I know there are a lot of people that are anti pet stores, and I too find myself a bit upset at some of the practices they endorse.

My dog is a pet store pup- although, I read about the store I was buying her from- they are reputable and they only buy from reputable breeders. All of the dogs that they purchase have been checked out, and are found to be breed to be free from genetic defect (not that that is 100% possible, but they are bred from lines that are historically disease free). The store will cover medical up to the cost of the dog. The dogs come with AKC papers, although not all are eligable to be shown (because of coloring/markings- which doesn't make them any less pure breed). Most of the Sires in my dog's line have been DNA checked! Most importantly, the dogs are guarenteed not to be mill puppies!!!

Rember, mill puppies need love too- if they are not bought- they are often put down! So, yes, buting from a store that has mill puppies contributes to puppy mills, but it also saves a dog from being put down, or worse, becoming an abused mill dog!!!

My advice, read into the store you plan on buying from. If you find one that does sell mill puppies, the decision to buy is on you- let you conscience decide on what is best- contributing to puppy mills or letting a perfectly good dog become an abused mill dog or letting a dog be put down.

... One final thought- adoption- there are benefits to adopting- pure breds can be found cheeper, fixed, and trained. Personally, I enjopy the experience of raising my own dog!

PS- I am NOT condoning puppy mills- just saying that mill puppies need love too!!! I definately researched the store I bought through, but even if my Nugget was from a mill, I would love her just the same!

There is not one petstore that buys from a reputable breeder, so although it is a little late now, you aren't saving anybody from adopting from one. In fact, you are making space so that puppymills can continue to breed. As long as there is demand, they will supply more puppies. If you really want to rescue a puppy or dog, adopt from a rescue. It isn't a good deed at all to buy a petstore puppy, and I am never going to give congratulations to someone that does. What is the store going to tell you, that their puppies came from a puppymill in PA? Or a BYB? If the dog you buy is not health tested for OFA, CERF, and BAER, you are only asking for trouble and steep vet bills.

This guide is a great source for finding reputable breeders. I hope that one day, pet stores only have supplies and not puppies.

http://www.wonderpuppy.net/1breeding.php

here here!

DogFaced,

I know your heart is in the right place, but you really haven’t a clue about puppymills or reputable breeders.

I expect the sires in your dog’s pedigree were most likely DNA tested because they are puppymill studs and the AKC required the DNA mapping for their puppies to be registered. When sire or dam produce an excessive number of litters the AKC require that the dog’s DNA be mapped so that the pedigree can be proven authentic (if someone ever doubted who the parents really were). There are no health checks being performed with this DNA test. I imagine this most likely the only reason the pet store mentioned DNA tests.

Currently the only accepted health testing done on Boston Terriers using DNA is the AHT juvenile cataract test. If this actual test were done on your puppy or the parents then the breeder would have provided you with a copy of the AHT certificate. The breeder should have tested not just the sires but also the dams. Since this is a pet store puppy, I am guessing there was really no health testing done with DNA and they only did the DNA testing required by the AKC(to prove the pedigree is authentic). If the pet store explained this was an indication of a geneticly healthy dog, then they basically feed you a sales-pitch and lied to you about the quality of the sires.

Reputable Breeders especially Boston breeders usually have a long waiting list of people looking for their puppies and have no need selling them at pet stores. Also reputable breeders truly love their puppies and do not let them live outside their own personal care in a situation like a pet store. Their puppies are members of their family until they are purchased and join someone else’s family. A reputable breeder cares greatly for the quality of life that their puppies will screen any potential buyers before selling a puppy. I assume the pet store did not visit your home, temperament test any other pets, check your references, call your vet or really do anything to ensure you would actually provide a good home and life for the puppy. Pet Stores care more about making money than they do about caring for the well being of your dog. It is just basic economics where the pet store is a commercial enterprise and is really only in business to make money.

Same goes for puppymills, they are commercial enterprises that exist ONLY to make money. The ONLY reason puppymills exist is because people keep buying their puppymill puppies from pet stores like yours. By purchasing puppies at pet stores you are financing the next generation of puppies back at the puppymill. As long as puppymill product sells, then they will keep making more puppies, it is really that simple. I hope you understand it is a huge mistake to ever buy a puppy from a petstore.

actually... my grandmother, until recenly, was a sheltie breeder, so I do infact have some knowledge of breeding and used her as a resource when buying my dog.

I did take the time to research the breeder that my dog actually came from and have found them to be reputable.

My dig did come with all the appropriate certs- that was something that I was sure to look for! And the dam has not had a high number of litters per year.

So, thank you, everyone, for implying that I am nieve, but some of us do take the time to research what we purchase, especially when it involves a topic as touchy as puppy mills! Also, in this case, my pet store puppy is not a mill puppy! Not every pet business is void of ethics, although I do admit that many are!

well, as from some one that got taken from a dog store that advertised a boston as full blooded that turned out to be part pit bull, I say you werent very informed. These people know what they are talking about, I don't condone it either and will never again. Havent you ever noticed how some of those pups are so lethargic in their cages? it makes one wonder, and the prices they charge are outrageous, although you may have thought you made a good decision, a rescue or from a breeder with a kennel where you can visit would have been a better choice with the parents on site.

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Panda and Brutis who owns their owner Paula!

Why would a reputable breeder ever give one of the pups have worked so hard on to a pet store? A reputable breeder raised dogs in their home and loves every one. They personally search for the right home for each dog. Why would someone give up a pup to go live in a cage at a petstore and have no say in who the dog will end up with?

If you researched the breeder yourself why couldn't you just go to them and get your dog?

And as others have said, the idea you are saving a dog, although your heart is in the right place is just wrong. All you are doing is creating one more empty cage to be filled at a store, making more demand at the mill to have some poor bitch who has spent her whole life in a tiny cage need to create another puppy.

Personally, I do not ever even go in stores that sell puppies. I can't look at them and not cry... or scream.

If you really want to save a puppy mill dog, go to a rescue and get one there instead of contributing to the puppy mill problem.

There is really not much more I can add to what has already been said, but I have to put in my two cent...

NO serious breeder would EVER put a single of their puppies in a petstore!

1. There is no way of knowing who will get the pup since there is no screening process. There is a reason breeders (and rescues!) so thoroughly screed potential owners, not everyone should own a doh and not everyone realizes that they're nor ready to own a dog. There are 6 million dogs euthanized every year due to pet overpopulation and mill/pet store dogs are a HUGE contributor! So many pet store puppies end up in shelters because people didn't realize how much work goes into caring for a dog. I'm a rescue volunteer, and just talk to me the first week of january when we are swamped with Christmas puppies!

2. The crucial first months of a puppy's life when he/she should be interacting with the mother and litter mates, getting socialized, etc. A pet store puppy spends in a cage, often resulting in social and behavioral problems, no breeder would do that to their dogs! You don't whant to know what happens to the poor dogs that don't get sold and loose thir cute "puppyness". Believe me, they don't get "adopted out" like the clerc might tell you...

You don't "rescue" a mill dog by buying it. The millers will kill their "overused" dogs no matter what. They will continue to treat their dogs like they weren't living creatures and continue to overbreed and inbreed their dogs for quick profit. And they will just replace that one dog with another. Our rescue recently got in a female that had JUST been rescued from a mill, at 13 YEARS OLD! Can you imagine that poor girl having to live in a small, filthy metal cage, with bars on the floor so the uring and feces will drop through, only ever taken out to be bred, and producing litter after litter for 13 YEARS! That is beyond horrific!

And that is the situation your dog comes from. And that is the business you support by buying from petstores.

The best way to help mill dogs is by NOT EVER BUYING FROM A PETSTORE! And boycott any store in your area that sells puppies!

I know that feeling whenyou see that cute little face through the store window and you just wanna take him away from there! But every penny you give to that business funds the millers and keep them going...

That's the cold, hard truth.

Here are three dogs that we recently got in, that had been dumped by a puppymiller at a zoo (!) when they were of no more use to him:
(WARNING! Some fairly graphic images!)
Betsy: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/dis...petid=11587593
Hugh: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/dis...petid=11587594
Katie: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/dis...petid=11587595

PLEASE DON'T SHOP! ADOPT!

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Adopt Fruit Loops! Visit: http://fruitloopstheboston.blogspot.com/ for more info...