Pet Store Puppies

Barb, you hit the nail on the head!!

Supply, demand, and education! Lets face it there are not enough reputable breeders to supply the demand of puppies to the public, so the uneducated and impatient go to bad breeders and pet stores.

The biggest problem is now a days the ARA have breeders so scared of breeding that they now boast, and brag on how few litters they have.

Back in the day breeding was done on a much larger scale, they had kennels of dogs not just a couple of bitches that they breed a couple of times before retiring. I have been told by an older breeder " how do you know what your lines are going to produce if you are too afraid to experiment with different lines and out crosses, yes you may end up petting a lot of them out, but you may also find your next special." Of course she also says the only thing 2 breeders can agree on is that the 3rd breeder is doing wrong :lol:
 
To answer you, Dr. Mac, I believe Los Angeles also has passed such an ordinance. In my humble opinion, I believe that outlawing puppy sales at a pet store will put a dent in the puppy mills, and perhaps also in the spontaneous acquisition of a puppy by folks not really prepared for or informed about the responsibility pet ownership is.

After all, our wonderful responsible breeders don't sell their pups this way. Our Petco here features dogs, cats and bunnies from our shelters. The shelter I volunteer for has monthly dates there for adoptions.
 
Working in rescue, we see so many little dogs come in that were initially pet store purchases. Owning a dog is not a "right" and it is not something to decide to do on a whim. Having to wait for a pup from a reputable breeder gives a person/family time to decide if they really want a pup and all the work, cost and responsibility that comes with owning one.

Although pups from mills can be wonderful little souls...and it is obviously not their fault they were born a mill pup...they also can have some very hard issues to deal with both emotionally and physically.

Typically they are taken from their Mom and litter mates at 4-5 weeks old because the pet stores want them on display by the time they are at most 6 weeks old so that they have several weeks of "ultra cute" for good selling.

These tiny pups are loaded into trucks and driven cross country being dropped off at stores along the way. Many die en route and every day the dead ones are taken out and thrown away. By the time the remaining pups reach the stores they have been through "hell". Not remotely a good start on socialization or on physical health. Small wonder so many end up getting dumped by people who impulse bought that "cute puppy in the window", people who don't have either the will or the knowledge to deal with the issues.

I, for one, wish the breeding and sale of any living creature was more carefully regulated than it currently is in most areas...with the number one priority being the safety and well being of the animals being bred.

Trini
 
Ohh and Dr Mac, lets not forget the never ending supply of parvo they bring in as well!!!!!! We thankfully in RI have got our kennel clubs motivated after they wanted a spay and neuter on every animal in the state and are working with the reps...its not a perfect situation but its as step in the right direction.

Funny thing too about them not allowing dogs sold in pet stores (where there are regs on the books about selling sick dogs, etc to protect the consumer) but rescues are allowed to operate without any regulations and the customers..err I mean adopters are allowed no recourse for that sick, compromised dog.
 
Lightplum; said:
<<<<Funny thing too about them not allowing dogs sold in pet stores (where there are regs on the books about selling sick dogs, etc to protect the consumer) but rescues are allowed to operate without any regulations and the customers..err I mean adopters are allowed no recourse for that sick, compromised dog.
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Actually, if your are dealing with a reputable rescue group, the same as if you are dealing with a reputable breeder, the rescue will take back any dog they have adopted out...in fact the contract signed by the adoptee will state that if for any reason they can no longer care for the adopted dog it must be returned to that rescue. Also older dogs with multiple medical issues are often "adopted" as long term fosters where the rescue group pays ALL expenses for the dog for the remainder of it's life...medical, food, toys, crate, bedding, etc. This allows good loving homes to be found for a little dog that otherwise might not be adopted due to their medical issues.

Obviously not all rescue groups live up to that standard. In looking for a rescue group to adopt from the search is no different than looking for a good breeder...it is up to the person looking to buy a pup or adopt a rescue to do their homework.

Trini
 
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Right in theory, however 90% of the "rescue" dogs that are being brought up here are done on a truck, and adopted out at mass adoptions...The states really need to crack down on this practice...It is actually worse then dealing with pet store puppies as to what they are bringing up here..
 
Lightplum said:
Right in theory, however 90% of the "rescue" dogs that are being brought up here are done on a truck, and adopted out at mass adoptions...The states really need to crack down on this practice...It is actually worse then dealing with pet store puppies as to what they are bringing up here..
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I totally agree with you on this and I think some states are finally cracking down on these truck loads of dogs coming in from other states and being adopted out from parking lots. I may be mistaken, but doesn't MA now have a law that has put a stop to the inflow of dogs mostly from the south?

Trini
 
This is a forum about Shetland Sheepdogs, and not about politics. But since politics are being broached here, my opinion is this: there are laws proscribing cruelty to animals on the books in every state, and so long as those laws are followed, I've no problem with people breeding and selling dogs in any way they see fit. I say this as a citizen of a free republic, not as a dog owner.
 
As long as we stand back and finger point to law enforcement there will be stories such as Tinsel's, many without a happy resolution. We need to do everything we can to make it difficult for those whom would show little to no respect for the life of an animal. We need to make buying from pet stores and online as socially unacceptable as smoking or drinking and driving. We cannot afford to exhibit willful blindness. Working together to provide a better life....and death for animals can bring about change. Here in Ontario, shipping a"downer" animal, meaning an animal that cannot walk off a transport trailer, is no longer allowed. This stopped the practice of throwing them off the back of said truck when they reached the slaughter house. There is still a long way to go but I am seeing more and more inhumane practices stopped.
As for waiting for a pup from a good breeder, WAIT. I am very happy to see very few of the old style of breeder, many bitches and a nearly continuous parade of pups. For anyone that has never bred a litter before, to do it right takes a lot of effort and giving up of personal time. Just ask my children!!! Don't forget, a good breeder will take really good care of the adult dogs which is not what was the norm in the past. I can tell you that many of these old time breeders had kennels full of adults that might have been fed well, had a clean place to sleep and access to fresh air but did not get a lot of human interaction and were often shaved down as there was no time for things like grooming.
 
Mignarda said:
This is a forum about Shetland Sheepdogs, and not about politics. But since politics are being broached here, my opinion is this: there are laws proscribing cruelty to animals on the books in every state, and so long as those laws are followed, I've no problem with people breeding and selling dogs in any way they see fit. I say this as a citizen of a free republic, not as a dog owner.
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Perhaps you are right, the mods can certainly step in if inappropriate.
But I don't think so - this is the general dog folder and I raised the question about whether it is a good idea to ban pet stores from selling puppies. It is not an easy question. I just had a rescue yesterday from the South - Demodex, Sarcops (which the owner presumably has) and a note on the history that they mistakenly took out a lymph node thinking it was a retained testicle.
There hasn't been a lot of politics discussed but my oblique reference to that was that this specific legislation was raised by humane groups but pressed because the city in question is feuding with a particular pet store. Very little legislation seems to be passed because 'it was the right thing to do.'

Of course we all agree that inhumane puppies form large factory farms is awful, but I think the problem should be addressed at that end, and politically that would be difficult. While I would love to see them shut down, frankly the great majority of the pet store puppies seem happy and not much the worse for wear. I wish I could say that about the 'rescues'.
Just as you look for a 'good' rescue, there are 'good' pet stores.
This is why I posed the question without expressing my personal view, to hear from others. I don't know what the right answer is.
 
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