What's the difference between buying a dog at a pet store and paying the same amount of money for a dog at....

Question

....a shelter? Just curious.

Answer 1

You are likely saving a dog's life by adopting it from a shelter. Buying from a pet store encourages unneccesary breeding and poor breeding practices. Pet stores are trying to make a profit and don't get dogs from breeders who are concerned about temperament or the physical standard for a breed. If you must have a purebred pup, go to a reputable breeder or a breed rescue. Of course, shelters do sometimes have purebred pups, as well.

Answer 2

A dog at a pet store is from one of two places 1) puppymill or 2) backyard breeder. Don't listen when the store says their puppies are different and from carefully screened breeders. That is hogwash because no responsible breeder would ever, in a million years, hand over their puppy to be sold to anyone with a credit card.

A puppymill is a place where lots of dogs are kept in crates 24/7 with nothing but food and water, usually little to no play, never let outside, no socialization, no toys, etc. They are bred continuously with no regard to health, temperament, etc. The resulting pups are worth money and that is the bottom line. There are many web sites about puppymills. Start here for some more info: http://www.stoppuppymills.org/

A backyard breeder is someone whose dog accidentally got pregnant or who decided their dog was so cute and wonderful that they should breed it to the dog down the street. Again, there is no concern for breeding healthy dogs with a good temperament.

Responsible breeders, in comparison, do health screenings (including things like hip and eye certifications) on the parent dogs, are actively involved in some form of dog competition, and are actively trying to improve the breed. They have only 1-2 litters per year and want to meet the people getting their pups. This is actually the safest bet in terms of knowing what you are getting and having a good idea of health and temperament. Also, it is not much more expensive than buying the puppymill dog from the pet store.

At a shelter you never can tell what you are getting. Shelters do their best to screen for temperament and health issues but sometimes things show up after you have adopted. You might get a dog who was bred at a puppymill. You might get a dog sired by the Westminster Best in Show Champion. You probably won't know any of this. However, the shelter is a responsible choice because these dogs needs homes or they could be euthanised. If you adopt a dog you give it a second chance and save its life. If you buy a pet store dog you help support the puppymills and just keep the puppymill industry and its associated cruelty going. Shelters are often less expensive but some shelters do charge a few hundred dollars for the younger purebred dogs. You might also look into a breed rescue if there is a specfic breed you like.

Answer 3

Depending on the Pet Store many of these animals are from puppy mills. Not a lot of attention is paid to the characteristics of the breed or the parents health and can be often inbreed. You are rarely able to get full documentation of the dogs pedigree at a pet store. Some pet stores also get their dogs from shelters. At a shelter there are some of the same problems as a pet store, however if you get a "mutt" they are usually healthier than a pure breed, and especially a "pure breed" from a pet store. If you are not looking for a pure breed dog go to a shelter. You are supporting a worthwhile establishment.

Answer 4

When you purchase the animal from a pet store the majority of the cost is pure profit for the pet store. Plus, pet stores have had bad reputations in the past getting dogs from less than desirable situations. Usually the cost of getting an animal at a store does not include their shots, spay/neuter, etc.

When you get an animal from a shelter, you are paying an adoption fee. This basically covers the cost of their shots, medical stuff, and if there is any left over it goes right back to the shelter, for food and medical stuff for the other animals.

There are so many animals out there who need good homes that I would strongly suggest going the shelter route.

I have 5 shelter animals, and I couldn't have asked for better companions!!

Answer 5

No one is making a profit at the shelter. I have taken home a free dog or mutt, bought a dog from a so called responsible breeder and now have a great dog from a pet store--I have loved all these dogs. When we picked up our dog from the breeder he was a mess he wasn't bathed or groomed no shots, he definitely cost us more--he was worth it to us. Unfortunately he died in a house fire. We love our dogs we have now both from pet stores--just know they all come with a history-but where ever you get your dog just love it and take great care of it. Sorry if this isn't the response you were looking for. By the way no matter how you obtain your puppy--what matters is how you care for it. Leaving that poor puppy at the pet store with worms was unconscionable I hope they at least reported the store to the local humane society for appropriate action.

Answer 6

Well either way your not sure what your getting into.. For example why did the previous owners get rid of him/her..Was the dog beat or abused in any way? Pet store does he/she have kennel cough? how long has it been there? These are the qusetions you will need to ask. Is the dog timid? Bark all the time? Does the pet store keep the cage clean? and does the dog have a soft bed to sleep in? or is he/she sleepin in his/her poo? Is the store clean on the outside? Inside? what does it smell like? are the animals takin care of? how long has the store been there?
All these questions will make it easier on you and the pet if you ask.. I feel that you should go to the shelter and adopt.. and still ask all these questions..

Answer 7

If you want my opinion, i would go with the shelter. The dogs there appreciate you more and are more loyal. It has been through experience, that some of the pet stores don't always take good care of their animals and when you get them home they have mange and so forth. You are getting the same thing at the shelter, if you shop around and a good loyal friend, besides saving a life.

Answer 8

Shelter dogs have been abandoned by their previous owners, or confiscated due to neglect or abuse. Dogs in petstores are purchased wholesale from puppy mills. The dogs are usually in poor health and often die within weeks of being purchased. They are also usually too young to be taken from their mothers- it is best not to take a puppy from its mom until sometime between 8 and 12 weeks, for larger dog breeds, and 12-16 weeks for very small and delicate breeds (Yorkies, Chihuahuas, etc.) Most pet stores sell their dogs at 6-7 weeks because they want the puppy to be small and cute and fluffy, and have no concern for the long term health of the dog.

Here are some resources about puppy mills (and be aware, no pet store will ever admit to buying from a puppy mill, but I have worked for them in the past and I know dozens of others who have as well, and I KNOW that ALL pet stores buy from mills, whether they'll admit it or not. Just because the dog has a pedigree, or they give you a 'kennel name' or 'breeder name', it's all LIES and DECEPTION! It is a puppy mill, no matter what.)

http://www.stoppuppymills.org/
https://sugarsicecream.com/Puppy_Mills.htm
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/kgaeding/puppy/puppymills.html

PLEASE adopt a homeless pet and don't support these mills any longer! As long as people buy dogs from pet stores, puppy mills will always be in business.

Answer 9

The dogs from the pet store are from a puppy mill. They could have health problems that you won't know about until later. Also by purchasing a dog there, you are helping out the puppy mills, bad.

By getting a dog from a shelter, you're rescuing a dog who is in deseperate need for a home.

Answer 10

Dog in pets stores almost always come from puppy mills or backyard breeders , either of which bother with health testing because they are only breeding it for the profit.

Adopting a Shelter dog will not cost nearly what you pay for a up in a pet store.

A reputable breeder will breed to better the breed standard.