fifi69 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 So glad you've started this thread Fiona. i was shocked upon moving here that the pet shops still sold puppies. Remember going into one at Gateway, Cockburn and seeing them. It was the height of summer and the shop worker also told me that they were left in those stupid little cages at night. Not only that but they Didnt leave any aircon on while the shop was shut. Not ashamed to say I burst into tears at what these little mites go thru:no: When buying any food, toys, treats etc for my two dogs I refuse to use of the pet shops that sell puppies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candygirl Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 We bought Purdy, our Beagle, from a pet shop. We got our second dog, Candy, from the rescue centre, which I would defo do again. Animals in pet shops are very commonplace here in Spain, but I am shocked that it happens in Oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 The reasons that pet shops sell puppies is very simple; they want to make money. Think for a moment on how much cheaper a puppy is from a pet shop; now think about buying cheap chicken meat from a shop. Corners have been cut. Do you really want corners cut when you're making a commitment for a best friend? I know I wouldn't. Not to mention it feeding the disposable culture of instant gratification. People who buy a puppy from a shop are buying a 20 year commitment off the shelf. How serious might they take it? I realise there are exceptions, but for the most part, people buy a puppy from a shop when they haven't waited for it, haven't even had much forethought, and haven't researched the breed or breeding ethics (or they would be running away from the pet shop as fast as their legs could carry them). They buy the puppy, the puppy gets bigger, and they realise that for some reason or another they don't want to keep him. I'm a dog breeder and I'm sure many are now thinking 'Well you just don't want the competition'. I don't even advertise my litters, and my last one went in March. I had people on that waiting list for 18 months before the litter was born, and I certainly would not want anyone who would buy a puppy from a shop, to have one. Here's a simple list of pros and cons. PET SHOP puppy; No health history; and I'm not talking vaccinations. I'm talking breed health problems. You don't know if he's been eye tested, whether his parents were, his grandparents. Hip scores, PDA, cataracts, luxating patellas; all breed problems that should be tested for in almost all breeds. None of that. So you're basically buying a gamble. It might work out, but why take the chance? No temperament history; how do you know that puppy came from parents who would rather shy than bite, who were balanced, secure in themselves, with no bite history or history of severe neurological problems? You don't. No assurance of socialisation; there's several 'markers' of socialising points in a puppy's life. If they're not met, which they won't be in a pet shop, your puppy could end up with severe problems later in life. Fear periods that are not counter-conditioned could result in a dog frightened of everything, and unable to cope with the smallest of changes, and it will literally take you years to raise their stress thresholds. No assurance that his parents are taken care of; here's a tip, if the puppy is not with his parents, he's missing out on EVERYTHING. All that socialising, bite inhibition, confidence building. Also, how do you know that bitch isn't huddled in a damp kennel somewhere with nothing but dirty water to drink and a matted pelt to keep her warm? Because that is what a puppy farm is, and only a puppy farm will have so little disregard for their puppies that they sell them to a pet shop where they have no idea who will buy them. No breeder lifeline; we've all been there. 3am and the puppy is crying. If only there was a hotline you could call to ask what's wrong with him! If only there was someone you knew was incredibly experienced to ask why he's puking or whether he's doing something that's normal or a sign of a deadly infection. Ah, but you don't, because you didn't go to a breeder. If you did, you would have the knowledge of someone who has raised puppies on a obsessive scale and observed every nook and cranny of their wellbeing, not to mention oodles of experience. And you can bet they will be the first to help if it's one of their puppies that's in trouble, seeing as they've slept with them since they were born and woken up every hour on the hour to check they're all feeding. No rehoming contract; what if you do get in trouble with your puppy and can't keep it any more? It happens, but your puppy has never been to kennels and you have no idea how to rehome him yourself. If only you'd gone to a breeder, who has a rehoming contract, which states that at any point in that puppy's life you can bring him back to the breeder and they will rehome him for you, as they already have a waiting list of people waiting for an older dog. What do you get if you go to a reputable breeder? Security. Remember that when you buy a dog you buy for life, and I know that if I was buying a car, I would not just pick the one that's most readily available. Very sadly, buy cheap, buy twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 As an animal lover I could not work in a shop that sold puppies or kittens and the like. It just goes against what I believe in for keeping animals as pets. I'll refuse to shop in pet stores that sell the larger live animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Ditto, Snifter. I would love to visit the grooming spa in Harrods but seeing as they sell puppies (yes, even Harrods!) I can't step foot in the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Harrods sell puppies?! Are they a high class pup! I remember when i was a lot younger and out shopping with my gran in the forge in glasgow there was a petshop selling pups. When we were in naples last year we walked past a petshop selling every animal imaginable. Millions of different birds in small cages, rabbits, etc wouldnt be suprised if there were dogs and cats in there too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Harrods sell puppies?! Are they a high class pup! I remember when i was a lot younger and out shopping with my gran in the forge in glasgow there was a petshop selling pups. When we were in naples last year we walked past a petshop selling every animal imaginable. Millions of different birds in small cages, rabbits, etc wouldnt be suprised if there were dogs and cats in there too Yeah, its crappy. They sell that at far more than a breeder would. Its well iffy and tbh I can't believe they are still doing so. Most pet shops don't sell anything bigger than a rabbit these days. Kittens and pups are long gone from pretty much every pet shop. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/annabel-burn/puppies-sold-in-harrods_b_2475496.html Alas places like Preloved, Gumtree and the like lead the way in selling puppy farm pups and so on now. And people advertising their dog free to a good home might as well walk it to the vets and have it PTS as so many of those are rehomed to people pretending to be decent but who use them for bait dogs. Its terrible what goes on. Preloved and Gumtree need to stop accepting adverts for live animals IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Thanks for your great post Tulip When I asked the assistant about the dogs being left overnight she said 'it helps them get used to being left alone at night. I think she could tell I wasnt convinced, she repeated it a few times after I worked out the hours alone for the puppies. 2 of the puppies in one cage were soaked with their own urine, the assistant told another to change their bedding. Can you imagine the state of them in the morning? I think its the lack of socialisation that irks me the most. Puppies arent meant to be alone. Theyre meant to be with their mum or their new owner. If you take a pup home he's going to be alone for what maybe 8 hours overnight..if youre lucky! Most people who buy an animal think about if they have the time and commitment for one...if you have to leave the dog alone for extended periods its worth considering if its really the best thing to do. Some dogs won't be left. I imagine pet shop puppies are probably harder work in the first place as theyll get heaps of attention that theyre unused to then left again at night. It must be confusing for them. Unless you have the dog in your bedroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I must admit I couldn't keep my mouth shut in one pet store when I was over there, and asked her about the puppies. She said 'Oh don't worry, they get plenty of socialising. They come out for one hour in the morning, and one hour in the evening.' I think she mistook my look of shock as satisfaction and seemed quite pleased with it all. Behind me there was a little high-lighter star sign that said 'SALE; Chinese Crested, was $900, now $400!' I'll be interested to see if they still sell puppies when we go back as this was two years ago. Yes, Harrods sell puppies too! And not what you would expect, either. For £6,000 you can have a Bulldog puppy, but the really incredible thing is that the puppy will not be of a decent standard. Loose eyes, poor conformation, it won't look like the Bulldog ideal one has in their mind. And you'd pay double what you'd pay from a breeder! Kind of like buying a knock-off for double. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Best to get a dog from dog rescue, they are the ones that really need homes. A lot of the puppy farm breeding dogs are rescued and rehabilitated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 I wonder how many of them do get rescued though? Not many Id guess, much like greyhounds when theyre too old for the track, outlive their usefulness and surplus to requirements. Not much call for setiment in business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Shoes Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Only ever bought one dog ..... The one we have now, we saw some shi tzu puppies in a shop window, and I felt so sorry for them, I knew then that I wanted another dog, so I set to work on the OH .... a garden centre was having a puppy event where breeders brought along puppies, we saw one shi tzu but it sold whilst my oh went to the loo, so I spoke to the breeder who gave me her card and a leaflet with her legal stuff on it ..... she said she was expecting another litter in 6 weeks time and asked me to call her, those 6 weeks dragged, but not as much as the next 3 (after we had chosen our puppy) she had a lovely set up, extremely clean with a vet feel to it ..... the dog we lost last year was from the rescue centre, we got him at 10 months old, and felt such pride at rescuing him and giving him a bright future .... sadly he died last February and broke my heart ... He was only 7 ..... prior to adopting him, the dog I had before was also a rescue ..... Rescued from a relative, who offered to look after him whilst his grandson went away, but the grandson never collected him after his holidays, so I offered to look after him, he lived until 17 approx. cats all came from the cat home .... All passed since, oh loves cats, and is always looking at them we when go to the vets, as for me .... well I don't get on with cats, they don't like me :yes: will attach a photo in a sec of our little girl the first time we saw her ....... will sign the petition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buttercup Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I'm sorry but there's no excuse for buying a puppy from a shop in this day and age for many of the reasons previously highlighted. I too asked the shop keeper in the pet shop where the puppies came from- 'oh we use a reputable breeder' she replied. I said do you mean a puppy farm, no answer but a very red face! I also asked a member of the public who was looking at them where they thought the puppies came from, 'ohh I don't know, I never really thought about that. Well maybe they should as I think this is the problem. As someone has said, no animal should be an impluse buy, which I believe what happens when they are in shopping malls (not always but a lot of the time). I know the RSPCA and various other rehoming organisations appear to be picky, asking to visit your home etc, but I think if the dog has had a troubled past, they just want to ensure the same thing doesn't happen again to the poor animal. The Ironic thing about this is that a number of these puppies probably end up in rehoming centers anyway which is very sad and could be avoided if people just researched more the origins of the pet and understood what is involved as this is a long term commitment. You know the old saying 'supply and demand'. Until people stop buying these puppies, the trade will continue to flourish. Not much different from the way farm animals are treated (often very young and treated terribly), but people still buy it despite all the media coverage! Shame on you Australia- this is 2013, not the dark ages! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I don't know about Aus but here in the UK there's actually a rescue just for puppy farm dogs. You can visit their site and see the disgusting state the dogs come in as, and having friends who have adopted and rehab'd those dogs can tell me that 18 months have passed and the dogs still shy away from human affection. Very very sad. http://www.manytearsrescue.org I'm a breeder so I don't rescue dogs; however, I do believe you should rescue before buying, if you don't have any preference to breed traits or characteristics. For example, if you don't want a dog that sheds, that is good with kids, and only grows so large, etc. etc. you would go to a breeder. If you don't care about any of that and just want a pal, go to a rescue centre. I believe there are places for both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supercad Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 As someone has said, no animal should be an impluse buy, which I believe what happens when they are in shopping malls (not always but a lot of the time). This is a good point... I was only discussing with my VET yesterday about how they presented an information leaflet regarding post op procedure, it had a few options on it all at versus prices blood test , flush for anesthetic,.. my point is why isnt it in the price in the first place, if it makes the animal more comfortable just add it to the quote. Her answer amazed me... it went along the lines of... because if we added it in with an option to opt out a lot of people will euthanize rather than pay. This is surly people who have impulse brought or have no i dear what it takes to look after an animal so choose to put the animal down... This is another reason the RSPCA needs to control this, they explain everything in detail and you sign a contract to say you will look after that animal. ill bet the pet shops do no such thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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