Anyone have a Pet Store puppy?

[YourFriendDeb]

I know we've talked about the perils of buying puppies from Pet Stores, but I was wondering if anyone who bought one from a pet store actually had problems with them.

DISCLAIMER:

I do not own a pet store puppy, nor do I ever intend to purchase one.

I'm just curious because I know some people who bought pet store puppies, honestly not realizing the "dark side" of such places, and I've seen posts from board members who say "we got our Rover at a pet store (now I know better)" but I've rarely heard claims of any ongoing problems as a result.

Just wondering....if anyone would like to share their experiences. Thanks!

 

[TigersMommy.]

I will admitt that we got Tiger from a pet store. After joining boxerworld and learning more about pet stores I would never do it again. So far, the only problem that we had was kennel cough -knocking on wood.

Shame on me, I know. And I am not proud of the fact that he came from the pet store. But I would never give him up for anything in the world. He was ours before we even decided to get him, everytime we walked by his crate, he woo-woo'd and tried to catch us with his paw.

 

[YourFriendDeb]

AWWWWW!! I can totally understand why you couldn't pass that up! I don't condemn people for buying puppies at pet stores. Most people have no idea where they come from, and the pet store people certainly aren't going to tell you!

I didn't have ANY idea about pet store puppies until I watched the "Primetime" show a few years back.

I wish I could just go in and rescue them all!!!! :( :(

 

[malinda]

I know there are dark sides to a pet store (we got Megan from a breeder) but I think you need to research where you are buying the puppy from no matter where you buy it. There are some breeders out there who are not as reputable as they should be. I know for a fact that the pet stores around here offer a year health quarantee and will pay for any vet bills in that year time period. So breeders do not offer that, maybe because they can't to a point and I can understand that. I'm just saying there are pros and cons to both scenerio.

 

[stanleys dad]

Stanley came from a pet store (he was an accident) and I've had no problems whatsoever...here's how it happened...my girlfriend (at the time) and I drove down to Rhode Island to a dog shelter that had 4 boxers with hopes to addopt. I had just lost my first boxer Joe a few months prior. When we got to the shelter they told us that they were not willing to split up these dogs and that we would have to take 2 of them. Impossible as we lived in an apartment. I had just about given up at this point because the boxer rescues that I had contacted seemed to have long waiting lists or maybe just werent interested in giving a dog to someone who didn't have a house. So we stopped at a mall on the way home and just wandered into the pet store and didn't they have an 8 week old boxer there and it was his first day....well...to make a long story short we made the mistake of saying "can we play with that boxer?"...it was all down hill from there...I couldnt stand to see the poor guy go back in his crate...that's how they get you and although I wouldnt do it again or reccomend it stanley has been in perfect health (knock on wood)

 

[YourFriendDeb]

Originally posted by malinda
you need to research where you are buying the puppy from no matter where you buy it. There are some breeders out there who are not as reputable as they should be.

I totally agree malinda!

 

[Jen]

We got our second dog, D'Artagnan from Boxer Rescue, but he was originally from a pet store. When we adopted him at 8 months, the rescue organization was unsure if he had been neutered or not because there was nothing hanging, if you catch my drift, but there was no signs of recent surgery. He was obviously not neutered by his behavior, so once my vet found out D'Art was a pet store dog, he immediately did exploratory surgery, found his manhood in his abdomen and removed them. Apparently, breeders usually send dogs with those types of problems to the pet stores because they can't sell them for full price. :mad: Other than that, D'Art has some behavioral problems, but it's hard to say whether it was because he was a pet store dog or because he had a jerk for an owner at first. Neither is his fault. He's a sweet, sweet dog and I wouldn't trade him for the world, but I wish pet stores could be shut down!

 

[Erin]

I adopted Murphy from the local boxer rescue, but the previous owners (the people who turned her in to rescue) bought her from a pet store in the mall. Here is a list of things we've had to deal with so far:

Thyroid problems
bad bouts of canine acne
genetic tendon problem in her knee
seasonal flank alopecia
general skin (she's prone to hives) problems
sensitive stomach
ear infections
not a medical problem, but she's only 45 lbs and has a VERY small frame.

Thank goodness nothing on the above list has been too bad. The rescue folks I got her from were completely honest about her and where she came from (so I did my research) and decided to adopt her. Murphy is a very special little girl and I'm glad she's in my life.

I don't condone puppy store puppies, but I don't think I would have the strength to see a little baby boxer in one of those places and not take it home with me. So I may not condone puppy store puppies, but I certainly don't condemn the folks who just can't leave them there.

Erin

 

[Vanessa]

We got Annabelle from a pet store and have not had any problems at all. I would not do it again though. The next dog I get will definately come from a rescue.

 

[Moonshadow]

Just a thought!

It is unfair of us to think that all pet stores practice selling puppies or kittens that they don’t know the origin of. I ran into the owner of a pet store here at the local animal shelter where she was surrendering a litter of kittens that was dumped outside her store. When I asked her about it, she told me that she didn’t sell animals if she didn’t know where they came from because she didn’t have the resources to check their health. I also know that if some of the breeders here are not able to sell all of their puppies, as a last resort they send them to this same pet store.

Of course, it is hard to know who to trust and sometimes we just have to go with our gut feelings.

There are seemingly honest breeders who make mistakes or errors in judgement and there are perfectly honest people who don’t present themselves well and we aren’t sure whether they are to be trusted.

I say good luck to anyone who has to decide where to get a pet of any kind.


Busy parents of
Lady Nala - beautiful brindle boxer girl, four years old
Meta - special white rescue boxer girl, three years old
Rigo - our newest addition - beautiful flashy fawn boxer baby boy
2 Cats (Kahlua & Amarettol), 2 visiting cats, 3 his kids, 3 hers kids

Moose(at the bridge) & Sumo (stolen) - handsome brindle males