Dumb question about pet stores...

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leighla
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Lauren

Re: Dumb question about pet stores...

I appreciate that you are all so passionate about this.

But I guess I still have issues with the sweeping generalizations that:

1. NO reputable breeders are in it for the money. That makes all breeders above the normal human standards for altruism, I guess. Most business people need to turn a profit.

2. ALL pet stores are bad. I have a girlfriend who worked in a Pet Store throughout college in Delaware and said they only worked with breeders who treated the dogs well, so there was a screening process.

And the tone of Lolita's post was not, to me, saying ignorant in terms of "uninformed", it seemed harsh and attacking.

I have a black lab I bought from a pet store after we went to 3 different shelters that didn't have any puppies.

He had his papers. Has been healthy every day we've had him. He's extremely loving and affectionate.

The pet store called to check up on him a week later and make sure we were happy with him and he was thriving. I know several other people who bought puppies from the same store and had no issues.

I don't regret a single moment with my dog. And when I made to feel like I did something evil and wrong for loving my dog that I got from a Pet Store it makes me defensive.

Message edited 3/15/2007 8:24:42 PM.

Posted 2/13/07 9:56 PM

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Re: Dumb question about pet stores...

Posted by leighla

I appreciate that you are all so passionate about this.

But I guess I still have issues with the sweeping generalizations that:

1. NO reputable breeders are in it for the money. That makes all breeders above the normal human standards for altruism, I guess. Most business people need to turn a profit.

2. ALL pet stores are bad. I have a girlfriend who worked in a Pet Store throughout college in Delaware and said they only worked with breeders who treated the dogs well, so there was a screening process.

I can understand that you feel atatcked, and I want to apologize if I came off that way. I just want to address the 2 points above 8 then I will let it be.

1- reputable breeders do make money, however they make it off of their stud services or by breeding show dogs. They get (a portion of) their show earnings, as well as a fee for the initial stud service. If they have a good contract, they also get future earnings off of future litters resulting from a stud service. They do not need to make a lot of $$ off of non-show (limited registration dogs) or pet-homed dogs. Usually they charge a nominal fee to cover the vet fees & care to that point. If a show dog from a breeder is $1000 (for example) then the pet homed dog should not be near that price, b/c there is no residual reparations available. Also their name on a champion is worth more to them in future "deals" than what they will make off of one dog that can never carry their name. (Pet homed dogs come with neuter contracts.)

2- all pet stores are bad. This is a general statement, but particularly in this area it is true. Even if a dog comes with papers, and is in an environment where the staff takes care of the dogs, the pets 90% of the time (or more in NY) will come from a BYB, PM or broker. These are illegal, and the pet stores are guilty by association, Any store that also markup a dog 300 - 400 % is also way beyond what is considered reasonable markup by any retail standard. In this area, most Pet shop dogs sell for $800 - $2000, however they are only charged $150 - $300 per dog.

I appreciate that you love your dog. I really do, and I am so passionate because I also did not know better & got a dog from a PM. However I do know that had I been educated before, I would have done my homework & research before making the commitment to a dog, and also to the responsibility of not fostering abuse.

I am not saying that it makes you a bad person, or that your dog is not worthy of love and a good home, because that is not the point. Every dog deserves a good loving home & a chance at a good life.

I hope this does not comes off as condescending, because that is not my intent. Chat Icon