You should go in that store and be as genuine there as you were asking us..and just see what they say.. they don't want to ADMIT that is where they get there dogs..and they may not.. but you have the right to ask.

And yes there is a HUGE mark up.. they probably mark them up 100% and up..depending on the area.. they know what they can get.

Our area has Dog Auctions.. miller sell their dogs for around 200 and up.. just like an auction,, to the top bidder.. YET.. dogs here sell for.. $800- 1,200 quite the mark up. :mad:

They want $1500 for this little guy. I spoke with the manager however, and she said he has been there a while and no one has purchased him, and he needs to go, so if I buy him with cash she will give him to me for $1000.

i would buy him and get him medical attention asap. Its so unfair for him just to lay there and be sick. Yeah you would be giving money to the place thats selling him but just return him in better condition or sell him to a new better owner who's going to love him better than the pet store did.

I know how you feel. Unfortunately, I got my puppy from a petstore. I only purchased him because the contract stated that the puppies were NOT from puppymills. It stated that they came from a breeder. I was ignorant for believing that. It turns out that after doing some investigating, that my puppy was shipped from Korea.:eek: I cannot prove that he came from a puppymill but who knows. I just wanted to let you know that usually if you decide to treat the puppy...you cannot return him back to the store. I know because I went through this with Spanky. If the vet claims the puppy is unfit for sale, you have 3 options. You can return the dog for a refund, exchange the puppy or have the store owner pay for all the vet bills. You cannot help the animal and get a refund. This is the New York law but most states have the same policy. You also have to be careful because some states do not even have a Puppy Lemon Law. I can imagine how you feel and it is sad that local animal control will not do anything about it. Those poor puppies did not ask for that kind of life either. I do not think it's fair for any animal to suffer. It truly is a sad situation.:(

OMG. He needs to go cause he's sick and will die..and they will loose whatever they have invested in him. OOO :mad: What a bargain. Unreal.. I'd ask that Manager how he sleeps at night. :mad:

Oh I'm sorry I feel for you. This is exactly why I stopped going to pet stores when i can help it. Pet Pourri and some great treats and stuff but I have to stick to the wall away from the dogs and get in and out quick. I don't even dare go to the one in Bellevue. I'm such a sucker and it just breaks my heart.

Not to sound rude but I totally don't envy your delima. It's hard to turn your back knowing he needs your help but you know you shouldn't support the puppymill piece of it.

Big hugs.

Just a thought!
Do you have an e-mail address for the animal control that you contacted?
If so let us know it and we can all send them a nice e-mail regarding
their heartless help of a puppy in need.
Which, by the way, is their job to begin with.

How much of the vet bill are they going to reimburse you? Maybe you could call your vet and ask him what you could do or if there is some way he or another vet could intervene.

To me it's animal cruelity to not get him medical care if he needs it. How is it that the pet store is protected and any one of us could have a complaint filed on them and our dog possibly taken away and charges filed? What's the dif? That store is responsible for the well being of the pets that are in it.

Pop knot that woman.

I'm a bleeding heart, also. I would do everything possible to get some kind of help for the little guy. I agree with what someone else said....it's not his fault he is there...and I couldn't stand to see him suffer......He doesn't deserve it!!!!!!

I spoke with my vet this morning. She said it definetly sounds like he has a respiratory infection and is dehydrated at the very least, and she would want to see him pronto! She also did say treating a respiratory infection can be extremely costly, and that no matter what this pup could not be brought to the home with Bruce until he is treated. She is very concerned because of his age 12 weeks and they say he has only had one set of puppy shots. Is this normal? Basically, she told me the pup, if my description is accurate would likely die with out treatment soon.

My new strategy is calling the humanes society and toting him as a great dog to go pick up, since they could charge a premium adoption fee for an AKC yorkie that is tiny!

After we bought our sick one and found out at the vet what was wrong we called the store owner who said bring him back, I'll give you another in his place. When asked what he would do with this little one he said he would kill him as he couldn't sell him.

VIOLA!!! I just had an idea...The off topic section had a thread about Michael Vick cards being sold to benefit animal shelters...I wonder if the Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society would bite if I offered to donate the $1500 the puppy is priced at to the Humane Society on the condition that they at least go look at him...

I must admit I took the money out of savings this morning, because I have been wrestling with this since yesterday. I do not want to help millers but I e no utility in letting a puppy die in pain, we are going to try this approach!

Pet Shop Puppy
I'm a little puppy, so cuddly, sweet and small,
I live inside a cage,
you see at a Pet Store in the mall.
I'm not an only puppy, my sisters are all here.
My brothers, too, except for Ralph who died cause he was scared.
It's lonely here at night-time when all the lights go dark,
We tremble in our cages and we whimper and we bark.
But no one comes to hold us or pet our fears away.
We sit all night in terror til' the store opens the next day.
We don't remember mama, left so far behind.
She did the best she could for us til' the Man said "It is time."
He crammed us all in cages, too small for us, you see.
We rode for hours; we could not help but lay in poop and pee.
And now we sit in a Pet Store where kids come taunt and squeeze.
They do not hear our whimpers or understand our pleas.
We're miserable and it's scary here we all would rather die.
But since we don't, we do our best to run away and hide.
I know you think my story too sad to leave me be.
You want to take me home with you, a happy little puppy.
But please, though it is fearful to live here against our will.
If you take me, that leaves a spot another pup will fill.
You can stop our suffering but not by taking us home.
You must be strong and leave us here, unsold and all alone.
For if you do not take me, then another pup won't come.
And maybe he will not be shipped so far away from home.
Though some of us may not survive the cycle 'ere it falls.
If we don't sell, they will not need more puppies in these halls.
And if they need no puppies then the Man will not bring more.
Eventually it can all stop! You CAN close the door.
So when you see a puppy face so sad and sweet and small.
In a cage at a Pet Store at your neighborhood shopping mall,
The best thing you can do for him is leave him sitting there.
That is the best way you can tell all dogs how much you care.
This poem was taken off of critterhaven.org,
Author Unknown

Although this poem illustrates how harsh you must be and "leave a pup behind" it tells the truth. STOP giving the pet shops that carry dogs money, and they will stop getting the puppies. DOGS ARE NOT A PROFIT - THEY'RE A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY.
Thanks for visiting this site. Unfortunately, all the information is factual, this really does go on! It's a very sad fact. With your help.. it could all end. Please support us in our efforts to STOP PUPPY MILLS FOREVER!

:mad: :mad: They don't care about the babies, only the $$$!!!:mad: :mad: I wish we could get all the babies from those stores!

I'm not sure about this, but if he got better and was fine after medical care I don't think they would let you take the puppy back. They might reimburse you for the medical bill, but beyond that I think you would probably have to keep him. Also, everything I've ever heard of pet shops I doubt they would even cover the medical bills if it wasn't life threatening or genetic - they know how to word those contracts in such a way that you think you are protected when you really aren't. It really breaks your heart seeing a puppy suffer like that :(

Great idea!!
 

I think this is super! If you have the email address, I would be happy to send a note. I'm sure lots of us would! :aimeeyork

Well,the situation just got a little bit more complicated...Bruce has been off at the dentist all day. And as it turns out he needs a root canal and a crown...This will easily be over $1000 and I will need the money that would purchase the pup to fix my existing baby's teeth. Sooo I have to find an email address and we need to start an email campaign for the pet shop boy. I still may get him then cash out a CD early penalty and all to cover everyone's vet bills.

I feel bad for you, to be in this situation. It is very emotional to see a sick puppy and worry about him. But are you prepared to purchase him, pay all vet bills and shots, & meds, then either keep him or find another home for him? What about boarding costs at the vets until he is well enough to come home?
What if he is really sick and passes away, do you have the money to pay the vet bills. I don't think the pet store will reimburse you 100%.
I want to save them all, but I have found by putting my energy into writing letters and educating others about puppymills, that is the way to deal with those in it for the money not the love of the breed.
Is it fair to the puppies in the stores? No, but unless people are educated there will always be another puppy in the window.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Great Idea!!!

:thumbup: :thumbup: I totally agree. :thumbup: :thumbup:

It's not the puppy's fault where and how he was born. We are not going to stop puppy mills by not buying puppies. There are too many people who do not know about pet stores. The only way to stop puppy mills is to pass laws against them in every state. Write to your lawmakers.

I commend you for your feelings for this puppy. I know I could not leave him at the pet store to die.

I saw a woman at the park the other day and she had a beautiful Yorkie. I asked her where she got her puppy because we don't have any local breeders. She said, "I rescued him from Pets Plus." Pets Plus is our local pet store.

If it were me and I bought him, I would never return him there. Keep in mind that if you buy him and get him medical attention, you will probably get very attached to him very quickly. If you decide to sell him to someone else, you will be the one caring for him until a new home is found. It doesn't take long to get attached to these little ones. When I got my little Lily, I knew she was sick but I wanted to try to help her, and I knew no one else would want her. But, she required constant care and I grew attached VERY quickly. When she passed away, I was devastated. Also, if this little guy has something wrong that's an ongoing illness, it will be very hard to rehome him. Buying him will be supporting puppymills, and that's how they stay in business. I would try calling your vet to see if he/she can recommend where you can call. Good luck with whatever you decide.

What a horrible dilemma and a topic that has so many facets and opinions that all come from different places in our hearts. I personally have to stay away from pet stores because I know that a puppy sold is a puppy force-bred from a neglected and sick mom and dad to replace it. I also agree that passing laws needs to go in tandem with restraint. But my heart aches for anyone in the position of having to make that decision.

I'd definitely report the situation to the local animal control office and/or SPCA. I'd also contact my vet office or vet offices in the area and see if one of their vets can quickly look over the little guy and talk to the manager about his care.

I'm sure a store manager would listen to a licensed vet telling him the puppy needs medical attention and you'd have a medical vet's opinion in case of any court case regarding this puppy.

I normally wouldn't suggest anyone buy from a pet store for reasons you have already heard.But,to me, this case is a little different. This is a puppy that needs medical attention and fast. The store owners have already shown that they don't give a flip about the animal,so I feel that they will be of no use no matter how much pressure is put on them. People like this would probably end up taking it out on the animal.
If theres any way possible I would try to buy the puppy. Your vet may even be willing to work with you and give you some sort of discount considering the situation.
Blessings to you for having such a wonderful heart. :aimeeyork

I say go in and take pictures and see if you can capture it on film. Then tell them that you are going to send them to local news stations, rescue groups, make flyers to hand out outside the door....and actually do it!

It would break my heart too, but you will only be supporting it if you buy him. Another dog would only take his place and the cycle would repeat.:(

dont do it. about 4 years ago i went to look at another breeders dogs and got there and they were in bad shape they had no energy and smelled bad but i thought if i gave them some tlc i could save them .. i had countrygirl with me and she started to cry saying we couldnt leave them there they would die ... so 3 thousand dollars later i left there to try to rescue these tiny girls it was a 2 hr drive home and in the first hr one puppy had a seisure and i drove right to the vets in my town i called the breeder who wouldnt awnser the phone and who ran to cash my check the first puppy lived at the vets for just under a week and died and bug lasted about a month i thought i had saved her i lost my job to stay home and care for her and thousands of dollars and she died my vet said they lived in such squaller they had no chance they had an infection through there body ... i still cry when i think about her and how
AC couldnt do anything they said the woman figured out
Ac would come inspect them and moved most there dogs i never wanted to hurt a human more. you wanna talk about depression take pics and call your local paper

Definitely Buy Him...
 

Definitely BUY him...but, there's no way I'd return him to that place. I realize the intention would be for a refund...but, why not just resell him on your own, kwim? That is...if your big :love: will let you:winky:

What if we all e-mail them? They don't know where we live by our e-mail address?
Ok! don't mind me I just read that you said the same thing! - Let's start the e-mailing

puppy mills
 

I would buy a sick puppy in a flash if I had the money and would never return it to the pet store. I would keep it or sell it or even give it to someone who would love it and give it a good home. Returning the puppy to the pet store doesn't guarantee that it wouldn't just get sick again! I don't think that me not buying one puppy (or 20 puppies) will do anything to stop puppy mills. The problem is much bigger than that and there are always people out there who will buy the puppies. The puppy mill problem could be solved if the existing laws were enforced. The lack of enforcement is the problem.