Ok we all have done it, gone into a pet store and just loved the puppies. But would you ever buy one from a puppy store?

I have to admit I have purchased a puppy from a pet store; but I considered it a rescue. It was a 4 month old Aussie that just needed to get out of that cage and run. It had been there for 2 months. I was in vet school at the time and my vet school friends can attest to the fact that that dog was certifiably crazy. Very ill tempered to men, she bit a few and not out of fear. I was able to train her fairly well but I just could not get her broke out of the aggressive behavior towards men. Oh well that is what you get when you buy from a puppy store which buys from puppy mills.

Too bad many people still do not understand that buying from a pet store perpetuates a horrible cycle of puppy mill breeding. What astonishes me is the lack of understanding of the general population of puppy mills. Here is a story from my alma mater’s paper, the Daily Illini. I was really excited when I caught the headline about this story –>Puppy store at mall faces criticisms

I was thinking all right a pet store that is going to be called out on buying from puppy mills; unfortunately this was not the case. It is obvious to me and several others that the student reporter did absolutely no research and did not even know what a puppy mill was. She got caught up like the rest of us in how cute the puppies were. It is a shame. The biggest red flag in the whole story is that the place where the pet store owner purchases here puppies from, Puppy Haven Kennels, had its certification pulled from the AKC. Unfortunately no good explanation in the story at all as to why it was pulled.

However here is the explanation –> I-Team: Puppy Mills

Thats right it is a puppy mill. A television news station in Milwaukee did a report back in April of this year and then updated it in September telling viewers/readers that Puppy Haven is a puppy mill of the worst kind. If you read this story you will know why you should not buy puppies from pet stores; any pet store. No reputable breeder will ever sell a puppy to a pet store…period. They are all puppy mills or disreputable breeders trying to dump their puppies.

SO I publicly apologize for my purchase many years ago, even though it was a rescu. Just now that you are informed - don’t do it! No matter how cute they are, don’t buy from a pet store.

The ASPCA Holiday Shop is a great way to get your shopping done for your animal lover or even your best dog friend and be supportive to the ASPCA.

Thank you to Brennan from Shepherds Haven Sanctuary for pointing out that the shop was up and running. Check her post out here —>The Season for Helping

Or go directly to the ASPCA Holiday Shop

Check out K9 Clothes, my Squidoo Site. The last post I did came from a “little” dog site and it reminded me that I do have a list of dog clothing stores which can be found here - K9 Clothes

OK I am being a little stereotypical here, but it is one based in truth, more little dogs wear clothes than the big guys. I have quite an extensive list. Please if you have a doggie store that can be found on the web send me the link and I will be sure to place it on the list. I may even do a small article about your store. Otherwise if you are looking for some dog clothes I have the store list for you…it is over 200 stores large. Check it out.

K9 Clothes