Anyone have a Pet Store puppy?

[Audra]

My boyfriend and I got our dog (a springer/lab mix) and his parents got a toy fox terrier from a lady at a flea market. Of course we know better now. Our dog, who is now 1, is fine. But the other dog has a genetic hip problem. It called leg perthes disease (sp?) the ball of his hip does not get enough oxygenated blood and it is dying. He started to limp at only 8 months old. He needs a total hip replacement at the cost of $1500 (well worth it, though) We have both learned our lessons. All of our future dogs will be rescues.

 

[Eddie's mom]

I just wanted to say that I had a puppy from a pet store, a few years ago now. And he was fine. I feel that not ALL pet stores are bad. I think maybe it is different here, I live in a very small town in Canada, our nearest city is also quite small. When I say small I mean small, only 1 mall, our mall is one floor only. You could walk from one end of the city to the other! We don't have security at our schools...Anyways.....Alot of the pups you get here at the pet stores you can get in contact with the people where the dogs came from. Most of the pups are mutts from "accidental" breedings. And there is also very few pups at our pet stores. I have been to the pet store in our mall many times where there are no puppies at all. Sometimes here you get a healthier pup and better guarantee with the pet store than some so called breeders.
I am not saying that you should go out and get a pup from a pet store, but like in Tigers case, it was love at first sight and you can't deny that!
I guess you should try to use your best judgement, do your research and do the best you can, after all those pet store puppies need homes too.

 

[karens]

I swore I would never buy a dog from a pet store, but I have one. My Sam had just passed away and I could not find an available Boxer and at the time, my husband was less than thrilled about rescue. My hubby pulled into the parking lot and told me to go see puppies to cheer me up. They had just dropped off four Boxer puppies and needless to say, when we left there were only three. We like to think of it as saving her from having to be there, as she wasn't even there for an hour.

Knock on wood, we have had no health problems. My last Boxer, Spencer is from rescue. I am sure I will never have another puppy again, but will probably come across another "pet store" dog at some point through rescue.

I don't think pet stores will disapper entirely anytime soon. And I can certainly say my actions two years ago did not help the cause... So, I just try to concern myself with loving 'em no matter where they came from.

 

[None-removed]

Since my dogs have always been rescues, I have no idea where the original owners obtained them - but Baxter is, indirectly, a pet store puppy. Had he and his litter not come to rescue when the breeder died, they would have been sold through a local pet store that is owned by the brother of the breeder. Baxter has had no health problems whatsoever, save a grade 1 heart murmur that he outgrew by 6 months. Ironically, he is the healthiest boxer I have ever had.

 

[ejfree]

We got our puppy at a small town pet store a few weeks ago. We were impressed by the "family" atmosphere of the store and obvious sanitary measures that were taken with the dogs. Interestingly, in the puppies papers, it is as though no pet store was involved and that she came directly from the breeders. Perhaps that is bad, but we didn't know to notice prior to purchase. Lenox is doing GREAT and is happy to be home with us.

 

[Knye2001]

Baloo was from rescue and both Tiger (Boston) and Apollo were purchased from pet stores! I didn't begin looking for information on certain breeds or anything about dogs until we had put a down payment on Apollo. Buying from pet stores was all I had known growing up and now I'm glad to say "Never Again". I'm constantly taking Apollo to the vet for everything because I'm so worried that I'll miss something that might kill him. Temperments are not what they should be for either breed and all this is due to my own stupidity! I love the little butt heads to death, but I won't buy from a pet store again, no matter how badly I want the puppy in the window!!!

 

[Roxanna]

I haven't seen live animals in a California pet store in years. Other than fish and small critters, I have yet to see kittens or puppies being sold out of a pet shop. I wonder if it is illegal in California?

 

[SweetGirlie1400]

I had not known about the dark side to pet stores either.. I'm very glad I came across this place and VERY VERY glad i decided to research the breed and learn much more about the breed and dogs themselves.. each day I learn more and more from the dark side of comercial dog food to buying pups from pet stores and the list grows... I will admit... my cat came from a pet store but I didnt know I wa sgetting a cat for one thing and for another cats emune systems are much stronger then a dogs... but sadly I now believe I could have gotten a much healthier cat if I had gotten a kitty from a breeder. My cat died at the young age of six years old.. she was 100% positive for bone marrow cancer and the vet told me the disease came from her mother.... I loved her VERY much and she was the smartest cat I have ever seen and the healthiest lil bugger.... she never got sick... so when we took her to the vet we thought she had come down with some sort of flue and we had no idea that she wouldnt be coming home with us that evening :( :( I miss her a lot and I hope to bring some joy into my life with a boxer of my own... but right now my mum dosnt want any pets and I am respecting that as much as I can and waiting to get my own home and my own boxer one day and it will deffinatly be from a breeder.
I went into the pet store that I had gotten my cat from <I just wnated to look at some of the pets but mainly to look at dog toys and stuff> and there were SO amny people looking at puppies, looking to buy... probably clueless like I was about pet stores and puppy mills... it made me want to go to each one and tell them about what they are getting themselves into but I dont know if thats right. Anyways I just thought I'd share.. thats my story, my experience with pet stores... never again.

 

[Sube Ru's mom]

The following link is a thread i started discussing the differences between Reputable Breeders and Pet Store/Puppy Mills. I originally wrote an email to a Pet Store here in MD. My Email to her and her response is the beginning of the thread.

I hope everyone finds this as educational as i did
http://boxerworld.com/forums/showth...age=14&highlight=devils advocate&pagenumber=2

 

[Puddy]

You ever wonder what happens to a "Pet store puppy" when they cant be sold? I do and if anyone has any ideas please let me know. Animals from pet stores need homes too!!!