Pet Store Dogs

Recently, my mom on a business trip stopped at a local pet store to pick up some presents for us. Yes, she is a great mom and always tries to bring us something back when she has to be away. We give her those great big puppy dog eyes and she melts and we get presents! But this time when she went into the store there were puppies for sale. Alot of small breed dogs and even some big ones like a husky and a lab. They had some of those designer breeds like a lab-a-doodle and a fug (French bulldog/ pug..I feel sorry for that dog..what a bad name..”I’m a fug!”) But in one cage was a west highland white terrier puppy..a male and he cost $1,499. I had no idea I was worth that much money… no wonder mom freaks out when I run out the back door when I’m not on the leash! Here he is, mom took a photo. Mom’s heart melted! He had the big ears, and the short fuzzy fur, and the puppy belly. Mom wanted to hold him so bad but at the same time her heart just broke. This little guy was not in a good situation; he probably came from a puppy mill or a backyard breeder and who knows what kind of health problems he has.

So here is the moral dilemma: save the cute little puppy and make sure he has a good home and the medical care he needs by whipping out the credit card and taking him home. Isn’t saving this puppy one of those emergencies that you keep that credit card for??? Or do what everyone tells you what to do NEVER buy from a pet store. You are only supporting the puppy mills by creating a market for them to keep breeding and selling. By buying him you are only making the problem worst. If people buy the dogs the stores, then who will then adopt the westies in rescues?

Both sides of the debate has some merit: save the one westie now( I am sure he wants to be saved!) or make a stand for the westie puppies of the future. I am very torn as a dog on this subject. I am not a rescue dog (my brother Elvis is). I came from a breeder that some people call a backyard breeder but they did take good care of me and my parents (their two pets). Mom and dad paid $350 for me and picked me out of the litter. They broke all the rules of being a rescue person but I was their first dog and at the time this is how they thought you went about getting a pure breed dog/puppy. They didn’t even know rescues had puppies at the time. I personally am so thankful that picked me! I feel that even dogs who come from pets stores and breeders can make a difference in this world just as much as rescue dogs. Look at me!

So my stance is …if you’re looking for a pet please research your options thoroughly and if possible go though a rescue (seriously look into them. They are great!). But if that isn’t for you then research where you’re purchasing your dog completely and make sure you are not buying from a puppy mill. There are place online that have puppies for sale but research these options every carefully. Some puppy mills and backyard breeders sell online but I have seen rescue groups also use this approach as well where the selling price is actually the adoption fee. There are responsible dog breeders out there but you have to dig though all the bad breeders to find the good ones. Finally, most importantly if your not showing your dog FIX, FIX, FIX IT!

Mom’s stance was to leave the pet store without the puppy but that little guy has been on her mind ever since and she hopes that he found a wonderful home and that for his parents he was their last litter.