PET STORE MYTHS
Why Does Everyone Say Pet Stores Buy From Puppy Mills?
There are a lot of opinions, misunderstandings and outright lies floating around the internet. Most people have heard this one—all puppy stores sell puppy mill dogs. So where did that idea come from?
Back in the seventies and eighties if you owned a dog, it was not unusual for the poor pup to live in the backyard, chained to a tree. Other people let their dogs roam freely, not bothering to get them their shots or spay/neuter them. Animal welfare laws were minimal and there were not many pet stores. The ones that were in operation could buy their puppies from wherever they wanted, as pet stores were not subject to any kind of government oversight. As a result of all of this, a disgusting amount of dogs were being euthanized.
Thankfully, in the years since, everything has changed. Animal welfare has become something people are passionate about. Nowadays, commercial puppy breeders who sell to pet stores are regulated by the federal government. The U.S. Congress passed the Animal Welfare Act and assigned the USDA responsibility to inspect these breeders. Only USDA licensed and inspected breeders are permitted to sell to pet stores!
But I’ll Feel Like A Bad Person If I Buy Instead of Adopting
Despite the Animal Welfare Act, animal rights activists, most prominently PETA, continue to spread outdated information from decades ago, insisting that all pet stores buy sickly animals from puppy mills, while also actively shaming anyone who does not fall into line with the “adopt don’t shop” mantra.
In truth, a national effort to spread awareness and curb unwanted pets has resulted in approximately 80% of our pets being spayed or neutered. With the growth of spaying and neutering, the demand for dogs now outstrips the supply of those available for adoption in many states. There is actually such a shortage of dogs for adoption that there are now several parts of the country where shelters and rescue groups regularly import dogs from other regions—and even other countries.
The growing numbers of imported dogs are often strays from developing countries or puppies from breeders who breed puppies with the full knowledge that a US rescue group will end up purchasing them. (Yes you read that correctly, they are purposefully breeding dogs in order to have them “rescued” by people in the United States.) Patti Strand, director of the National Animal Interest Alliance, calls this phenomenon “retail rescue.”
Unlike puppy stores, there is no oversight on rescue groups, even ones who are bringing in dogs from another country. This has led to a marked increase in the occurrence of zoonotic diseases (rabies, tuberculosis, and brucellosis), screwworm, and canine (Asian) flu in dogs imported into the United States. This increases the risk of disease not only our pet and agriculture populations, but to people as well.
Currently in the US there are approximately 8,500 non-licensed and unregulated breeders/animal groups who sell or “rehome” directly to consumers over the Internet, at flea markets and in parking lots, while raking in huge profits. In fact, they are often supplying the very same “puppy mill dogs” they claim pet stores purchase.
My Friend’s Cousin’s Boyfriend’s Dog Just Gave Birth And They Will Sell Me A Puppy For Only $1000
A lot of these puppies come from amateur backyard breeders who “forgot” to get their dog fixed or assumed their dog would not get out and get pregnant, or thought it would be “so much fun” to have a litter of puppies. They will advertise their “home-raised” puppies very cheaply. By law, they cannot “rehome” the puppies until they are at least eight weeks old. However, as the dog warden has no idea that these puppies exist, who is to stop them from getting rid of the puppies at five or six weeks old? Five weeks is generally more than enough time for the “fun” of a litter of puppies to to wear off. Many times these puppies go home underage with no shots and no clear instructions on how to care for them. They are neurotic because they were taken from their mother too soon, or they are sickly because they were never seen by a vet. All the money you “saved” may very well end up going to vet bills. Try to call the person you bought the puppy from and suddenly nobody is answering.
But What About That Amazing Breeder I Found Online?
You message the breeder and they seem so nice! They are excited to talk about the puppy and offer you pictures. Unfortunately, they are out of state, so they’ll have to ship the puppy to you. Of course, they can’t ship a puppy you haven’t paid for, you’ll need to send them the money first. So you send the money and wait for the puppy to arrive. And wait. And wait…
That’s just one of MANY scams that exist online. We even have signs up in The Puppy Burrow requesting that you ask before taking pictures of the puppies. Why? Because we’ve had people come in and snap pictures of every puppy in the store. They then put the puppies up online and advertise them as their own. Even if they can’t get someone to pay the entire cost upfront, they will often talk people into leaving a deposit of $100-$500 to “hold” the puppy. As you can imagine, the second they get your money, they disappear.
Why Should I Get My Puppy Here?
When you choose a puppy from The Puppy Burrow, you are choosing a pet of known parentage from a USDA licensed and inspected breeder. We also check every USDA inspection report to ensure that the breeder has not had any violations within the last two years. Your puppy comes into the store already vet-checked, vaccinated, dewormed and socialized. While here, each puppy continues to receive all the love and care we can provide. As you will see when you come to our store, we are a bit crazy about dogs and have six of our own. Five out of the six come from the very same breeders as the puppies you see here in the store!
But more importantly than meeting our dogs, you’ll get to meet your new dog! You never want to choose a puppy without actually interacting with him/her and making sure he/she has the right temperament for your family. Puppies are like people--they each have their own distinct personalities.
Are you unsure what breed to choose? That’s what we are here for! We have over a decade of experience with dogs and can help you make an educated choice.
Moreover, when you are ready to take you’re a puppy home, you will also go home with our personal cell-phone number, so you can always reach us with any questions you may have.
At The Puppy Burrow, we are committed to ensuring you have the peace of mind to happily enjoy your new best friend!