Pet stores that sell dogs

Where do pet store puppies come from?

Many puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills, which are horrible breeding operations where dogs are kept in cramped, filthy cages their whole lives, deprived of adequate food, attention, and veterinary care, and forced to give birth to litter after litter of puppies.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out these true stories about puppies sold in Canadian pet stores that came from puppy mills in Canada and the U.S.: www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2009/how_not_to_buy_a_puppy/main.html

While it’s unlikely that all breeders who supply pet stores treat their dogs quite as terribly as those described above, any breeder who sells puppies to a pet store falls short on one important measure of a good breeder: they do not care enough about the puppies they produce to make sure each is placed in an appropriate home with an owner who’s been screened to make sure they are capable of caring for the dog.

When a breeder doesn’t do this, chances are high that they’re cutting other corners too (like giving a sub-standard diet or veterinary care, skipping the genetic testing needed to prevent diseases in the puppies, or neglecting to give the time and attention needed to socialize the puppies).

The problem with pet stores is you’re buying from a middleman. You don’t see where the puppies were raised; you don’t meet the breeder; you don’t meet the puppies’ parents; you don’t know if the puppies have been well socialized. There’s just so much essential information you don’t know.

Be wary of stores that tell you their puppies all come from caring, reputable breeders — almost every pet store selling puppies will tell you this. Just remember that no caring, reputable breeder would ever allow their puppies to be sold to this way. Good breeders want to build a relationship with people who buy their puppies and they want to stay in contact and be a resource for them – because they care deeply about their dogs and the breed.

In fact, most breed clubs and the Canadian Kennel Club code of ethics forbid their members from selling to pet stores.

Who’s the pet store’s greatest ally?

People who don’t do their research and make impulse decisions based on the adorable puppies in the window. Pet buyers who are well-intentioned but just don’t have the knowledge required to find a responsible breeder are what keep cruel puppy mills in business. So, please get informed so that you can make a smart, humane decision.

Those puppies need homes too, so why shouldn’t I buy one?

When people buy a puppy from a store that sells dogs it makes space for another puppy to perpetuate the cycle of bad breeding, neglect and outright cruelty. It’s about supply, demand, and profit. If people didn’t buy those puppies, this multi-million dollar industry wouldn’t exist.

Are there any good pet stores?

Yes! There are many good pet supply stores that don’t sell animals. There are even some stores, such as PetSmart, that operate “satellite adoption centres” for humane societies and rescue groups. Instead of selling cats and dogs, they house and display adoptable animals in their stores. Customers who express an interest in the animals must go through the adoption procedure of the humane society or rescue group.

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