Is it okay to buy a dog from a pet shop? If you live near here, is it okay to buy it at California pets? my friend got her beagle there, and she says she loves him. well, plz help and tell. if u know breeders selling malteses AROUND SD,CA, then plz tell me a website. TY so much
2007-02-20 13:33:03 · 13 answers · asked by youran_lee 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Some pet stores (especially national, chain petstores) sell puppy mill puppies. This means that the puppies are unhealthy (physically and genetically) and have not been screened for any abnormalities or diseases. You pay a lot for these unhealthy puppies, as much or more so than you would pay from a breeder (who would give you a healthy puppy with healthy parents). You also spend much more on vet bills correcting a lot of physical problems. This is NOT true for all pet stores. Some pet stores are locally (or family) chains and they DO purchase puppies from local breeders and sell them for comission.
If you were considering buying a puppy from the pet store, you want to make sure their dogs are healthy, up to date on shots, and that they are *AKC* registered (since you are looking at a maltese). There are other registries out there, but the AKC is thought to be the most selective (and therefore reliable). When you ask these questions, employees should be happy to provide you with paper work for these things without seeming like they are pressuring you into buying the dog first. They should also NOT pressure you to buy a dog if you take one out to look at one. You should also be provided information from WHO the breeder was (and be able to contact them with information). This is ensuring, to SOME degree that the dog you are getting is at least, partially, from a somewhat respected breeder.
When you look at the puppy, there should be no discharge from their nose or eyes. They should be lively and playful. They should be curious. Take your keys out and shake them; they should be interested in the sound. They should let you pick them up without completely freaking out.
If you have the money to spend on a dog from a breeder, go for it. However, there are many puppies out there in shelters and rescue groups that need homes too. These puppies are just as loveable and they won't have crate training problems like pet store puppies will.
This site will show you maltese (or maltese hybrids) in rescue groups and shelters near you, all you need to do is enter your zip code. You will spend less, and save a life! Good Luck!! http://search.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?action=1&pet.Breed=Maltese&pet.Animal=Dog&exact=1&preview=1
2007-02-20 14:01:00 · answer #1 · answered by voodoo-dolly 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is. Sometimes it is best to buy directly from the breeders because pet stores tend to up the price to make a profit off the dogs and they will also charge you sales taxes. If you buy a puppy from a pet store, by sure that you ask about a money back guarantee in case their are health risks with the puppy you are buying. Usually most pet stores will give you 24 hours to take the puppy to the vet and have it examined to make sure it is healthy, since they get the puppies from local breaders and don't know of the health of the puppy.
2007-02-20 22:02:22 · answer #2 · answered by Çåŗőľîņẫ§ħŷġĭ®ł 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you can find out where they got the puppies from and go and see the pup's parents and the breeder and her facility..paperwork on the parents, health records on the pup they are selling, guarantee, guarantee honored even if you use a vet of YOUR choice
If they say the only way they will honor the guarantee is if you use THEIR vet.....READ the fine print for this...don't do it.
They will probably tell you the pup is ACA registered or registerable. ACA is a registry that Back Yard Breeders and Puppymills use to register their dogs and pups. They don't need any background on the dogs to be registered and the only requirement to register a dog is 2 clear photos. There is no guarantee it's even a purebred dog.
2007-02-20 22:00:44 · answer #3 · answered by Pam 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Almost 100% of pet shop puppies come from puppy millls where the breeding dogs are almost always kept in inhumane conditions and lack good medical care. They are not always healthy dogs either so problems like hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems and other congenital conditions like mange will be passed to the puppies.
If you want a purebred puppy find a reputable breeder. Good ones do not advertise online. Contact the AKC and local breed clubs for a list of local breeders. The best breeders often have a waiting list. I would be suspicious of any breeder who advertises they have pups "ready to go."
Personally I would go the shelter/rescue route but I know not everyone feels that way.
2007-02-20 22:05:08 · answer #4 · answered by Scruffy Dog 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
it is okay to buy from pet stores, but if why not adopt one from the humane society and save a life. You might not get a purebred, but you will get a dog that loves you just the same and you don't spend hundreds of dollars for a purebred that will have problems. (most purebreds have genetic problems that are handed down through breeding)
I have never bought a dog or cat from a store. I always go to the humane society.
If you are interested in adopting, go to
www.petfinder.com
it's a list of humane societies across the US and you just enter in your zip code and what you are looking for and it will show you ones closest to you. Sometimes there are purebreds on there that people surrender b/c they can't take care of them.
2007-02-20 21:51:48 · answer #5 · answered by tigerfire2002 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Be sure to screen the pet store very closely, i.e. where their pets come from, medical testing, immunizations, etc...
Some pet stores are fine, but I'll never understand why people don't adopt an already homeless pet instead of paying a breeder or a pet store to make another one.
2007-02-20 21:41:41 · answer #6 · answered by Kelly R 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
i wouldnt recomend it, you cant be sure if they are healthy or not. i just got a maltese myself and i had a hard time finding one. there seems to be a lot of breeders in Cali i would do a google search. try typing in dog searches into google and it brings up pages to help find dog breeds in your area. hope i helped!!
2007-02-20 22:57:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
NO most of those dogs and cats come from puppy mills.. do not support those places. Look in your humane shelter first.
2007-02-20 21:51:59 · answer #8 · answered by pelikan46516 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
you can rescue a dog or cat from the humane society.
2007-02-20 21:37:32 · answer #9 · answered by Ron J 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i live in cal, and have a beagle. they are wonderful, and that pet store just seems fine!!!! have some fun picking out your dog!!!
2007-02-20 21:39:12 · answer #10 · answered by Marty 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋