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pet-storeYou’ve decided you are ready to add a new member to your family unit. Perhaps your children are begging for a puppy or you may live alone and want a pet for companionship. Whatever the reasons for wanting a cute and cuddly new puppy you should be fully informed before making any purchases. If this is your first canine companion or you are simply unaware of the best place to pick your new friend you may think stopping at the local pet store would be a good place to start. This is the farthest thing from the truth and the following reasons will explain why.

  1. How much is that doggie in the window? In 99.9% of cases the cost of a dog at a pet store is well over the value of the animal you are receiving. Pet stores are in business to make money just like any other business. In most cases the employees at the store have no real knowledge of specific dogs breeds or traits and even less information on the dogs they are selling. If you were to break down the purchase of a pet to a purely monetary level, pet stores do not offer you the best return on your investment.
  2. Health concerns- It may be very difficult to resist the adoring eyes of a puppy just waiting to come home with you however you must be prepared for the fact the most pet store animals commonly have or develop health problems. Puppies that are produced for profit do not come from breeders who are interested in reducing that profit by investing in the health of the puppies or their parents. Many have not had all their shots, may be infested with parasites or have genetic diseases that will not present themselves until later in the puppy’s life.
  3. AKC registration does not equate quality- Unless you are looking for a show quality animal AKC registration is not a requirement for a new puppy. Unfortunately many people confuse puppies that have “papers” with puppies that have a quality pedigree. This is not necessarily the case. The only requirement to have a puppy registered with the AKC is that the puppy be the product of two AKC registered parents (of the same breed).
  4. Homeless dogs in need of homes- There are millions of dogs (including purebreds and puppies) in shelters, adoption agencies or rescues in this country. Each time you buy an animal from a pet store you may in fact be sentencing another puppy to death. In many cases it is possible that these organizations know more about the animals temperament and behaviors than the employees at a pet store.
  5. Buying from a pet store supports puppy mills- Regardless of the tale the salesperson tries to sell you -reputable breeders do NOT sell their puppies to pet stores. In fact reputable breeders are interested in placing their puppies in loving homes and in many situations require buyers to sign a contract agreeing to return the pet should their be any issues down the road. The main source of all puppies in pet stores are puppy mills aka commercial breeders. Due to the increased awareness of puppy mills and how they operate this fact alone should discourage everyone from buying a pet from a pet store.

In conclusion there are many, many reasons why pet stores are not a good place to purchase your next puppy. It is an unwise investment financially but you have to consider the bigger picture. Most people can handle a poor financial decision. In this case you may not only lose money but also suffer the heartache of falling in love with a puppy who is very likely to have issues that socialization, training and love cannot fix.