Argh I hate petshops

[GoldenRetrLuver]

You are able too state your own opinion. Where else do you think the puppies come from? RESPONSIBLE breeders? Oh, and some people would spend that much on a puppy because they dont know about puppy mills. They probaly dont know about responsible breeders and think the pet store is a good place to buy one. Thats why people who know about it have to educate them on it.....in order to close puppy mills down....I boycott any pet shop that sells dogs and cats.

[wolfsoul]

Yeah, I thought that was odd too...No puppy in a petshop EVER comes from a responsible breeder. They come from back yard breeders and puppy mills.

[wolfsoul]

Here's a good site

http://www.caps-web.org/factsheet.shtml

[Mich]

I will still stick up for the Pet Shop I go to, ( they don't have pets, as such - a few fish etc), but supplies and advice, and if you read back at my last comment, the ladies in the shop saved my dog. . . with their advice. - - - so not all pet shops are Urgh!

[Foam]

Originally posted by Mich
not all pet shops are Urgh!

Exactly. You are making it sound like all of them are that way. Now your including breeders. I agree about Puppy Mills though. Damn those cursed places..poor pups.
But not ALL breeders iresponsible. (sp?)

[Mich]

There was a show in T.V. by quite reputable people, and they advertised these places as a good way to get a dog of 1st cross breeding etc, etc.......but they cost the earth. I just remembered what they called them " Designer Pets" and how they are going to change the 21st Centuary, into healthier, more sturdy dogs.

Sorry!!!! I know I got a cross breed........BUT go to the Pound, please and save a dog, or your local rescue centre.........

I did years ago, when I was fit, young and healthy, and if you want they have pure breds also - - side by side with cross bred dogs.....OOps! Designer dogs.

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by Foam
Exactly. You are making it sound like all of them are that way. Now your including breeders. I agree about Puppy Mills though. Damn those cursed places..poor pups.
But not ALL breeders iresponsible. (sp?)

That's why I chose my words carefully when I said "most petshops" do not do background checks etc.

I agree with everyone on puppy mills. They are cruel. I've seen actual videos of them on TV, when dateline broke into one. It was horrible. This one dog was in such trauma, it was running around at full speed in it's cage in circles over and over until it collapsed and just died.

[binka_nugget]

But who would spend over a thousand dollars (average price of pet store pups) on a puppy that had no use in their lives? Why would they spend one grand on a puppy that they are just going to abuse and then get arrested for it?

Some people do have good intentions when buying a pup from a petstore. Even the most caring, good intentioned person may end up giving the dog up to a pound. For example, if I went to the petstore to buy a pup for...god knows how much these days...I would have my intentions set to giving the pup the best home possible. The thing is, people don't learn enough before getting the pup. What if the pup I got at the pet store happened to be a great dane pup? Sure it's small then..and cute and what not..but within a year...it would be a huge dog that I probably wouldn't be able to feed.

I'm all for pet SUPPLY stores...anything without innocent animals sitting in a cage waiting to go to home with whoever offered money...

I think any pup that comes from a petstore came from an irresponsible breeder PERIOD. My standards of a responsible breeder are probably extremely similar to others. In "my book", responsible breeders give life but should also take that animal back no questions asked. A responsible breeder would never sell to a pet store because the breeder wouldn't be able to keep track of where the pup went..and would have no say on who the pup goes home with...it's all for money.

[Christiansmommy]

I really hate to go to pet shops. It is so depressing seeing all of those doggies trapped in those cages. And i always find it ironic that they all seem to sleep at the same times, as if they are drugged I always feel the need to take one out and bring it into the "get to know you room", so it can at least have a little freedom and space to play....but i dont do this enough...i cant imagine working at one of those places and feeling good about my job....but that is just me.

[Pam]

I got my first poodle at a "mom and pop" pet shop, not one of the big chains in the malls. That was in 1970 and I didn't know anything about puppy mills and had never even heard of them. Thankfully she was healthy and an absolutely awesome dog who lived to her teens. I have had 5 poodles since her and they all came from breeders except for Ripley, my rescue dog. When I go into a pet shop now (which I am ALWAYS compelled to do when I am in the mall.....can't help it, just have to see those sweeties....it's not their fault that they're in there), I stand there and think:

1) Poor mamas of all of these dogs. They are probably still back at the "mill" having another litter and living a horrible life!
2) How would a person ever housebreak a puppy that has been forced to go potty inside a wire cage all day? Will they really know the difference when they go home? Won't they just "go" in their crate? Then the unknowing owner turns them into the shelter because they can't be housebroken.
3) Is anyone exercising these dogs, except for the occasional person who might take one into the "get acquainted" room? Puppies are barrels of energy. They need their play time!
4) Finally, why are they costing so much? Answer: so everyone gets a piece of the pie - the puppy mill and the pet shop!

I will never learn. I still visit them and leave sadder than when I came in. People must be educated about what goes on behind the scenes and encouraged to stop buying these pet store dogs. That is the only way that they will close down and the source of the dogs (puppy mills) must be outlawed.

[cocker_luva]

we got my cocker pup (now she's 8) at a petshop. they said she came from a breeder in kentucky and gave us her papers. also with the papers came the address of the breeder. we actually took a visit to her and she was soo nice!

i guess what happened was selling her pups and no one wanted my pup because the pups where so pricey (they were born into the akc) so she sold it to a trusted pet store that she knew.

so not all pups come from puppy mills and other bad places.

but also i guess that she didn't have time to get the 'kennel cough' or anything else since cockers usually sell REALLY FAST.

[GoldenRetrLuver]

In my opinion, i dont think a pet shop can be considered "trusted" I dont think a responsible breeder, like the one you indicate would sell puppies to a pet store...but thats my opinion.

[cocker_luva]

ok, that is your opinion and i respect it.

[RobiLee]

Hello All...I am new to the list. This subject has really seem to hit a nerve with people. I had to reply because I am one of the bad people that has just purchased a puppy from a pet shop. She is a beautiful Akita puppy named Katie and she will be 12 weeks old tomorrow. To be honest with you I am quite surprised the I bought a puppy at a pet shop because I am one of those people who swore I would never do such a thing. We lost our dog, Chloe (samoyed mix), 3 years ago and I was finally ready to get another pup. I was constantly looking up the different dog breeds on the internet and coming to this website to see what everyone had to say about their dogs. I would search in the dog ads in the papers and was constantly trying to figure out what I wanted. Well, one day I went into the pet shop just to take a look at the different breeds and there was the little Akita puppy. My husband has wanted one for a little while now but I wasn't for sure. I actually asked if I could see her (never done such a thing in my life). I played with her in the playroom and absolutely fell in love. I had them put her back still thinking I could never buy a pup from there. I kept thinking about her though, locked up in a cage there. A few days later my husband said ok, lets do it, lets get a puppy. We were going to go to the humane society to rescue a dog there but I said lets go to the pet shop because they have a lot of breeds in right now and maybe he could see if there was any certain type of breed that he liked. I knew all along that he would fall in love with the Akita and sure enough he did. We spent 2 hours in there that morning talking to the sales girl, who I must say seemed to know quit a bit about the breeds. She told us where our puppy come from but we aren't for sure if it is a good place or bad place. We did manage to talk them down in price a little bit and she has a 3 year warranty and her first visit to the vet was free. We took her to the vet and the vet said she seemed to be very healthy. Her skin looked good. Her ears looked good and her eyes looked bright and alert. These were things that I knew to look for when I went in the pet shop. I must admit some of the puppies and kittens in there did not look as healthy. We go back to the vet in a week to start her on her shots because the doc wanted to wait and make sure that she hasn't picked up kennel cough or any other kind of bad diseases from her kennel or pet shop. I asked the vet how she felt about the pet shop and she said she was neutral on the subject. This group of vets take care of the animals at this pet shop. She didn't always think it was a good thing, but she didn't think it was a bad thing either. She said the way she looked at it is that I just rescued that beautiful pup that day. I don't know why I am going on and on about this. Maybe I feel like I have to justify myself because I did buy from a pet shop. All I know is that my husband and I simply adore and love our little Katie. My girlfriend told me that Katie was one lucky puppy. I said what do you mean and she said because she has a such great family now. I thought that was the best compliment ever! Well, I'm sorry I rattled on and on about this and I hope I haven't bored everyone. I wish I knew how to send a pic of my sweet little Katie (who won't be little for long) but I'm not good at figuring out this computer stuff. Thanks for listening.

Have a great day everyone....Robin

P.S. If anyone else has any akitas I'd love to hear from you and see some pics.

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Ok..you said you would never buy from a pet store, but you ended up doing so. Why? Because the pup looked cute and you felt sorry for it? I suppose you know where those pups come from, which are mostly puppy mills. I feel sorry for the dogs in the cages too, but if you buy one, another pup is just going to take its place, simply continuing the horrible cycle.... . Did you even look up breeders before going to the pet shop? Also, you said you knew some of the other animals there didnt look healthy..so, you bought one anyway?? Your just supporting them...Oh, well...i guess its good knowing the pup has a good home..

Ok, i will come down from my soapbox..

Thanks for listening