Ackkk! A New Puppy store!
Has anyone ever heard of them? My heart broke  as I saw all the newly built-in crates lining the walls. Another potential puppy-mill outlet!
Thanks for letting me rant. |
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| I can completely relate! There's not one, but two pet stores that have opened up in Buffalo Grove (1 blk apart) within the last couple years. It breaks my heart so much that there's still a market for these places that feed the puppy mills. How can we get the word out any more than we already do? Can we all write letter to the Oprah show??? People seem to listen to her. With all the information that is out there, I can't believe people actually buy puppies from these places. There are so many reputable breeders and shelter pups out there. And the pet stores charge the same prices as a reputable breeder. I can't believe it!!! So sad. |
| They still do it because we are a society built around instant gratification. Pet stores are convenient, quick, and available when people make those spur of the moment decisions. As long as people continue to look at pets the same way they do televisions, microwaves, pda's, and sofas--it won't change--no matter who is delivering the message. |
How do we get people to change? I personally can't understand the instant gratification part of getting a puppy. It's a living being that you are taking responsibility for. You need to feed it, love it, take care of it, etc... for many years to come. I just don't get it!   |
Just my opinion but I think it stems from the fact that children our being taught to look externally to find happiness. Take Christmas, for example, when I was I kid I can remember each Christmas for one major big special present. There were a few other "little" gifts but that "one" special thing I was hoping for and recieved stood out. Kids get so many things at once now they are literally being drowned with gifts. If they can't control their behavior we put them on medication. If Mom is depressed she goes shopping. If Dad had a bad day at work, he goes a buys a new electornic gizmo. Lonely, bored, go get a puppy. An instant friend and if it turns out to be too much work, or worse yet doesn't meet expectations--no worries--its disposable--you can always dump it and go get another one with better or different features--after all if it doesn't work out, its not your fault--its the dogs fault. 
I personally I think the answer is people learning that happiness isn't external. You can purchase it, find it in someone else, or fill up the holes in your soul with animal companions. |
| JMO-
I remember being a kid and being absolutely barraged by gifts. But, when you are a little kid, the presents you want don't tend to cost a million dollars each, and of course there were the toys that were played with more often than others...and by the time I was a teenager, depending on what we wanted, it was usually pared down to fewer but more costly gifts. Just because I received many presents doesn't mean that I only look externally for happiness. I think some do, but that can stem from a lot of things. Also, shopping makes me happy. I don't overspend, but it does cheer me up and I don't think that makes one a bad person. Yes, we live in an overly-stimulated, live-in-the-moment society right now, but I think with regards to the puppies in puppy stores, I think MANY people honestly don't know where the puppies come from. I know when I was a kid I didn't, and I didn't know until fairly recently about all the troubles and horrors of puppy mills. So just because WE know all about pet store puppies and puppy mills and how bad they are and it seems obvious, it doesn't mean that everyone knows about it. Not that it makes it right for them to go to these stores and buy their puppies that way, but they might not know any different. Some people want to start off with a fresh puppy and don't want to have to deal with a dog from the humane society. I know when I was younger I loved going to the humane society to look at the animals, but so many of the dogs were so loud and bark-y that I would never have considered bringing one home, and felt that maybe they had been turned in for specific reasons (too dangerous, disruptive, etc). A puppy from a pet store may seem safer to many parents. |
| Educating the public about reasons to buy a pup from a reputable breeder instead of a pet store or mill etc... is up to all of us who love dogs and want what is best for them and their owners.
I wish that the registration clubs took a bigger role in this, I think CKC tries to do a good job of it, through their magazines etc, but it's only people who are dog lovers already who usually buy those magazines. If no one says or does anything to stand up for their cause, how is anything to be done about it? You can't stop that pet store from opening, but you can do a few things to help. You can educate the pet store owners, it may or may not make a difference depending on who you're talking to. It may make them more careful about where they get pups from. You can also make sure animal care laws are abided by whenever you see a situation where you think they may not be. |
barney1 wrote: JMO-
but I think with regards to the puppies in puppy stores, I think MANY people honestly don't know where the puppies come from. I know when I was a kid I didn't, and I didn't know until fairly recently about all the troubles and horrors of puppy mills. store may seem safer to many parents. I think some people may not know, but I think a lot of people who do know, honestly don't care. These are probably the same people who have surgical procedures done to "debark" their dogs. |
| I think most people don't know the difference between a pet store dog, a puppy mill dog and a dog bought from some backyard breeder out of the newspaper. All most people know is that they don't need to buy from a breeder because they don't require a show dog, they just want a pet. They don't understande what goes into breeding healthy dogs. I didn't really "get it" until we actually went to a puppy mill. (And I grew up with a champion dog!)
The really scary part about this whole scenario is that there were some people in New Jersey who were setting up pet stores and selling very sick puppies. They would sell until legal action was taken against them and then they'd run away and start another store. All of the stores that they were operating had "puppy" somewhere in the title. Here's an excerpt from the article: The names of the pet shops that were owned or managed by this group also held striking similarities. For example, all the pet shops in question had the words “puppies” or “pups” in their names and their storefront signs had the same “look” – fat, puffy-shaped P’s. We had Adorable Pups; Puppies; Puppies Just-4-U; Puppies Inc.; Flemington Puppies; Just Pups; Choice Puppies; Puppy Palace; Puppyland and Pups Plus. Each one opened and closed in surrounding towns and counties within a year’s time. The complete article can be found at: http://www.njcapsa.org/ in the news room section at the bottom of the page. It's title is: Pet's, Lies and Videotape. That whole website has excellent info about what this group is doing to help educate the public about puppy mills and what they are doing to help shut them down. They are a very active group with some very resourceful members. Be careful of some of the pics, they can be harsh. Rufie, could you drop the people at the above website a line and let them know what's going on? They would probably be able to do some digging and find out who owns the business, what business practices they use and where their dogs are coming from. |
Maxmm wrote: I think most people don't know the difference between a pet store dog, a puppy mill dog and a dog bought from some backyard breeder out of the newspaper. All most people know is that they don't need to buy from a breeder because they don't require a show dog, they just want a pet. They don't understande what goes into breeding healthy dogs. I didn't really "get it" until we actually went to a puppy mill. (And I grew up with a champion dog!)
On that note, my brother and his wife (coincidentally they live in NJ) are contemplating getting a puppy for their son but they are afraid of behavioral issues associated with rescue doggies and while they are taking the time to read up on the various breeds, they don't want to put the time in to research and find reputable breeders. They are smart, nice people but just want to make a decision and go choose a dog. I am concerned that they will end up going the petstore route. I keep sending them links to sweet looking dogs on petfinder.com. |
| Hey Val, you could always do the leg work for them. Just present them with the contact info for a good breeder. If you talk to the breeder first you could give them that info too.
Because you know you just don't have enough to do with your day! (Then again, it would probably help a puppy out!  ) |
Maxmm wrote: Hey Val, you could always do the leg work for them. Just present them with the contact info for a good breeder. If you talk to the breeder first you could give them that info too.
Because you know you just don't have enough to do with your day! (Then again, it would probably help a puppy out! )I agree that's a good idea. They have only narrowed it down to 4-5 breeds. Once they get more specific, I would do that. . . |
rufie wrote: Sorry to post this in the happy puppy section... but I was driving home last night and saw a new store being worked on with a BLAZING new red sign declaring "Happiness is Puppies."
Has anyone ever heard of them? My heart broke as I saw all the newly built-in crates lining the walls. Another potential puppy-mill outlet!Thanks for letting me rant. don't worry, only the major chains can survive because they already have the contracts for cheap stuff. new stores die in a few weeks.....i'll cross my fingers for ya. |
| Don't forget to boycott it. And ask everyone you know NOT to support it buy purchaisng anything in it. Best to support the Pet Supply stores that don't sell puppies and kittens, so they can continue to exist without that extra income.
Communication and Education is key.... |
| I wish I were as optimistic as the rest of you were. I wish I believed that if people knew that it would act as some kind of deterrent. I remember when Devon was in her 2nd year of college and she came home with a list of products and manufacturers that performed animal testing. I was shocked. Unfortunately almost everything I used, shampoo, conditioner, deoderant, fabric softener, laundry detergent, just about everything I used for personal and household care was on that list. And I made a conscious effort for a couple months to boycott everything on that list. But I eventually sucumbed because it was just too much trouble. People know how badly fossil fuel pollutes the air. And yet there wasn't a high demand for hybrid cars, until fuel prices went through the roof and started hurting people's pocket books. If more people were aware would it make some difference--possibly. Would it stop it completely? I don't think so. I don't think the guy who owns the rottweiler that lives behind me and keeps pinned up--day and night--would care. |
First, let me say, that my one dog is a rescue from a reputable breeder (return to breeder due to some severe behavioral issues). I love her to pieces and have had her now for 5 years. She's wonderful (took some work) and I have as good of an assurance as you can get that she'll be healthy for a long time yet. 
I consider myself to be an educated dog lover. Not that I think or pretend to know everything there is to know, but I know more than just about all of my friends and acquaintenances (including dog owners) and am often used as a source of information (scary... you just need to know a smidgin more than someone else and presto - you're an expert). Anyway, that said, I would like to say that I know a couple of people who have bought their dogs from a puppy store and while they've been pretty ignorant about dog issues, they are very caring folks and have tried their best to do right by their dog. They've had their dogs for years, have worked with them, some have taken them to obedience classes, they get their regular vet checks, some even brush their doggies teeth. One takes his to dog daycare, all of them have made their dog part of the family and take care to leave them in good hands when they can't travel with them, etc... And similar to the fact that there are good parents with wildly different styles of raising their human children, I have to say that these puppy store customers are good dog owners, even if I wouldn't do everything the way they are. So, in defense of these friends and acquaintances, I would like to voice my objections over condemming all puppy store customers as callous, non-caring, and regarding their dogs as disposable items. I would like to add that yes, one of my acquaintenances bought the puppy on an impulse. But even she turned out to be a great dog owner. (I do think the wish for a puppy had been festering in her for a long time...
I am considering getting an OES puppy as a second dog (I would consider rescue, but I tried that and my doggie did not take well to the invasion) and I have to say that the puppy store holds a certain attraction for me. If I didn't know about puppy mills and the associated social and health problems (something that I feel the general public should be educated about. Too much suffering there. Remember Gandhi's words?) I would seriously consider purchasing from a puppy store. Allow me to tell you why. I have a (unfortunately?) strong desire for privacy. I therefore object strongly to the home inspections and questionnaires reputable breeders and rescue organization subject me to. I see the value in these inspections and questionnaires and I put up with them. But if there was a viable alternative to getting a reasonably guaranteed healthy puppy more anonymously, I would jump at the chance. I could draw the parallel to adding a child to a family. Nobody's business but the parents. Imagine the outcry, if someone was to suggest that potential parents would have to have a home inspection and answer a questionnaire before becoming pregnant! [of course to muddy the waters, we do have home inspection for adopting children and I do have some sympathies for the radical idea of making having children a privilege to be earned and not a right] |
Anonymous wrote: So, in defense of these friends and acquaintances, I would like to voice my objections over condemming all puppy store customers as callous, non-caring, and regarding their dogs as disposable items. I don't believe this is how members of this Forum view these people. I DO think most of us feel they are uneducated in what goes on behind the scenes. How puppy mills and backyard breeders make money at the expense of living creatures. How bloodlines become tainted and health problems become magnified by greedy and/or inexperienced breeders. Many members here have seen first-hand the horrors of puppy mills and the results of bad breeding. It is difficult to resist the "instant gratification" of buying what appears to be a beautiful healthy puppy "cash & carry", no questions asked. We're only human with strong emotions, to not fall in love with a puppy would not be natural. Years ago my sister saw a Sheltie puppy in a mall pet shop. Impulsively, her fiancee bought the puppy for her. When Lady was about four years old she went into renal failure requiring regular dialysis. She chose to let her go peacefully and had her put down. Ask her if SHE would buy from a pet shop again... Anonymous wrote: I am considering getting an OES puppy as a second dog (I would consider rescue, but I tried that and my doggie did not take well to the invasion) and I have to say that the puppy store holds a certain attraction for me. Does this mean a pet store-purchased puppy WOULD fit in with your dog? I could never consider an OES as a "second dog". That's not their nature. Maybe another breed would be a better fit for your situation....? Anonymous wrote: Allow me to tell you why. I have a (unfortunately?) strong desire for privacy. I therefore object strongly to the home inspections and questionnaires reputable breeders and rescue organization subject me to. I see the value in these inspections and questionnaires and I put up with them. But if there was a viable alternative to getting a reasonably guaranteed healthy puppy more anonymously, I would jump at the chance. A questionaire from the rescue and a home check by a volunteer is not so invasive. A caring, reputable breeder will not let their puppies go to a complete stranger. If you are serious about the animal's welfare, cooperating with this "invasion" helps prove you are a fit dog-parent. Anonymous wrote: I could draw the parallel to adding a child to a family. Nobody's business but the parents. Imagine the outcry, if someone was to suggest that potential parents would have to have a home inspection and answer a questionnaire before becoming pregnant!
Outcry, yes. But it could have saved some unfortunate children from being born into miserable situations... (p.s.: Why not join our forum instead of signing in anonymously?)  |
Anonymous wrote: I could draw the parallel to adding a child to a family. Nobody's business but the parents. Imagine the outcry, if someone was to suggest that potential parents would have to have a home inspection and answer a questionnaire before becoming pregnant!
Every day in the papers and on TV there are more stories of child abuse. Children are being treated, and killed, in horrible ways all over the country. States are being forced to spend more and more money on Child Protective Services departments to protect children from their own parents (and we all pay the price for this). Do I think you should have to pass a test before you bring an innocent life into this world? YOU BET! Back to the actual point. I agree that people who buy puppies at pet stores are not bad people, and maybe if they knew the background they would make a different choice. Most have no idea how the puppies are produced. It's the mills and puppy store owners who are at fault. |
| All you people against pet stores need to quit whining like a bunch of losers. If people wish to buy from pet stores, it's their decision. Adopting is not for everyone. Who wants to take on someone else's behavior problems?? Especially families with children. I'm so sick of listening to people cry that it's so sad to sell puppies at pet stores. Mind your own damn business and let the rest of us make up our own minds. IDIOTS |
| Wow. Maybe there's a store where you could buy a clue. You are in the wrong place to even attempt to speak those kind of views. |
anon wrote: All you people against pet stores need to quit whining like a bunch of losers. If people wish to buy from pet stores, it's their decision. Adopting is not for everyone. Who wants to take on someone else's behavior problems?? Especially families with children. I'm so sick of listening to people cry that it's so sad to sell puppies at pet stores. Mind your own damn business and let the rest of us make up our own minds. IDIOTS
Well, I gotta agree with you, you are idiots. Crawl back to your pet store/ puppymill from whence you came...your rock is waiting  |
| It wouldn't be "sad to sell puppies at pet stores" if those stores didn't get their puppies from sources like puppy mills, and sell to un-educated people that aren't prepared for the responsibilities associated with owning a dog. These are animals that are bred poorly, raised in an unhealthy environments, and sold to un-prepared people often in sickened conditions. These people then have to spend the money on the veterinary bills TRYING to return a pup that was never properly looked after to a state of health, something that often costs upwards of thousands of dollars. And if these people are looking for the instant gratification of the "rewards of puppyhood" then they aren't prepared for the battle that these poorly raised dogs often present them with, nor are they the kind of individuals to be interested in properly keeping these pets once they have grown out of the cute puppy stage.
I'm speaking from experience; I'm one of the idiots that succumbed to the temptation of window shopping for dogs when I SHOULD have gone with a breeder I had lined up. But the breeder was in Canada, and here were these cute little pups right in my town, and oh aren't they just the SWEETEST things...! Fortunately I was determined to see it through, and had the financial ability to pay for all the vet bills. I've lived this; you're just mouthing off on a message board, hiding behind and anonymous sign on name. You probably work in, or own one of these stores. And people like us make earning your money on the lives of these poorly looked after animals just a bit more difficult. Well people like those that run these stores and puppy mills made my life ALOT more difficult. Thousands of dollars spent on vet bills difficult. So deal with it. |
Quote: Mind your own damn business and let the rest of us make up our own minds. IDIOTS Who said YOU can't go and buy a pet store dog? It's a free country! Just make darn sure you stand by that dog if it turns out to be a big problem to you. Don't you dare dump the poor creature at a shelter or humane society if it has behavioral issues, health problems or because you simply were not prepared for all the maintenance it required. And how dare you if you simply have your problem euthanized to get out of a bad decision. Oh but dogs are just property so you can be irresponsible with that decision too. Quote: Especially families with children. Oooh... how well do pet stores coach new buyers that have young children? It's one big reason people surrender an OES. Quote: All you people against pet stores need to quit whining like a bunch of losers.
Where are these puppy stores when puppies don't fit in or they have behavioral issues? The cute little puppy is now too big to resell. Lordy... I was going to pity-buy a puppy years ago that had been at a local pet store. That poor pup was horribly messed up emotionally... it simply could not calm down and continually paced. To this day I wonder what happened to that poor soul. Fortunately, the public helped close the store down. The day that pet stores give expert advice on a long term basis (the life of the dog)... show buyers how to properly groom high maintenance dogs... inform them about the health problems and behaviors inherent to the breed... guide them about proper training... AND take a dog back if for any reason during it's lifetime the dog is not longer a match or is simply unwanted THEN skillfully rehomes it, I'll sing the praises of pet stores. Until then, it's not going to happen. Were you turned down by a rescue and then by a breeder so the last ditch effort is a pet store??  |
| My first dog was a lab/kelpie cross that my husband found in a pet store. He was around 6 months old and very depressed. He only just fit in the cage and couldnt move around.
The store told us they took him back from the lady who they'd sold him to because he was too boisterous for her kids. I think it more likely they fibbed about what kind of dog he was so she brought him back when he got too big and made them take him back. DH overheard them saying they would get the vet to euthanase him as he was too old to sell. I came to the store in my lunch break as DH wouldnt bring him home unless I looked at him first. I kept saying "just bring him home, you know I'm a push over for a dog" 
It worked out though as when they told me the story of why he was back I got a really skeptical look on my face. So they handed me a dog lead and collar and said "here take him for free!!!" 
He was a great dog with a fantastic temperment and he seemed so grateful that we took him. But he did have hip dysplasia with very bad arthritis. Its the luck of the drawer at pet stores and there is no way of knowing where the dog comes from or what you're getting. We were lucky but my SIL has a dog from a pet store and it is the most nervous dog I've met. We all feel really sorry for poor Poppy, she is terrified of people but loves their lab. "Puppy mill" may as well be tattooed on her forehead. It pretty obvious she was never socialised with people.
At least with a breeder you can see the parent/s and have a better chance of a healthy, happy dog. |
Quote: my SIL has a dog from a pet store and it is the most nervous dog I've met. We all feel really sorry for poor Poppy, she is terrified of people but loves their lab. There's a product by Virbac called Anxitane®. I've never tried it but Kathy, Donner's Mom, works for a vet who recently mentioned it. No first hand experiences to share but it sounded promising. It might be worth discussing with her vet. July 2009 Press Release- http://www.virbacvet.com/news/article/a ... available/ Product Information Links http://www.virbacvet.com/images/resourc ... ochure.pdf http://www.virbacvet.com/images/resourc ... ention.pdf http://www.virbacvet.com/images/resourc ... tailer.pdf Quote: Anxitane® (L-Theanine) Chewable Tablets for dogs and cats promote relaxation in pets exhibiting nervousness, anxiety or responding to environmentally-induced stress. Anxitane Tablets are clinically proven to reduce clinical signs associated with fear and anxiety. Anxitane Tablets are Suntheanine®, a pure and neurologically active L-Theanine in a chewable form. Benefit: Anxitane Tablets significantly reduce stress related reactions. As a nutraceutical, it is an attractive alternative to pharmaceuticals for first intention treatment. It is a safe choice—there are no known side effects and does not cause drowsiness. There are no known interactions with other therapeutics... ...Situations where Anxitane Tablets could help: * Fear on walks, fear of people, fear of other animals * Anxiety or stress associated with change in family situation or environment * Episodic fear (grooming, car travel, veterinary visits..) * Fear of noises (thunderstorms, fireworks....) |
| Thanks Jaci.
I'll pass that info on. |
anon wrote: Adopting is not for everyone. Who wants to take on someone else's behavior problems?? Especially families with children. I'm so sick of listening to people cry that it's so sad to sell puppies at pet stores. Mind your own damn business and let the rest of us make up our own minds. IDIOTS
Okay you made a valid point and then had to ruin it by letting your frustrations show. Yes getting an olderr rehomed dog is not for everyone, and most people are more prepared for a younger dog that comes without excess baggage. And I hav ebought a dog from a pet store, but wouldn't do so again. BUT I have bought puppies from breeders which we all have to remember is a valid option. Actually at some point we all have to address the issue of supply/demand and how to better meet the demands of the public for puppies. But yes, people should have the right to get healthy puppies, which propbably isn't going to happen at as high a rate from pet stores as from good breeders. |
Reply to the guest!!! It is correct to say that no one on the forum has the right to tell anyone not to buy at a puppy store, although I no of nobody on the forum who does this, most people come to the forum looking for advice and they get it here. Funny thing is a lot of these people become members and stay offering their advice to add to the knowledge found on this forum, furthermore the majority of the people who look for advice have purchased from a pet store or a puppy mill and when they look to these people for advice it falls on deaf ears. Buying from a reputable breeder offers you the possibility of receiving the advice necessary to raise and train the puppy, furthermore you receive a pedigree which will allow you to see and research the fore fathers of the puppy. In the event of a problem the breeder will in majority of cases try and help and offer their advice based on their experience. Instead of posting as a anon. guest and accusing the members of being idiots join the forum and you too can receive the advice I am sure you need as in my opinion you have no idea what you are talking about. Stewart Ayre "Tikki-ti-boo" Old English Sheepdogs |
anon wrote: All you people against pet stores need to quit whining like a bunch of losers. If people wish to buy from pet stores, it's their decision. Adopting is not for everyone. Who wants to take on someone else's behavior problems?? Especially families with children. I'm so sick of listening to people cry that it's so sad to sell puppies at pet stores. Mind your own damn business and let the rest of us make up our own minds. IDIOTS
Wonder where these dogs with behavior problems come from?? If you could tell me of one pet store that will take back a dog that they sold as a puppy when he/she is 5 and no longer wanted I may have a different view! (doubtfully but, maybe) As a rescue volunteer I take in dogs with issues as we all in rescue do. I would just like to say there is nothing better than getting that scared, insecure and who knows what dog in and being able to turn it around to live a happy healthy life with a new family!!! It would be better if they all came in happy and loving but, with their past that is really not how it works! So, those "problems" that made them surrender and the baggage we unpack makes a new family very thrilled to open their hearts! Yes, we do home visits, we call for references because, they become very much a part of our lives... yes rescues and good breeders will take a dog they placed back for the duration of its life! |
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