 I felt so sorry for her she couldn't understand why they was selling sick puppies. I just wanted to cry for her. |
Pet Stores I haven't been to a pet store as It hurts to much to see all those little babies, I really had no idea what they are asking at pet stores as i stay away from them, thanks for letting me know.!!!! Most people do not know that when you buy from a Show breeder you pay about the same price as some of these back yard breeders, and get a much better dog! I just want all people who buy their yorkies to do the homework, and get the very best yorkie they can with a great pedigree! |
No to be mean but... There are two sides to this topic and I see both points....but I am frustrated that some people think, and pretty much say... ALL pet stores sell puppy mill dogs. Maybe most do... but the FACT is you have no idea where they get their dogs because you are not going to the place where the pups came from to check it out! More then likely yes it is a puppy mill but you really don't know for SURE... Yet you talk like you do! Also some people talk as if all dogs from pet shops will get sick and either need tons of money to get them well, or their pet will die at a young age. Yet many puppies live a full life as a loving pet and never get sick or die at young age... few owners have talked about this from experience. They are talking from FACT! I would like to see true honesty here... I know my pup probably came from a puppy Mill. I know he MAY get sick and need more care and cost more, or maybe even die...I can't even bare to think any more on that. I know that with any pet there is no predicting how long you will have them... some run away some get hurt, and some get sick. So since none of know how long a pet will live FOR SURE, lets stick to the facts that we do know and try to agree that these little fur babies...no matter where they come from are the most wonderful little babies and we are all so lucky to have them. I don't mean to be angry or nasty but it is hard to hear people talk about things they really can't know for sure! |
Quote:
Yes, you might save that one puppy but another comes to fill its place. By saving that puppy you have helped to keep the puppy mills alive. Supply & demand keep them running. Unfortunately until people do the right thing by not supporting these pet stores and mills more dogs will suffer. No excuses will do. I am proud to say I will never ever shop in a store that sell animals. |
In the past I have bought pets from pet stores and never had a problem. My friend and myself have both bought dogs from separate breeders, and both had problems with these dogs. As with people, there is NEVER a guarantee that your pup will be healthy! Yes, a breeder may reimburse you, or replace your sick pup, but that is not the same thing as a guarantee that your individual pup will live a long healthy life. Education about pet store pups and puppy mills is definately important, however you also have to accept that that is obviously not going to be what irradicates puppy mills. You will never stop everyone from buying from a pet store. As we all know, there are too many people out there that don't really care very much about their dogs, or what happens to dogs they never have to see. We obviously need to shut down these mills by changing the laws that allow them to be in business. Besides, a large portion of the dogs you buy from shelters were "puppy mill" dogs somewhere down the line. Do we now deem them unworthy of love too? I think that this approach is wrong, because while we may feel that we are "doing" something to stop puppymills, by saying don't shop there. We are in fact "doing" nothing. It is the absence of something that we are preaching! We need to get out there and lobby for stricter laws to get rid of these puppy mills. We need to find out where these puppy mills are, and picket on their lawns, and let the newspapers, and people in the community know what is happening in their backyards. We need to put pressure on these people who run puppy mills to shut down. That is what will make the difference. While I do not advocate buying a dog from a petstore, I do advocate what I believe to be the ethical thing, which is to love and care for the puppies that are here now, regarless of where they were born (through no fault of their own). |
Puppy mills Every Dog, every puppy on the face of this earth deserves to be adopted into a loving home, no matter where they came from, it's not the puppy's fault, it's not their mommie's fault, the puppy is here, it is alive, and it needs to be in a forever home. I stay away from Pet shops as I would want to take every puppy there, bring it home, take care of it and give it the love and quality of life it deserves. I am so sad to have to even see a little puppy in a store without it's mother, it is a heartbreaker. No one faults the puppy, sometimes they are the ones that you never, never forget, they are special, and you feel like you have saved the little one from a life of doom. To me their are no bad dogs or puppies, they all are so deserving, but when i see what a puppy mill is all about, and see the conditions, it makes me cry, these people need to be found and closed down, their puppies and dogs need to be rescuded and put in loving homes. My first puppy came from a pet shop, they had 3 Spits sp? I bought all three and they were wonder pets, and had no problems, they were the lucky ones, I have also talked to people who have had problems with pet shop puppies. I know no one would ever fault a little fur baby or it's mommie, it's the puppy mills that are hard to find and shut down. I am sure their are a lot of pet shops who do sell beautiful puppy's from quality breeders, but when a quality and i said quality breeder has puppies they do not have to sell them to a Pet Shop, they have a waiting list for their furbabies, so yes i would be nervous about getting a puppy from a Pet Shop, however i have bought Birds, and fish and have been very satisified, getting a Yorkie babie is like getting a real infant baby, you want to know as much about it's background as you possibly can. |
Pupppy Mills WELL SAID!!!!!!!! I could not agree more!!!!!!!! Every dog on the face of this earth, no mater wher they came from deserve, and God help them to find their ways in to the loving hearts of their forever homes!!!!!!! It is a hard call, i know you can also get unhealthy dogs from breeders, i have had my share, and you could not get one of these dogs away from me, i think everyone on this site wants the same thing, ethical treatment of animals!!!!!!!!!!! They are all special, all of them deserving, and we do need tougher laws to find these puppy mills and rescue these animals. You input was well stated and appreciated!:thumbup: :thumbup: :) |
I agree......lots of people don't realize many ads in the newspaper are from basically puppymills or "breeders who breed a variety of dogs" Just because it didn't come from a pet store doesn't mean the animal didn't originate from a puppmill. |
breeders Ive purchased from breeders and the only diffrence I found (not all) but most is that they show some but they have 50 dogs there breeding and they are not any better cared for I have seen this first hand imagine my horror. Go on line look at kennels they almast always have at least 10 puppys how much dogs do you need to have 10 pups available yorkies usually have say three or four so two bitches times 12 months equal 24 bitches (puppy mill) |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
How weird. Just today I was in a local feed store (looking at doggy clothes) and I walked in the back because I could have sworn I heard a little Yorkie bark! :p Sure enough, when I walked back...there are 2 BIG Yorkie babies in cages for sale! Or they looked "big" to me anyway, as Stedman is already over 8 months old and only weighs 4lbs. I asked the lady how old they were and she said that they were 4 months. These 2 babies had to weigh anywhere from 5-8 lbs easy! They were $900 each. They were sticking their little paws out of the cages and licking my hands all over. One of them kept staring me down - he watched every single move I made! If I looked the other way, he watched. If I went over to pet the other Yorkie, he watched! He kept giving me that "please take me home look" :( Of course, I'm not looking to buy another one (my hubby would probably kick me out of the house :p) but I DID feel sorry for them. No one can help but to feel sorry for them. They looked very healthy (although one needed his/her bangs trimmed from his/her eyes) - but of course you never know "what lies beneath". I can say that I personally would never buy from a pet store unless I KNEW, FOR SURE, EXACTLY where the pups came from (which would be very unlikely). HOWEVER, I do not blame anyone who does. One cannot help but wonder what would happen to ALL of these precious puppies if NO ONE EVER bought them. When you are LOOKING for a puppy, and see one of these little guys...sometimes your heart just aches for them so much that it hurts. Sometimes people bond with them right away...sometimes they just KNOW. Again, I wouldn't do it, simply because of all the "what ifs", and because if I DID happen to purchase a sick pup, I'd probably die of heartache - (and I normally don't go and look at the pet shop pups that are for sale for this very reason)...but I say, to each their own. |
I would never look down on someone who purchases a puppy from a pet store....it's a difficult thing to do, to walk past those little cages and see those sweet little faces. Even knowing what I know now, I know it would be difficult to resist the temptation. Thankfully no pet stores in my city sell dogs. I agree somewhat with the original poster when she said that to stop the mills one has to take down the mill itself...BUT... like any other 'product' (I use that term only to describe how puppymills look upon their dogs)...it is 'supply and demand'. If no one bought the dogs, there would be no need for more dogs to be bred. Just think...if not ONE person purchased a dog that came from a mill...there would be no need for them to breed more. With human nature as it is, though, that will never happen and the mills will continue to breed more puppies to replace the ones that are sold. So each mill will have to be taken down one by one at the source. Puppies are just too darned cute and we humans have a hard time resisting their sweet faces and also many feel the need to rescue the ones in the shops that they do see. I'm sure there are situations where the pups in the store come from a more reputable breeder, but for the most part, pups in pet stores do come from mills. It's a sad truth. And another truth...we ALL love our babies...no matter WHAT their origin!! |
I wish the laws would change so that each and every mill would be out of business TOMORROW. How wonderful that would be! |
okay, putting the possibility of a puppymill aside, why would someone buy an animal from the petstore and promote that way of keeping animals? Those poor puppies are stuck in little cages all day learning how to poop and pee in their own environment. Many times there aren't even toys available and they are by themselves. I saw one at the mall last week that made me sick because their fur was matted and they smelled from pee and poop all over them. Not to mention MOST of the time they are yanked from their mothers TOO early and sent off in a truck to a petstore states away. Dogs are pack animals and they need socialization, not to be stuck by themselves all day in a cage! |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:47 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use