Would this be wrong?
 

Okay guys, here is the situation...There is a pet store that sells puppies (very clearly mill puppies) across the street from my office. Now I have had some personal problems lately that have distracted me a little bit. Yesterday, however while I was going into the adjacent starbucks I actually looked at the little guys through the window. There was a little yorkie pup just laying on his side looking fairly uncomfortable. So I went in and looked closer and picked him up. He is very clearly in need of medical attention. He seems weak, has green eye discharge and lots of it, and seems to be having serious trouble breathing...I tell them, you need to take this dog to a vet. Then they go into the long schpeel about how whoever buys him can take him to a vet then return him if he is sick, and they will "reimburse vet bills within reason" if it is done in 5 days. I called our locale animal control (which I have called for other things in the past and they do nothing) sure enough they said they could not do much as long as the pup had food, water, and shelter...I feel heartsick for this little guy.

My question is would it be wrong for me to buy him just so I could get him some medical attention and then bring him back? I know you will probably all say yes, but I just feel awful thinking about him and I have to see him everytime I get a coffee.

Poor little guy!
 

That poor little puppy! Yeah, if you buy him you are giving money to the horrible pupple mills people, but if you don't he may get worse. I am soft-hearted so I would probably buy him get him well and return him. I value life, and hope those terrible puppy mill people will get their punishment. It's a very difficult situation your in. I feel for you. What would other yorkie talkers do?

I would have a hard time buying the puppy and then returning it to that environment. The puppies are not to blame for being in the doggie store. I would just want to rescue him from that horrible place and get him healthy...maybe then try to sell to someone you know or another yorkie owner.

Report them to your local animal services, while the puppy is in their care they are responsible for seeking medical attention for him.

as much as i love yorkies...i wouldnt buy it because of what someone else said also....about supporting puppymills

Well, Speaking from experience...I would and have bought a puppy who was sick just because I knew he needed help. I know you all may think it wrong to support the mills but I say why should that poor soul suffer unloved and uncared for. Why should he have to pay the price?

In all actuallity, her question was would it be wrong to buy him, get him medical care and the RETURN HIM. If she gets him medical care and returns him than she has not supported the mill he came from right?

I would do it in a heart beat. Just make sure that you are aware of thier policy for returns and follow it carefully.

Sorry

This is exactly the dilemna...I do not want to support them, but I also do not think that it is right that he suffers so badly...It really is a catch 22...Uggh, today is not going to be a productive work day.

I would have to save him if I were you..... but I WOULD NOT bring him back to those horrible people....

LoL ya thats a toughy...the best you do is notify someone that can help him

I would buy him,get him medical attention and then sell him. Im a bleeding heart also

Bless your heart for wanting so save the little guy, How ever, Would you be able to just take him back:confused: thats the real question, I know how iam and i would not:( good luck with what ever you decide, and I support your decision either way:thumbup:

As much as you want to help this dog, there are services out there that are specifically trained for this type of situation. It is best to report them to the ASPCA and the Better Business Bureau, and let them see what you have seen. There is no guarantee that the place will reimburse you, especially if they said "within reason," I mean, whose reason? They obviously don't have very good reason. You could call your local animal shelter or humane society and ask for professional advice. By reporting the business, you may be saving more than one sick puppy, and saving more from going through the same type of abuse.

I would never be able to take him back. Would they even take him back if he just has a treatable resp. Infection? This is a terrible delima. Buy him...support puppy mill...dont buy him...he suffers! No good answer.

That is such a hard question to answer. I would report them and make sure that THEY get him medical care. Mainly I would do that because I know I'd never be able to take him back to that horrible place. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

The thing is that if you buy him (and keep him or sell him on like people have suggested) then all you are doing is funding another litter to be bred in a puppy farm. So yes you might be saving this one little puppy, but you are condeming more to the same fate. The only way to stop puppy mills is to avoid them like the plague. The person who runs the pet store does not care wether you buy him because you feel sorry for him, as long as he gets his money. He will just call up the puppy mill and order more. Report the store so that they are forced to get him medical attention.

I think it's admirable. I know i would have a hard time giving up a puppy if i bought him and nursed him back to health, keep that in mind, you may become attached!!!

Animal control said if he has food and water there is nothing they can do?
What about a sick puppy who needs medical attention?
They are out of line and not doing their job. They need to be reported also.
To own a pet you must provide food, water, shelter and 'MEDICAL SEVICES
WHEN NEEDED". That is the responsibly of the owner. Call the ASPCA and report both the store and the animal control person who told you this
BS. There has to be someone who can help a sick dog.
Are you saying that if you walked by someone's house and a dog was
suffering but it had food and water in front of him they would not come
and help? That's the saddest thing I ever heard. Why do they exist then?
That goes against everything I ever viewed on Animal Planet and the
various Animal control people around the country.
I would have called the cops on the store sales person for animal abuse
and stayed there until they did something to help that sick pup.

The little one I rescued I was unable to save as he died in my hands exactly one week after we brought him home. He had a heart defect. I had him to the vet and he was on a bunch of meds but we were not able to save him. I never for one minute regret that I brought him home and that he had one week in his whole short life that he felt safe and loved before he died. I would do it again in a second (money permiting) as I don't really believe that the answer to puppy mills lies in weather we buy a puppy or not. I believe it lies in much bigger organizations.

In Alaska you will not find a puppy mill, you know why? There is not one store in the state that sells puppies. The pet stores sell fish and maybe bunnies and on the weekends the shelters bring thier dogs and cats to the pet stores to adopt them out. If you want a dog in Alaska you eigther find a private breeder (far and few between) or you adopt. No puppies in the stores no puppy mills, there is no need for them there. I don't know how you can get that going in your own state but if you really want to stop the suffering than that is the way to go.

I'm a softy and would land up buying him, but doubt if I could give him back once he was well. He'd be in his forever home.

What about calling a local yorkie rescue? They may have some other means to help rescue the poor little guy.
Have you talked directly to the manager of the pet store? Let them know the sick puppy could infect the rest of the puppies and they could all get sick..
I don't know if they will care or not, unfortunately a lot of times the sick animals are put to sleep rather then receiving medical care because it is less expensive. :(

TG, in Nevada there are not any pet stores that sell dogs or cats. It is illegal, as it should be everywhere!

I'm sure it's not the correct thing to do but I couldn't walk by and see him suffering each day. I would not return him though.

I don't know what state you are in ,but alot of states have laws that protect these poor things'

If it were me I'd go back to the store and take a camera.
Tell them your husband or someone is interested in the pup and wants to see a picture of him.
Be sure to also take a picture of the front of the store.
Contact your local newpaper and see if they will do a human interest story about the petshop, and the conditions of the animals in their care.
Also tell them of the other places you have contacted and they refuse to help.
No Business wants bad advertisement.
If that doesn't work get some friends together and picket the place.

As sad and as bad as that little puppy looks imagine what his mother looks like and will look like after another 5-10 more litters..

This store needs reported UNTIL someone does do something about it.

If you buy this one and take care of it.. how about the next shipment they get next week.. It doesn't end.. will you buy them too?

I don't mean to sound harsh.. it's just puppy mills infuriate me..and there is only one way to make them stop... :( and saving that one poor pup isn't gonna do it.

What did you decide?

Wouldn't it be great if it was against the law in all states to stop the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores.
I think that would go a long way in helping to stop puppy farming/millers.
I hate missouri and the fact that we have such a big problem with millers.
We also have the HUNTE's Corp.. the biggest puppy miller/broker there is.

I have a question and I hope I dont sound ignorant.....I dont know much about puppy mills except what I see mostly when I watch animal planet with the precinct stories and what not, which I LOVE to watch! I love seeing those ppl get shut down, just does my heart good! My question is this....how much is the store selling the puppies for? Are they getting loads of money for these poor little things? We do have a pet store here in our town, not like Pet Smart, but a small locally owned one and I hate to go in there and see the puppies all caged up looking all sad....Im assuming they are coming from puppy mills? They are outrageously priced like you wouldnt believe! And heres another question, if they can go in and seize the animals like on animal planet and stuff, why cant that be done everywhere? So sad.......good luck on your decision!:(

:mad:
YES! That is the ultimate solution.. yet.. I wonder if it will ever happen..and I'm sure the millers would find other sales places.. flea markets, ads.

I feel your pain, Ohio is not far behind Missouri with the mills.. which I hate.. their catching up everyday. Hunte Corp.. needs to be stopped. :thumbdown

I still am at a loss. I am also getting really wired from all the caffiene I am drinking going to and fro from Starbucks to see how he is doing. I know how horrible it is to support these places, I have learned my lesson with Bruce. I notice they have separated him now from the other pups that all looking happy healthy and bouncey. He is now all alone in a pen just lying on his side. I know that if I purchase him, I could never bring him back, just like some of you had mentioned...I called the police, they said someone would go check it out, I hope it is true and the next time I need a coffee he will be gone to somewhere safe.

My newest thought would be to maybe purchase him and then get in touch with United Yorkie Rescue after I have gotten him to a vet. I know it is horrible, and supports mills and what not, but I think it is a real moral dilemna. I mean I feel like turning my back on him is like saying he deserves to suffer because his breeder was unscrupulous, but at the same time I know purchasing him gives money back to that breeder. I also realize he is visibly rather ill, and no one else that could naively happen upon him will purchase him for the price they are asking and get him help...Uggh, I guess I will check on him one more time today and sleep on it.