Anyone out there feel guilty for owning a pet store puppy?

Question

I feel so guilty that I purchased my Pekingese from a petstore. I can't stop thinking about it. My mom is a show breeder of boxers so she always raised me to NOT get a puppy from a petstore. I just thought by chance my puppy didn't come from a puppy mill, even though I really didn't believe that. After getting his AKC papers I quickly realized that he is for sure from a puppy mill. He was sold to the petstore by the Hunte Corporaton which is a broker for puppy mill puppies. They buy them from the puppy mills and then clean them up and give them vaccinations, then they are sold to petstores. Also, my dog's mother was only 9 months old at the time of his birth!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just can't believe I was so ignorant and stupid, to ever buy from a pet store. I love my new dog more than anything. I just keep thinking how my money helped support this horrible industry. I just want to make other people aware of this and please don't buy from a pe tstore. I knew better, and did it anyway.

Thanks for the words of encouragment. My whole point in stating my question and posting my story was to educate others, so they won't make the same mistake I did. I hope a lot more people look at this, so they too realize that all pet stores sell puppy mill's dog. I went to a different mall today and saw their puppies. They have a big sign stating their puppies come from USDA breeders.But guess what? All commerical dog breeders, PUPPY MILLS, have to register with the USDA .What a joke! I'm just spreading the word and my story so nobody else buys from petstores. Thanks for reading.

Answer 1

People make mistakes, so don't beat yourself up over it forever. The important thing is that you admit you goofed,and have learned from it. And now, to atone for giving the puppymiller she came from more incentive to keep puppymilling, you must continue to share your story with anyone who will listen. Educate as many people as you can, so they don't fall into the trap you did. And do your best to give him the good life the puppymiller denys the pup's parents.

Answer 2

The first dog I purchased was from a pet store. I didn't know better at the time. The poor little thing was a mass of health problems. She lived 19 years, but cost me a fortune in vet bills for the entire 19 years. However, she was one of the best natured dogs I've ever had. My next dog was a chihuahua who was rescued when they shut a puppy mill down. She was 4 and had been bred every time she came in heat. She's still alive, but totally blind and still pretty feral with people she doesn't know.
Don't beat yourself up sweetie. These places exist because thousands of people buy from them. The money you contributed was just a drop in the bucket. Never feel guilty for giving a dog a good home!
See if you can't get your new little guy a friend from a shelter, or better yet, one rescued from a puppy mill when their usefulness ran out.

Answer 3

I had a similar experience. We have owned a Siberian husky for a while and had been wanting to get him a buddy for the longest time. We got another husky puppy about 3 weeks ago and like you said it was a spur of the moment. I didn't give enough time to think about the sleepless nights and the peeing everywhere. I felt like returning her too BUT I decided to give it more time and now I have a strong connection with her. She is potty trained and the two dogs couldn't get along any better. My advice to you is give it some time. BUT not everyone's experience is the same. Don't let anyone guilt trip you. If you feel like the puppy is not going to receive the same "bonding" or whatever it is from you then it is better to give it back and have someone else give it the home they deserve. Some things just don't work out. I'm sure whatever your family chooses to do will be for the best.

Answer 4

Wow. I'd beat you up but you did a pretty good job. I got a pup from a back yard breeder even tho everything in my mind was telling me not to. That puppy died two weeks later at the cost of over $2000. I got a dog at a petstore and so far so good, altho she has a lazy eye and is a submissive pee-er. I now give $20 a month to the ASPCA and volunteer at a rescue. It's like penance for me.

Answer 5

Now that you know, maybe you can do a little more to try to put a stop to puppy mills. It's hard when you fall in love with a dog to just walk away from it. You made a mistake, learn from it and be proactive! You can't take it back, all you can do it make the most out of your choice.

Answer 6

I own a four year old Brittany Spaniel who I purchased from our local pet store . I now feel guilty too because of where he came from , buying him was a spur of a moment and if I would have researched I probably would've got my puppy from a pound or rescue. But that being said keep in mind that you did save your puppy from the horrible conditions of puppy mills. The only way to stop puppy mills is not to buy from pet stores but to rescue them from pounds instead.

Answer 7

Ugh...Hunte are the WORST commercial breeders in the U.S.
LIVE AND LEARN. The best way you can make up for your mistake is to help EDUCATE people about puppymills, petstores and the benefits of supporting rescues and RESPONSIBLE breeders!
Go forth and spread the word! You are the voice of experience!

Answer 8

You should feel guilty. Since you already know about pet stores and puppy mills, what were you even doing in a pet store that sells puppies? You should not even support such a pet store even if it is to just by goldfish flakes. My last three dogs are rescues and guess where the original owners bought them? Yep, pet stores.

Answer 9

ive never gotten a pet from a store; weve always rescued ours from shelters. (mainly price is cheaper, they are fixed already and UTD on shots, plus saving a life) the least, you can consider though, at least you rescued your puppy. yes im sure there were better ways you could have gone through to get a new puppy, but im sure youre giving it a wonderful home, and im positive its treated much better than it would have had it not made it to he pet store. i know its probably hard to forget the guilt, but try to let it go, and just know youre giving her a great home, and love her to no end.

Answer 10

I bought a pet store puppy years ago. I never felt guilty (and still don't). I feel bad for the puppy (and still do for the pet store puppies) because usually those are the ones that came from puppymills or the BYB couldn't sell, but not guilty.