my friend wants a PETSTORE puppy!

[aly]

Originally posted by Pam

Aly, I have a question for you. I have always wondered about this and haven't posted it before because maybe I don't even want to really know. Do you, or does anyone else here, know what happens to the puppies that the pet stores can't sell? Do they wind up in shelters or do they end up being euthanized. I guess one would need to actually know a pet store employee to know the answer to that question. Given those choices, I certainly hope they at least wind up at a shelter.

It depends on the pet store. I have heard a few horror stories, but I think most pet stores generally send them to shelters. We don't have many pet stores in town that sell puppies anymore, but 2 years ago we did get a pet store puppy in the shelter. It was the CUTEST little Poodle puppy. Of course I REALLY wanted him BAD! But he ended up in a great home!

[K9soul]

I thought Cami was a mixed breed?

No offense intended at all but it is VERY hard for me to consider a breeder of mixed breeds a responsible breeder, even if it is accidental, I'd expect a good breeder to be very alert against accidental breedings.

I think part of the problem here comes with people's view of what an irresponsible or backyard breeder is. I think some people who are not necessarily responsible breeders may still really love dogs and be very kind-hearted people. I think "BYB" here tends to come with a stigma of a cruel and heartless person, but I do not think that is always so at all. They may treat their dogs very well and love them dearly, but someone who breeds for profit, i.e. selling to pet stores, is not someone I believe is breeding for the betterment of a breed.

My best friend when I was growing up, her parents allowed their shelties to breed and have a litter of puppies. They were kind-hearted people and kept their dogs inside and well cared for, but it was still not an educated and particularly ethical thing to do IMO. They got both the shelties from a breeder who encouraged them to do this, yet the mother and father were half brother and sister... so this "breeder" was advocating in-breeding!

Some people grow up being taught by their parents or by those around them a different view than what many of us have here. There are plenty of cold-hearted, cruel, and neglectful breeders out there, but there are also plenty of kind, animal-loving types that contribute to the problems out there without realizing or turning a blind eye to it because they don't see themselves as a backyard breeder.

I think it is important that even though some of us may know and like these people, we recognize it is not necessarily an informed and responsible way of doing things, and let us not in turn become blind to it so that we won't repeat their mistaken ideas.

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Tell them about puppy mills!

[binka_nugget]

I really hope your friend rethinks this. If I were her, that email would change my mind in an instant.

Once, I asked a local pet store about where they bought their puppies. The man told me that they did not support irresponsible breeding and only bought from responsible breeders. I guess we could argue all day whether responsible breeders would sell to pet stores. Everyone has a different idea of what a responsible breeder is. In my opinion, a good, responsible breeder would NEVER sell to a pet store. One of the things I look for when I look for a breeder is a contract stating that they would take the pup back no questions asked if the owner ever feels the need to rehome the dog. Also, I make sure the breeder asks the potential owner questions as well so I know that the breeder wants the pup to go into a good home. When a good, responsible breeder sells to a pet store, there's no way in saying whether or not someone gets the pup. So in my book, anyone who sells to a pet store is not a responsible breeder.

[ticosmyham]

A puppy is a puppy, and a puppy needs a home.

[KYS]

Originally posted by aly :
"If people stop taking the dogs, the puppy mills will stop making money and be forced to stop breeding.">>>>>>>>>>>>


Well said Aly.
Notice for now, I am keeping my mouth zippered.

[QueenScoopalot]

Originally posted by petlover
Oh! Now I get it! Please forgive me everyone.. I am still very young and learning!

Education never hurts! For each and every puppy someone falls in love with in a petstore, it only continues the nightmarish existance for the parents animals. Sadly too few people actually get the big picture as much of this breeding is done secretly, and the puppy millers sell off the pups to "brokers" who in turn sell them to the petstores. Many of these pups have serious health problems, are riddled with parasites etc. A local (so called up-scale) new place opened around my area, and already "Woof Inc" has had to have employees tested and treated for giardia, and sales stopped for a while. Giardea is an intestinal parasite. Too bad they didn't shut down completely.

[shais_mom]

Originally posted by ticosmyham
A puppy is a puppy, and a puppy needs a home.

very true but why put money in their pocket by exploiting the dogs. It is this mentality that the reason we have upwards of 4 million dogs and cats put to sleep in a year.

[shais_mom]

And I echo what Jessica says about responsible breeder's. Even if Cami's breeder is/was responsible then why did she allow a mix breed? I mean it is great that Cami is with us and you, but that doesn't seem very responsible to me.

[wolf_Q]

For those arguing that it is possible to get a puppy from a responsible breeder at a pet store.....this is what I think...if you don't agree, I don't care

A responsible breeder would NEVER allow their pup to go to a pet store. They would personally meet the prospective owners and care where the dog ended up.

A responsible breeder would never intentionally breed mix breed dogs

[Amber]

We bought Katie at a petstore, but she wasn't from a BYB.

She was brought in by other people who had a accident litter of puppys.


Even though I was only 6 at the time, I actually don't regret it. Katie is a great dog, but I wouldn't never buy from a pet store again.


I hope your friend changes her mind.

[cloverfdx]

I don't care what you say but any reputable breeder that I have ever met (personally or on the net or by phone or letter, talked to or heard of would never ever put one of their loved pups in a pet store.
even back yard breeders can get lucky & end up having a show dog some out of the litter.
Reputable responsible breeders ussually don't even breed unless they already have homes lined up for the pups, and secondly expect to keep the ones that the owners back out of, or return.

Ditto, Also isnt it illegal to sell registered dogs to pet stores, i know it is here and the breeders would be shut down promptly.

If they Cross breed they are not responsible. JMO.

[lute]

Also isnt it illegal to sell registered dogs to pet stores, i know it is here and the breeders would be shut down promptly.

i wish it were here,but its not. i'm sure if it was then there would be a cut on some of the mills and BYB.

[lv4dogs]

Originally posted by wolf_Q
For those arguing that it is possible to get a puppy from a responsible breeder at a pet store.....this is what I think...if you don't agree, I don't care

A responsible breeder would NEVER allow their pup to go to a pet store. They would personally meet the prospective owners and care where the dog ended up.

A responsible breeder would never intentionally breed mix breed dogs

oh my gosh I was going to type the same exact thing!!!
Well said, I too agree w/ that statement 100% & I too do not care what others say about it, that is how I feel.

[RobiLee]

I hope you have discouraged your friend from buying a puppy from Petland.

I bought my Katie from Petland. I do not regret it for one minute because I don't know what I would have done without my Katie girl. However Katie was pretty sick after we brought her home and it took awhile to get her all better. She had a major bad case of coccidia which is known to happen with a bunch of pups together like that. I think so anyway. One idiot vet , which petland recommended and the first visit was free even diagnosed her with that but didn't treat it aggressively enough and even kept her for 3 days and his findings were just that she was a picky eater and said she was fine. Of course when we brought her back home it was nothing but diarrhea everywhere. Of course we immediately found a new vet! He took care of the problem immediately. I'm rattling on here...sorry...my point is I would never do it again. I found out that Katie was shipped here from Missouri and more than likely from the Hunt Corp. (I think that is the name). From what I hear that is not a good place! What really bothers me about petland and Alden is the one who pointed it out to me....Is that they will sell any dog to anyone without asking about their lifestyle or if they have any knowledge about that breed of dog. They did not ask us one question about if we knew anything about Akitas..not one! Alden has always loved the breed and had done some research on them so we did know what we were getting into. They did not know what kind of home Katie was going to or if we could handle this breed and didn't give us any info about the breed except for maybe what size she would be. I find this just as appalling as where they get the pups from. I just thank God that Alden knew a little bit about them and that I found a good friend here to help me out and still does (you know who you are, Karen..aka...KYS ...big hugs for Rocky and Sheba). Whatever your friend does just convince her to do plenty of research before she makes up her mind.

Robin