I believe there is a sizeable group of people who simply think that dogs are "products"--and like any mass-produced item they are all about the same. A pair of Levi's jeans is the same no matter where you get them--why not the same for a Yorkie? They don't really understand that all puppies of a certain breed aren't interchangeable.

I cannot fathom why someone would pay the markup at a pet store for what is, in all honesty, probably not a very healthy animal--genetically or temperamentally. Pet stores are usually charging more than one would pay for a well-bred pup from a breeder. But that would require some forethought and research.

My Dad always said "The world is full of Idiots and Assholes". Love that man!

Sometimes that short quote turned into a soapbox lecture, but more often then not that was all he had to say when I was growing up about whatever horror story I came home with.

I truly appreciate the info from everyone. I want to share this thread with people. I know it's probably beating a dead horse but these are current and future RVTs.

Sigh

 Quote: Katie Finlay

I truly appreciate the info from everyone. I want to share this thread with people. I know it's probably beating a dead horse but these are current and future RVTs.

Sigh

Maybe they truly never thought about where these puppies come from. They sure don't come from ethical breeders. But maybe they just never thought about that.

You are sure to open someone's eyes. That person will influence other people .....

There is a puppy store (DBA puppies of W******t) in my area that sells puppies & has been posting all kinds of puppy mill denials to their website & sighs on their storefront. They claim that they buy from reputable breeders that don't want to get involved in the whole process of screening buyers or having people coming into their homes to view puppies etc etc...WTF!!! They are still in business, so I guess there are ALOT of stupid people that believe that this store is telling them the truth. RIGHT!

I have also been at my vets when people that have purchased pups from there have made statements to the girls at the desk that if they knew that so many of the pups from there were always so sick & cost a fortune in care they would have NEVER gotten a pup there. All these pet stores are making the vets rich as all get out, treating these dogs! Many don't make it. But the people are attached to the dogs & spend, spend, spend! The pet stores BANK on this.

I have a cousin that purchased a pup from a pet store 6 years ago that has spent many thousands of $$$ for care for her dog. She would not believe me when I told her that the pup came from a puppy mill. Says she came from a private breeder in Missouri. Yes, a puppy mill. And the dog will never really be healthy. It's sickening.

Another thing is that since the president has a Portuguese Water Dog, you can bet that breed will go down the tubes now. The backyard breeders are breeding litter after litter to have the supply meet the demand. The breed will go the way of the Dalmatian, St. Bernhard etc, etc. with bad tempormented, sick dogs, HD dogs, etc etc.

I know someone that is getting one from a 'breeder' cause the kids psyche doc says the kid needs a dog to love & take care of. What she needs is a parent (mom) that spends time with her daughter. Mom works & dad works & dad takes care of the kids etc. Mom basically does nothing for the family. I can't believe for a minute that a reputable breeder would sell a pup to a family that came to them saying that my daughter wants a puppy & will be the one to take care of it...it will be her dog. They are building a dog house in the backyard for the puppy. I wonder how long it will be before this pup is surrendered to the local shelter or is in a ad on craigslist like many others when they are not cute little prankster puppies anymore & still doing puppy behaviors. SIGH.


ETA....Happy Birthday, Joyce.

Last but not least

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRLrBd2kQ7fjAPylMcYRY-__5q9YS_A9pOO94l1gcLZQx94xfM&t=1&usg=__XYIjOnzt2iaSlhUdxx3FdDIDlFE=

Link to classic Larson panel depicting God adding jerks to the world. I could not get the image to appear inline using markup though.

Thanks. I'll do it. When I looked into Conan's ped I found dogs from a breeder called Squaw Creek. When I Googled it, I found what was a puppy mill in Iowa. Their website is no longer active. From some info online, the mill was shut down. But I'm not sure. They have a little Facebook profile:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Squaw-Creek-Kennels/164472404424#!/pages/Squaw-Creek-Kennels/164472404424?v=info

Obviously, I near crapped a brick but when I asked our breeder about it she gave me much more info on an actual breeder here in CA. They're a nice couple and care for their dogs. Needless to say I was SO relieved.

I can't even believe these places have websites. Makes me sick.

Eta. Joyce!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 Quote: Tracy Collins

I cannot fathom why someone would pay the markup at a pet store for what is, in all honesty, probably not a very healthy animal--genetically or temperamentally. Pet stores are usually charging more than one would pay for a well-bred pup from a breeder. But that would require some forethought and research.

Problem is this takes time and for most it is a lot easier not to think about it, pay through the roof and have the pup right away. I wanted a GSD but when I started looking all I found was a bunch of lier's. Breeders that said they had sold to police/other high places and there pups had hernias and didn't have the sense not to step in their diarrhea! The mother looked like something the cat drug in and the dad looked like another type of dog. I was tired of looking so went to CL and looked around.

Lots of people don't even know....or care...or want to know...

Here is a link to a blog I posted years ago (including a video) about pet store puppies.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=45894353&blogId=391996314

 Quote: elizabeth anderson

.... pups had hernias and didn't have the sense not to step in their diarrhea ...

Sense not to step in their diarrhea?

I'm sure you didn't intend for this to sound the way it does.



"Problem is this takes time and for most it is a lot easier not to think about" .... I'm afraid you're right. But every person we can inform/influence will do the same. It's worth Katie's efforts, I believe.

I have trouble informing without raising defensive hackles; I usually do better if I rehearse.

Katie can do a much better job, I betcha.