11 Reasons Why Not to Buy Puppies from a Pet Store (a Shark Tribute)

Today, I would like to interrupt my weekly dose of fun and frolic to dedicate this post to Shark. He was the reason why I started this blog. We had so many memories during our time together that I regret only having been able to take a single picture of him with my phone. I had not expected his wonderful life to be so short-lived.

This is Shark. He was the most beautiful of the bunch. Compared to his other siblings, he had the cutest eyes and the prettiest smile. Credits to syedimranrocks for the beautiful frame I used

Firstly, let me just say that breeding is a job for the responsible breeders. And compared to pet stores in most countries, here in the Philippines, pet store puppies with papers (documents to prove they are purebred) are more reliable than the ones being sold online. So with that clarified, here are some reasons why buying at a pet store isn't recommended.

1. Most pet store puppies come from puppy mills. 

The truth is, NO RESPONSIBLE AND ETHICAL BREEDER WOULD SEND THEIR PRECIOUS CHARGES INTO THE UNKNOWN. And you've seen in Youtube how cruel they can be with the living conditions they keep their dams in. Puppies need to be socialized, so do their mothers. The place where they are born in shouldn't be cramped in a cage. That teaches them to potty in their den. What owner would want to have his dog pee or poop on the carpet?

2. Most pet stores don't have health guarantees.

It will be a first if I hear a pet store salesperson say, "If in case your puppy is sick, you can return it to us." Responsible breeders will assure you that if something happens to your puppy (or if you are no longer capable of taking care of him), they'll readily accept him back with open arms. Responsible breeders have their dams and sires tested for genetic health defects which further assures your puppy's healthy status as they grow up.

3. No customer support EVER!

You can't just barge in a pet store asking for help with your sick puppy. They'll just tell you to go see a vet. Responsible breeders will always offer you their support and knowledge so you know what's best for your puppy. If they're familiar with the puppy's problem, they would easily help you through it. If he is gravely sick, they will provide you with numbers of vets they trust.

4. Pet store salespeople usually know little of puppy parenting let alone any special care for every breed of puppy they have.

Sure they'll talk to you about what made the breed so special and why it is so awesome to have this dog, but ask them about potty training. Or at the least, ask them about schedules regarding vaccinations, socializing the puppy and temperament. They'll probably say, "Oh, he's nice and loves to be with people." Don't forget to ask them how he is with cats or how he plays with his brothers and sisters (or with other puppies).

5. Pet store salespeople will not ask whether the puppy is fit for your lifestyle. All they care about is making a sale.

Responsible and reputable breeders usually ask a series of questions before they finally decide whether you're a fit candidate for their puppies. They say "No" to those who have wrong expectations of the puppy  or if that person's lifestyle doesn't suit the breed. They further educate people about the breed and make them understand why the breed is or isn't for you.

6. Pet store salespeople usually won't give you an idea of the puppy's temperament and behavior as it grows up.

Reputable breeders are capable of telling you what to expect when they grow up. You will even have the benefit of seeing the mother of the puppies if not both parents. You'll also be able to observe her and see how she reacts to her environment.

7. In terms of selling, expect a pet store salesperson to sell the puppy like a car salesperson does.

They will convince you to buy the puppy because it is a good deal, blinding you from the fact that the puppy may have internal issues such as parasites or budding behavioral problems. As they always say, FOCUS ON THE GOOD POINTS and never on the bad.

8. Puppies sold in the pet store can be harbingers of worms, parasites and diseases.

Some pet store puppies can be made to look healthy and happy, but you will never know until it's too late. Aside from the heartbreaking fact that you'll probably suffer the grief of dealing with the death of a puppy who has captured your heart in the short time he's been with you, you might have to deal with house infestations.

In scenarios 8 and 9, you must be prepared to spend more than you would a puppy with an assured clean bill of health. The vet bills can sky rocket just by not anticipating these health issues.

9. You may be compromising your healthy pets' life by introducing a puppy bought from a pet store into your home.

Unless you are the type who makes it a rule to immediately bring the new addition of the family to the vet, then you might be endangering your other pets' lives. Isolation is a great way to avoid encountering this, but there are just instances that you'll run out of luck.

That's how my dogs got Parvo. My mom got me a puppy from a friend of hers who neglects her dogs (Apparently, their definition of taking care of dogs is not giving them a clean place to live in and not spaying/neutering. Just imagine how puppy mills are). I isolated them for two week while deworming them- they were to weak to be vaccinated during that time. After that, we introduced them to our dogs. Little did I know that they had signs of parvo and parasites. Back then, I wasn't aware of these things so I didn't bring my dogs to the vet to have them checked. We lost two of our best friends because of the Parvo they brought.

10. Buying puppies from a pet store equals puppy mill promotion.

It's like the saying, if you buy drugs you are giving pushers a job and drug syndicates a go-signal to make more. And that's just plain bad.

We are supposed to condemn puppy mills because they are cruel and they breed without whatsoever concern to their dogs. There are far healthier dogs in dog shelters and rescue centers. If you want a dog, either get it from a reputable breeder or visit the rescue center near you. You might just find that dog who will accompany you for years and years to come.

11. You are promoting animal cruelty.

Do you know what happens to the bitches and studs who are no longer capable of producing puppies for profit? They are either abandoned, neglected or left in a cage to die. This sounds cruel but that's the harsh reality of it. Puppy mills are not humane. People who make puppy mills are there for the profit with no utter concern for the lives of the dogs who they've abused. They see these animals as machines and disposable objects (even machines get maintained and protected from harsh weather elements).

To learn more about reputable breeders, check this post on how to spot a good breeder.