What You Need to Know About Breeders and Pet Shops When Buying a Puppy

From Consumer Tips and Reports at consumertipsreports.org

I recently found myself buying a puppy. How? My wife's mother asked her what she wanted for her birthday. This year, it was a Brussels Griffon (don't even ask). So while my wife's parents agreed to foot the bill (thank God) we were left with the actual responsibility of finding and buying the puppy. And that, my friends, is when I got my eye-opening education on the world of pet stores vs. breeders vs. animal shelters. Wondering which one is best? Even if you think you know this one, the answer might surprise you.

You Have to Consider the Facts

I thought I knew the answer to the "breeders vs. pet stores vs. animal shelters" question when buying a puppy. However, I have quickly learned that an animal shelter (as noble as it may be) is not always an option and it does NOT make you a bad person if you buy from a breeder (or even a pet store sometimes) when buying a puppy.

If you want a specific breed of puppy, an animal shelter or rescue my not have what you need and if they do, you don't know what type of breeder the dog came from and bad breeders can equate to health problems in the future. Don't get me wrong, I fully support rescues and shelters for mixed-breed or older dogs, but there is nothing wrong with researching breeders and even the rare pet store when you have a specific puppy in mind.

If Shelters Aren't an Option

If an animal shelter or rescue doesn't meet your needs when you're looking for a specific type of puppy,  you're going to have to do some research into the breeders and even some pet stores in your area. However, when buying a puppy you need to understand that not all breeders are created equal, and neither are all stores.

When it comes to breeders, they run the gambit. There are the hard-core, dedicated breeders who have a single purpose in life and that is to better the breed of the dogs they are dedicated to. Then there are the hobby breeders. Those who take great care of their dogs and breed great pets, but not necessarily champions for the show circuit.

In the breeding world, the only breeders you need to run away from are the puppy mill breeders. These are the scum of

the scum, the low of the low. These breeders could care less about the dogs they breed and only care about profit. They are known to produce puppies with health issues and emotional impairments. Never, under any circumstances, buy a puppy from a puppy mill.

And that brings us to the pet stores. Pet stores have gotten a bad rap over the years because many of them get their puppies from puppy mills. There are, however, exceptions.

If you have a small, locally owned pet store in your are, they may buy their puppies from local hobby breeders. Some even provide free vet care, health guarantees, etc. If this is the case, buying from them is not the cardinal sin of buying a puppy. That being said, it will be expensive. These stores have to make a profit. They pay a quality breeder, and you pay a markup on top of that.

So if you're going to be buying a puppy in the future, consider the above information. Rescues and shelters are wonderful places to get a pet, but sometimes breeders and even pet stores can be a viable option.

So, you want to adopt a pet, huh? Great idea! Here are a few reasons why pet adoption is the loving option:

Saving Lives: Whether you adopt a pet from a local animal shelter or a rescue organization, humane society or SPCA, you're saving lives. That's right: lives,

as in more than one. I know, I know…you only want to adopt one dog or cat, right? Adoption saves more than just the life of the pet you adopt. If you adopt from an animal shelter, you're making room for another dog or cat, or you're allowing other dogs or cats at the shelter to be kept for a longer period of time, giving them a better shot at being adopted. If you adopt from a humane society, an SPCA or a rescue organization, you're allowing that organization to rescue another dog or cat for adoption at a public shelter, which, of course, saves the life of that little guy plus the lives of others at that shelter by creating space so new pets can be kept longer. As you can see, adoption is truly a continuous cycle of saving lives and it's the right thing to do!

You know what you're getting (especially if you adopt an adult): There are a lot of things to consider when you're deciding what kind of personality your new family member should have. When you adopt an adult dog or cat from a pet rescue, humane society or animal shelter instead of buying a puppy or kitten at a dog breeder or a pet store, what you see is what you get. Their personality is already developed, and you'll be able to spot the characteristics you're looking for much more easily than with a puppy or kitten. Pet rescue organizations, as well as many animal shelter SPCAs and humane societies provide adoption counseling, and are able to assess the personality of each dog or cat for adoption and carefully match you up with the right one for your lifestyle. With a puppy or kitten, there is a lot more guesswork involved. Sure, you can train your puppy or kitten on certain behaviors, but other traits (like activity level) seem to be inherent in each individual. Want to adopt a dog or cat who will instantly fit in with your family? That's easy when you adopt an adult from a humane society or SPCA, or from a rescue organization or animal shelter!

Pet adoption = an instant friend for life: Ask anybody who has adopted a pet, and they'll swear their bond with their rescued pal is as deep as they come. When you open your heart and your home to a pet who needs help, they really do show their appreciation for the rest of their life! Dogs or cats who have been uprooted from their homes, or have had difficult beginnings are likely to bond completely and deeply with their new human caretakers, whom they regard as heroes. Pups and kitties who find themselves in the shelter or at a rescue because of a death or other tragedy in their former human family usually go through a mourning period. Once they are adopted, however, they usually want nothing more than to please their new hero---YOU! No matter what circumstances brought them to the rescue, most cats and dogs for adoption are exceptionally affectionate and attentive, and make extremely loyal companions.

Training and Socialization: Many rescue organizations use foster homes, where puppies and kittens for adoption are socialized with children and other dogs and cats, and given basic obedience training before they go to their new homes. Many dogs and cats in animal shelters and humane societies are already housebroken, trained and ready to go! As an added bonus, many organizations offer post-adoption workshops and training classes. When you adopt from these animal shelters, you'll have their continued support to help you through any rough spots you face during your dog or and cat's transition.

A smarter option than buying a puppy or kitten from a backyard dog breeder or pet store: No matter how "reputable" you think your local pet store is, they are almost surely getting their puppies and kittens from one of two sources: 1) a "backyard" cat or dog breeder, or 2) a puppy mill. The majority of purebred dogs and cats are the product of irresponsible "backyard" kitten and puppy breeders. These are people who make some easy cash by breeding their purebred dogs and cats and they often also sell puppies and kittens through the newspaper classified ads. Remember if you buy a dog or buy a cat that most of these backyard dog breeders and cat breeders don't know about breeding for favorable health and temperament qualities, and they don't know how to raise a properly socialized litter. Many of these little dogs and cats are weaned from their mothers way too soon. Sometimes, a backyard dog breeder turns into small-time puppy mill to increase their supply so you can buy a dog from a pet store and they can make a higher profit. What are puppy mills? A puppy mill is basically a purebred puppy factory farm where the puppies are just churned out as fast as they can and then sold to pet stores. The dogs are kept in small cages and forced to breed at unhealthy rates… it's all about the money. Female dogs in puppy mills are made to have several litters per year, which is extremely dangerous and cruel. Each purebred puppy mill produces several different breeds for pet stores, and pays little attention to the specific health and genetic diseases due to inbreeding. Genetic health testing is almost unheard of and mass-producing pets for profit is the bottom line. In the worst puppy mills, horrifying conditions are the norm. How can you stop puppy mills? There is only one way. Take away their profits. Remember before you buy a dog or cat that adoption is the most humane option!

If you have your heart set on a specific breed, before you check out a dog breeder or pet store, why not adopt a pet from a breed rescue organization? Breed rescues are groups that specialize in a particular breed of dog or cat. There are always thousands of beagles and pure labs in shelters: black, chocolates, and yellows, and many other purebreds.