Fell in-love with 2 cute pups at the pet store. Worker said they weren't from PuppyMills - what to do? Advice?

Question

Ok, last Thursday, I went to a pet store that was about 30 minutes away from where I live. I feel in-love with these two beautiful little pups. A 10 week old Shih-Tzu (female) and a 7 week old Lhasa Apso (female). The Shih-Tzu was originally $750 but price was marked down to $350. Lhasa Apso was $899 - then marked down to $399. The Lhasa came with a free Kong (valued at $29.99) for some reason. I held them both and instantly fell in-love with them.
They both were vacc'ed, MC'ed, vet checked (by their vet), wormed, flea'd and came with a free $100 voucher to spend in the store and they could be both desexed there for free at 6 months old.
I asked a few different workers if the pups came from PUPPY MILLS because both dogs had a cold and kennel cough and the Shih-Tzu had dis-charge from eyes and nose. They both said NO.

I had never been to that pet store before so do not trust them completely.

Should I buy the dogs?
ALL advice is needed - don't want to make the wrong choice.

I asked if I could get the pups checked by MY vet (I have a cat and just use the local vet clinic around the corner) - they said no. They also said they would charge me 45% of how much it costs to de-sex BOTH pups if I had them checked by my vet (within 2 weeks) if I bought them.
They had an open enclosure right in the middle of the store with 2 male Chihuahua's and a male boxer, about 15 small glass enclosures with about 3 dogs in each (Poodles, Labs, Jack Russels, Golden Retrievers, Bichon Frise, Beagles, etc.)

The Lhasa (that I'm interested in), her back legs are limping A LOT! - They said while one of the workers was handling her, they accidently DROPPED HER!!!!!!

Also, the Shih-Tzu's LEFT eye is a little bit crusty and the cornea is blurry. Fur is matted - but they are adorable, loving, affectionate and they love to be held in someone's loving hands.

They offer a 5 day money back guarantee - EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T TAKE THEM TO MY VET TO GET CHECKED FOR 2 WEEKS!!

I've been to pet stores before to look at pups but never felt this way about any other little babies.

They said if I spend $80 or more at the store, they could give me a better dis-count on each pup.

They've offered discounts on almost eveything - desexing, price on pups, even toys - bedding - combs. Vouchers at the store etc.

I rang the pet store yesterday to ask if I could talk to the vet who examined the pups and they said the vet only worked on Tuesday mornings (8:30am - 11:00am) - the times I work and find hardest to take time off of.

True - dumb question to ask wether the pups were from mills.

They didn't actually tell me that they'd slash the prices on both until I was holding the pups!!

I really do not have a lot of money - especially to spend on vet bills for the pups. I'd hate to go broke over pups that may not live - I just don't have the money to do that - with 2 kids under the age of 5.

When I called, I asked if MY vet could come to the store to check the pups there... store said no - pups had been checked THOROUGHLY by their vet.

Answer 1

I'd be willing to lay odds that they ARE from puppy mills, no matter what they said. (What ELSE would you expect them to say if asked???) Should be easy enough to find out. Ask for the breeder's name, then check it out.

If you decide to buy them, have them checked out by YOUR veterinarian before you even take them home. And just because they've been vaccinated doesn't mean they have been FULLY vaccinated. That doesn't happen until they're at least 4 months old. They cannot be desexed on pet store premises. That requires a full surgery suite, which is regulated by each state's Board of Veterinary Medical Practitioners. Ask to meet the DVM who will be doing the surgery, and for a tour of the surgical facility. Then, call your state's Board to verify that they are licensed to do that. I'm betting they aren't.


ETA: They can't *penalize* you for having them checked out by your own DVM. First, how would they know???....unless you bring them back for a refund, to which you'd be entitled if health problems are found. Second, REPUTABLE pet stores actually ENCOURAGE you to have them checked by your own DVM. Don't fall prey to their scam. They don't want another DVM to check them out, because it sounds like they are trying to hide something. The employee-dropping-the-puppy story is just that....a story. The puppy very likely has a congenital orthopedic issue. If the pups were injured or sick, they should have been pulled from the sales floor until the problems were corrected. The fact that they didn't do that also speaks volumes about that store's ethics (lack of.) I know you want to 'rescue' them....but if you do, you are only perpetuating the puppymill market. If people stop buying these pups, the breeders will eventually have to quit breeding them once their market dries up. Find a responsible individual breeder if you're set on these breeds....or better yet, adopt one from a well-known rescue organization. I promise you that there are puppies out there who are every bit as cute and lovable, without the health problems you'd be facing with these. (And pet-quality dogs should never cost more than $100-$200 anyway.)

"I've been to pet stores before to look at pups but never felt this way about any other little babies."
Are you a female? It might not be the actual puppies creating those feelings in you, but your own hormones. Had you wandered into the pet store at a different time of the month, those exact same puppies might not have had as much of an effect on you emotionally.

Answer 2

My mom and I both got Lhasas within the last year (hers from a breeder, mine from the pound) and we have spent a lot of time researching breeders of Lhasas. I can tell you that no reputable breeder charges $899 for a Lhasa puppy. And the free Kong supposedly valued at $29.99 should sell for around $7. These people are definitely trying to scam you. In addition, no reputable Lhasa breeder would sell a 7 week old dog. Lhasas mature more slowly than other dogs and ideally stay with their litter until 10 weeks in order to develop proper social skills. A reputable breeder would also encourage you to take the dog to the vet right away because they have nothing to hide. As both dogs are sick, you have to be prepared to spend a lot of money on vet bills if you buy one, and I know this is something you said you couldn't do. The dog that was limping could also have a genetic problem with it's legs that could cost thousands of dollars to fix. As cute as the dogs are, it seems that they are likely to come with a lot of heart ache as well. If you like the breeds, check the American Kennel Club website for reputable breeders near you.

Answer 3

The pet store will tell you what you want to hear to increase your chances of buying their dog. They probably don't know, but just told you "no". Prices like those are ridiculous. All puppies are easy to fall in love with... don't let that be the deciding factor. These stores are looking for people just like you. Sick puppies is almost normal from most pet shops. I wouldn't buy any dog from anyone that didn't offer a money-back guarantee against the pup dying from a contagious disease during the first 2 weeks that you have the dog. Puppy mills don't always have bad puppies. Rescue groups for Shih Tzu's and Lhasas are in most states. They often have mama dogs with puppies available for a fraction of the price of a pet store's sick ones. Do a Yahoo search for rescue groups near you.

Answer 4

No reputable breeder will give his or her puppies to a pet store to sell. Millers falsify records and documents all the time.

If the refuse you to go to your own vet there is some thing wrong this is red flag number 1.

Red flag number 2, 3, & 4 cold and kennel cough and discharge from eyes.

Red Flag #5 The Lhasa (that I'm interested in), her back legs are limping A LOT! - They said while one of the workers was handling her, they accidentally DROPPED HER!!!!!!

Red Flag# Also, the Shih-Tzu's LEFT eye is a little bit crusty and the cornea is blurry. Fur is matted

The employees will tell you want ever you want to here because they need their jobs.


Please read the following links,
pet store puppies
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/petstor.html

Responsible Breeders versus Pet Stores
http://dogs.about.com/cs/generalcare/a/pet_stores.htm

Buy your pet supplies somewhere else
http://www.malteseonly.com/petstore.html


http://www.petstorecruelty.org/

There are hundreds of dogs on a this site http://www.petfinder.com/ many are sitting in shelters that euthanize, they are young and old, and have every breed you can think of. If you but these puppies you are supporting the animal millers,

I have a rescue, http://www.mccuesmercantile.com/cavy_cruelty_pics.htm in this link you will see our latest animal cruelty case we took part in, Miller Are Bad People

Answer 5

Oh gosh I know what you mean. But those puppies DID come from puppy mills no matter what you were told. No good breeder will ever sell to a pet shop. You CAN'T buy those puppies. Please don't, I know it's cruel but don't. Here's a story that explains exactly why. Oh and like you said, it was THEIR vet. Their vets are paid to look the other way. Their eyes probably haven't even been treated.

Pet Store Puppy



I'm a little puppy, so cuddly, sweet and small
I live inside a cage, you see at Pet Store in the mall.
I'm not an only puppy, my sisters are all here.
My brothers, too, except for Ralph who died coz he was scared.
It's lonely here at nighttime when all the lights go dark,
We tremble in our cages and we whimper and we bark.
But no one comes to hold us or pet our fears away
We sit all night in terror til the store opens next day.
We don't remember mama left so far behind
She did the best she could for us til Man said "It is time."
He crammed us all in cages too small for us you see
We rode for hours; we could not help but lay in poop and pee
And now we sit in Pet Store where kids come taunt and squeeze
They do not hear our whimpers or understand our pleas
We're miserable and it's scary here we all would rather die
But since we don't we do our best to run away and hide
I know you think my story too sad to leave me be,
You want to take me home with you, a happy little puppy.
But please, though it is fearful to live here against our will
If you take me that leaves a spot another pup will fill.
You can stop our suffering but not by taking us home
You must be strong and leave us here, unsold and all alone
For if you do not take me, then another pup won't come
And maybe he will not be shipped so far away from home
Tho some of us may not survive the cycle 'ere it falls
If we don't sell they will not need more puppies in these halls
And if they need no puppies then the Man will not bring more
Eventually it can all stop!
You CAN close the door.
So when you see a puppy face so sad and sweet and small
In a cage at Pet Store at your neighborhood shopping mall
The best thing you can do for him is leave him sitting there
That is the best way you can tell all dogs
how much you care.

Unknown

Sick isn't it? And you can bet these babies left their home at 3-4 weeks of age. No dog should leave her mommy till at least 8 weeks of age.

Answer 6

As both pups are sick I would ask for the vet to give medication for the both (free of charge) and guarantee for full free vet attention until they are well.
The 7 week old is still a bit too young to have left its mother so you will have to take extra care of her.

Say you will waive the 2 x $100 voucher for the above vet services until both pups are 100% healthy.

If they wont agree, report them to the authorities.
If they agree, still report them

If you really want to spend the money and time on the two to get them away from the shop and you can afford it ... go for it. Just make sure you have all the paperwork that they have been vacc'ed and MC'ed

And when they were both well, would take them to the local vet to be de-sexed, NOT to the petshop.

Answer 7

There's no doubt in my mind that these people are sleazy and disreputable. If they had nothing to hide, they'd have no problem with your taking the pups to your own vet. And their vet check means nothing, as you can see the pups are obviously sick and / or not well. The mercenary aspect is also shown in their negotiating tactics. I know you love these little ones but to properly care for a sick pup will cost you a bundle of money and then heartbreak on top of that if they fail to thrive. Enlist your own vet's aid to help you find a truly healthy, home raised pup. After you have researched breeds and figured out exactly what you are looking for, or else decide to rescue somebody from the pound. BTW, don't ever ask "are these puppies from a puppy mill," do you think they'd ever tell you? Who but a puppy mill would sell pups to a pet shop where they would have no guarantees the pups would go to a good home? But if you truly insist on proceeding, talk to the examining vet in person about what he looked for and what he found. I'd almost bet money that if he checked them at all, it was very cursory and not at all what you'd expect from a thorough baby exam.

Answer 8

Well its good that they've had vet care, that shows that their background isn't TOO bad. But the illnesses seem suspicious. Someone who truly cared about the well-being of the dogs would take better care of them. Who knows if the owner is telling the truth. And even if he is-there are other bad things out there than puppy mills! Backyard breeders, inbred dogs, "accident" litters...all of these are possible for those pups. Any dog with a "mysterious" background isn't good. Purebred pups should be purchased from responsible breeders.

Please don't fall for the cute faces and good price. You could be supporting the suffering of puppy mill dogs!

Answer 9

There will be plenty of dogs you will fall in love with. It sounds like these puppies probably are from the mills - workers aren't going to tell you if they are, obviously.

My best advice? Go to a shelter. Puppies at shelters might already be spayed/neutered, and they need homes. Plus, most shelters provide vouchers for second sets of shots and spaying and neutering. The shelter down the street from me charges $75, including a voucher for spaying/neutering. And with a shelter, you can take the pups to the vet when you want, and if it looks bad, you can bring them back.

Also - these dogs are marked down. Obviously, something is wrong. Pet stores usually prey on people who "fall in love" with the puppy in the window, and they charge ridiculous prices they know people will spend when they absolutely love a puppy. If they marked it down that much, the puppies have probably been there for awhile, and something must be up. Puppy mill puppies are usually completely inbred and have alot of health issues because of this and the conditons they were born in. You can find a wonderful puppy at a shelter. If you need help searching for available puppies at shelters near you (they usually aren't as common as kittens), try www.petfinder.com. Shelters across the US post their pets online at this website, and its a great way to find out right away if what you're looking for is nearby without going to every shelter first.

Answer 10

I know its realllllllllly hard to leave them there, but you have to, trust me, its the best choice. If you take them they will just need more to fill in there spot and so on and so forth, although if you took them you would love them, you would feel bad for the other pups. Ok so heres the deal, go to your animal shelter and walk some dogs and brush some dogs, you will feel the same way for them and it is a good choice. Get them they will cost LESS and give you MORE!! They are the ones who really need you and need a loving hand. I mean they went through abuse, abandomness, lonelyness, torture, everything you could think of and more. So pour your heart out to them and give them everything, and next time you see and can that says, SPCA or Humane Society one it, give generously cause there the ones that really need it.