I understand your frustration, Liana!! Poor little pup I hope the kids treat her kindly. I feel awful that this poor little creature was taken from it's Mom and littermates so young Hopefully your Mom's cousin now understands what retched places those puppymills are. As you say, better they had gone to a reputable breeder! A good breeder CARES about her/his pups and puts in all sorts of conditions to assure the health and well being of the puppy. And they are a great resource of education/advice for the family. I pray the defenseless, helpless little pup doesn't end up in a shelter.

I've ranted many a time about puppymills, pet stores that sell dogs. I had an applicant last month (for the Lab rescue group I work with) who wanted a dog NOW!! I told her we work hard to place the right dog with the right family, to please be patient, it would be worth the wait etc. Well, last week I heard from her. She BOUGHT a Lab at a pet store for $800.00!!!!!!! I started to rant about puppymills and she was CLUELESS! She said, "Oh, no, he came from a breeder in Missouri!!! I told her that "breeders" in the midwest ( or anywhere) who ship their puppies to the east coast ARE puppymills! Ugh!!!! Anyway, she had no "papers," she hadn't yet taken the dog to the vet for a well baby check up, gotten his boosters, even thought about the idea of spay/neuter, etc. The pet store said she had 2 weeks to get him checked for medical issues and she let that time pass!! She was feeding him ONCE a day! Anyway, we had a nice long talk and I gave her a lot of useful info. She seemed genuinely upset. I just hope the puppy is healthy