Buying a puppy from a pet store is the wrong first step to
becoming a responsible pet owner.
Buying a puppy from a pet store is the wrong first step to becoming a responsible pet owner. There are just too many problems associated with buying puppies from pet stores for it to be the right thing to do:
• According to the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, puppy mills – facilities that produce large numbers of purebred puppies, often in poor conditions including overcrowding, inbreeding, lack of veterinary care, poor food quality and lack of socialization – supply most of the puppies sold at pet stores.
• Puppies sold at pet stores often endure long trips from faraway breeders, sometimes in conditions that include lack of food, water, ventilation or proper temperature control.
• Dogs awaiting purchase at some pet stores are kept in poor conditions, especially for larger breed dogs and active puppies.
• Buying from pet stores increases the demand for animals from puppy mills and decreases the demand for animals from shelters and reputable breeders. Many opponents of pet store puppy sales discourage “rescuing” pet store puppies for this reason.
Why support a system that encourages the production and sale of poor-quality dogs in deplorable conditions? We hope local animal lovers will help to make the sale of animals in pet stores an unprofitable proposition in South Valley.
If you’re looking for a puppy, even a purebred dog, start first with the San Martin Animal Shelter, the Humane Society in Santa Clara, or one of the many dog rescue groups dedicated to various breeds. According to PETA, 25 percent of dogs in shelters are pure bred. If a shelter doesn’t have the specific breed you want, check back frequently. Sadly, new dogs arrive at local shelters nearly every day.
Adopting a canine companion through a shelter or rescue group is often the most cost-effective way to find a purebred or mixed-breed pet.
If shelters aren’t for you, then purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder. Talk to dog club members and local veterinarians to find a responsible person who’s passionate about your favorite breed. Not only should you have a checklist for a prospective breeder – including seeking references of prior customers, checking their knowledge of the breed’s standards, making sure the puppies are fed high-quality, premium dog food, among others – a good breeder will also want to check you out to make sure you will be a caring, responsible pet owner. Whenever possible visit the breeder’s home to check out the conditions and puppies for yourself.
Shelters and responsible breeders are such better sources of a pet that it’s a wonder that anyone buys puppies from pet stores. Pet store puppies should be extinct in South Valley.
