Is there really a problem with getting a dog from a pet store?

Question

I am looking to get a Maltese dog.

Answer 1

Yes. The vast majority of petstores get their dogs from puppy mills. Puppy mills have horrid conditions for their dogs, and breed low-quality animals (many times with sicknesses or genetic disorders).

Although you may think buying a petstore puppy is "rescuing" it, it is actually only giving the puppymills more opportunity to sell another dog, thus supporting and continuing the sad cycle.

Please watch the following news stories to see the tip of the iceberg on how puppymills operate:
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/7191936.html
http://www.todaystmj4.com/features/iteam/7225396.html

Answer 2

Well if you don't mind supporting puppy mills then there isn't a problem. If you don't mind possibly getting a puppy that can have major behavioral and genetic problems that may cost you thousands to fix, then it's not a problem.

NO good breeder would EVER sell their dogs to a petstore, the good breeders want to know who is buying their dogs and they are picky about who they sell to. If a breeder sells you a dog with no questions asked, then they aren't an ethical breeder and you should run away. So even if they tell you the dog is from a local breeder, that equals a Back Yard Breeder which still means usually no major tests or certification is done.

Plus puppies at a pet store are kept in crates and can develop bizarre behavior..many were taken way too young from their litter....many are difficult to train not to bite...their mom usually teaches this.

If you want a purebred dog, go to a local dog show and meet some breeders and see their dogs. Or find the local club for that breed and contact them. Or check Petfinder or a breed rescue or your local pound...purebreds get dumped just like mixes.

http://akc.org if you explore this site, they have links to rescues and clubs all over the country.

Trying to buy a bargain dog, is costly in the long run.

Plus sometimes the good dogs are actually cheaper than the petshop dogs.

Answer 3

Yes.

All of the dogs are "puppy mill" dogs. If you don't know what a puppy mill is like, do a google search. The pictures should turn your stomach. When you pay for a pet store puppy, even if you THINK you are doing a good thing by "rescuing" the dog, what you are REALLY doing is paying these monsters to keep being cruel to dogs. Think about the dog's mother, the dog's father, and very probably a few of the dog's sisters, sitting in their own feces, being starved, in a cage too small for them to turn around in, with matted hair and never any veterinary attention, slowly dying from neglect and being forced to have litter after litter.. and then think of paying someone.. A LOT OF MONEY.. to do that to a dog. Because essentially, by buying a pet store puppy, that's what you're doing. Paying someone to be cruel to dogs.

If everyone stopped buying pet store puppies tomorrow, they'd go out of business, and they'd stop doing it, and that would end the problem.

Of course that's not going to happen - but you can be part of the solution by purchasing your dog from a reputable breeder instead of a pet store. One less person is still less money than they made last year.

Better yet, avoid pet stores that sell dogs entirely, even to buy pet supplies from. Becuase honestly, they aren't making money on the dogs (the puppy mills are, the pet stores don't). They use the dogs as a draw, a lure, to get you in and make you drop a lot of money on the necessary items like a crate, food, collars and leashes, toys, etc. That's where their markups are. That's where they make their money. So buy your stuff from a store that DOESN'T sell animals.

Be part of the solution, not the problem.

Answer 4

I agree with ALL those that said no , for the reasons that you will be contributing to a money-grubbing puppy mill scheme.

I disagree with ALL those that said that yes because you will be buying healthy puppies .. NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.. take a close look yourself at the conditions and the state of many of the pups are in , when in a pet store ..

TRY going direct to a reputable breeder or BETTER yet .. go to a lost dogs home and give a dog a home it so badly needs.

Answer 5

Yes.. Please avoid it.. and not JUST because of the idea of supporting a puppy mill.. (although that is bad enough)..

My first dog.. (well, first one I remember) was one my mother bought at a pet store.. and while I won't say it was the biggest mistake of my mothers life. it was bad.. He was a beautiful Miniature Schnauzer puppy.. we did not see a problem for about a week.. then he started going nuts.. He was claustraphopbic, scared of loud noises, scared of people, scared of other dogs, he was so nervous he made himself sick constantly.. (Note: my mother had 8 dogs when I was born, including a few Schnauzers.. she knows dogs, this wasn't just lack of training or bad care).. He had a REALLY hard time .. and it hurt to see him like that.. After a few years of work, he mostly got over it.. but that was a very hard few years, and a very expensive few years.. so even if you aren't that worried about supporting puppy mills.. remember they aren't the ones that are going to be paying the vet bill when you try to "fix" the problems the puppy mill caused..

Humane societies, rescues, and good breeders are more likely to help you find a good dog who isn't starting out with problems..(some shelter dogs have issues, but the shelter helps you with them, or has them worked with before they are adopted)

Since the dog mentioned I have had a breeder bought Schnauzer who is tempermentally perfect.. (well, was.. now that he's about to hit 11 he's getting the old schnauzer routine), a Wolf/collie mix from a shelter (they officially called her a huskey mix, but even the vet said it was wolf), a Black Lab/Bassett Hound mix from a home (they had an unexpected litter).. he was kept in the house with the family so.. very good experience.. A "last chance" schnauzer from the Humane Society.. (if we didn't take him they were putting him down: history of biting, would not accept training, would not allow anyone to get close to him) We've had him for 10 years now, and not a bite, a few growls, but even those went away after a few months... and most recently a Beagle/Bassett Hound mix who was found as a stray.. a women worked with him, got him fixed, treated for heartworm and was trying to find a home for him.. (he was scheduled to be brought to a hound rescue the week I met him).. and the only issue I have with him is the beagle attraction to climbing fences.. (and the bassett destraction.. causing him to follow his nose until he gets lost)

I mention these to give you an idea of the VAST number of ways you can find a dog.. (or better yet, have a dog find you).. and every story is going to be different.. I have loved ALL of my dogs.. (all but the three I have now have died)..

So, my answer.. When Pet Stores are put under STRICT rules regulating not only the condition of their animals, but where they are allowed to get the animals.. (what conditions the breeders are allowed ), and the dogs interest comes FIRST.. go to a pet store, but for now.. there are PLENTY of other options.

Answer 6

Really... this is a real big yes and no answer. Many of the puppies from the pet store come from puppy mills. If you want to know what that is, watch Animal police on the Animal Planet. You are basically giving people permission ,( by supplying their cash) to mistreat and keep animals in abusive and neglectful conditions. Many of the dogs are sick, and their only purpose is to make more dogs. All animals deserve a loving home. Generally by paying for a dog, people tend to take better care of them sooooo.....................
The best choice is to go to the pound or the humane society. They always have dogs and a lot of pure breeds, so it is actually the best way to go. Not to mention, they always fix them so you don't have to worry about puppies. Just make informed choices when buying a dog, and make sure you know exactly where that dog came from.

Answer 7

Very definitely there is a problem with getting a pet from the petstore.. They are ALL from Puppymills.. People who breed dogs without regard to health, temperament, quality or anything else except money...
They are born and raised in cages where they are kept to breed and breed til they can breed no more.. Raised covered in their own feces, dogs that die are throw in the trash... Puppies show up from these places to the petstore on huge trucks.. Some arrive dead, some die at the store, some wait just long enough for you to get it home.

Puppymills need to be stopped.. The only way to do it, is to stop buying their dogs.. Both directly from puppymills and thru petstores. Don't feel like you are saving a poor little dog from the petstore.. Cause you are only supporting the puppymills and opening up a new spot for a new puppy to move in.

Stop puppymills by refusing to buy their dogs! Rescue a dog from the shelter, or breed rescue.. buy from a reputible breeder.. But do not help out the puppymills!

YES puppies from local petstores.. these so called mom and pop petstores are selling puppies from puppymills and backyard breeders. How do I know this?? Cause no self respecting breeder with quality dogs would ever allow their puppies or dogs to be sold in any petstore of any kind. A reputible breeder wants to know exactly where their dogs are, how they are treated, that they are being raised properly fed properly, aren't left in the back yard to rot, etc.. A good breeder would not let some petstore guy find homes for their quality puppies.. It just isn't going to happen.. Yes little petstores too sell puppymill and backyard bred puppies.. They have no choice, no one with good dogs would supply a petstore.

Answer 8

I'm guilty of having bought my first puppy from a pet store, and I was very lucky that she was healthy. Granted I was not a smart buyer and I didn't do any research until after having bought my baby. Most pet shops get their puppies from what is called a Puppy Mill. Basically "breeders" have a bunch of different breed dogs popping out puppies. The living conditions are horrible and unhealthy and the puppies don't get the kind of attention and love that they would normally receive from a reputable breeder. Not to mention you'll get over charged for a puppy that won't be AKC registered. Your best bet is to find a breeder in your area so that you can check out how the puppy has been raised and know that the puppy is the main focus, not the money.

Answer 9

YES! i don't know what to say as everyone has pretty well covered everything. No good breeder will dump thier pups on a pet store to sale...because well they care where their dogs end up. a breeder with a good rep will take back dogs for most any reason, if they can't take it back at very least they help in finding the dog a proper home.

puppy mills are horrid horrid places. the best way to get a dog is the animal shelter. or by doing tons of research on the breeder not only should they ask u lots of questions u should ash them just as many.....
karma man karma..

Answer 10

YES! These dogs usually come from breeding warehouses...where the dogs have as many litters as they can and then are put to sleep. Even if it is clean etc it's still not a good situation for the dogs. That's unlikely though. Often times they come from small cramped cages and the mothers never see the light of day. Many medical problems are likely. You never get to see where they were born and raised and they won't tell you the truth. They will have a canned story to tell you though. Save a life and adopt someone who needs a home. Petfinder.com is a great place to start your search.