Puppies and Pet Store Rip-Offs: Don't Let This Happen to You

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needle felted dogs
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What You Should Know Before Getting a Pet

In my experience as an animal shelter volunteer and as former dog groomer, as well as reading numerous posts on pet forums and elsewhere on the internet, I have come across an all too common problem:
many new puppy owners have been the victim of pet store rip-offs. It is only when visiting the groomer, pet store, or vet when many pet owners realize they didn't get all they paid for. Many owners have bought puppies under the wrong breed label, thought they were paying for shots which the pup didn't get, and have encountered many unexpected, costly problems such as poor health conditions, behavioral problems, allergies, deceptive language from sellers, "hidden fees", and extra expenses for care. It is then when many of these pets end up in the animal shelter.

Adorable animals are often sold where ignorance is the best customer. Cute puppies can literally sell themselves to unsuspecting buyers who will unknowingly pay an extra high price to bring home a handful of problems. An informed customer is the best defense against pet store rip-offs. Prior knowledge also protects buyers from legal troubles. It's hard to tell if pets are sold using deceptive methods on purpose; it's unthinkable that anyone is knowingly contributing to the problem of homeless pets. Perhaps sellers are also ignorant. More likely, stores are giving in to the motto of the customer is always right and therefore must know what they want. Stores are also careful not to say anything that might seem like they're trying to talk anyone out of a sale. So before you buy a pet, ask yourself, do you really know what you're paying for, and can you tell if you're getting it?

 
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My teen just did a school term paper on PUPPY MILLS. Our whole family learned a LOT in the process. Thanks for posting this piece! I hope this will educate many!

Posted on 03/27/2008 at 2:03:28 PM

I learned a lot about puppy mills with a recent puppy mill bust of nearly 1000 dogs of mostly small breeds, kept in filthy hutch type cages. It was very disturbing that they couldn't legally shut the place down and the guy said he'd continue to breed....

Posted on 03/23/2008 at 2:03:06 PM

I forgot to add that those "examples" I mentioned in my comment were as an animal shelter volunteer, seeing poor animals from puppy mills having to be put down or barely surviving their enclosure in the wrong cages, given the wrong food and not properly cared for :(

Posted on 03/23/2008 at 12:03:33 PM

I'm so glad to see this one. We've seen some unfortunate examples of people putting an animal's needs second when profit and money enters the picture. You raise some very vital issues.

Posted on 03/23/2008 at 12:03:21 PM

Thanks :) I don't get why people pay so much either. Shelter dogs make great pets and even reputable breeders charge 2-3 times less compared with stores where you get so much less. Hopefully people will realize the risks they're taking when they don't do their research before getting a pet.

Posted on 03/23/2008 at 4:03:58 AM

This is excellent advice and everyone considering purchasing a dog should read this!

Posted on 03/22/2008 at 8:03:28 AM

Excellent article! I keep seeing this on the news and I just don't understand it. I couldn't imagine paying that much for a dog in the first place! All of our dogs (and most of our kids as a matter of fact) are adopted. They are mixed breeds (oh, and so are ALL of our kids. LOL) and they are wonderful dogs. Why someone would spend that kind of money to purchase a pet on the internet when there are so many out there getting put down for lack of a home, is beyond me. Your doggie sculptures are so fantastic! They look so real!

Posted on 03/15/2008 at 8:03:44 AM

Thanks :) Help spread the word.

Posted on 03/13/2008 at 10:03:28 PM

Great read!

Posted on 02/25/2008 at 8:02:36 AM

Thanks for adopting stray and abandoned kitties :)

Posted on 02/10/2008 at 11:02:24 PM

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