Don’t Shop – ADOPT!
Posted by admin on Dec 14th, 2012 | 7 comments
Recently a few posts have cropped up on our Facebook page, letting us know that the pet store in West Edmonton Mall is once again selling puppies and kittens. Not only are they selling these adorably cute creatures but they even have several other exotic animals for sale, including pot-bellied pigs.
Needless to say, it was a shock to hear this. For a year now, most of the pet stores in Edmonton had stopped selling puppies and kittens and embraced the model of working with rescue groups and helping find homes for displaced, homeless animals. Pet stores in our city had stopped contributing to the puppy mill and irresponsible breeder industry.
This was a big win for animal welfare in our community – in fact something that I had often claimed bragging rights on in my travels. Well, no longer…
Some of the locations that used to be PJs Pet Stores in Edmonton have sold to a chain called My Pet, including the West Edmonton Mall location. I find it really interesting that all this change happened without an announcement of the sale.
From my perspective, the timing couldn’t be worse – just in time for Christmas. We know that people are going to be drawn into the store by the very sweet puppy and kitten faces; some purchasing not knowing that they are contributing to a very dark and hidden world of commercial dog and cat breeding.
One of the best demonstrations of this hidden world is the PSA created by the SPCA of Texas. Anyone that watches this can really see that getting that pet store puppy should not be an option. While the video talks about parking lots and flea markets, let’s not kid ourselves, pet store puppies come from the same circumstances.
Responsible breeders would never consider selling to a pet store. In fact, I’ve blogged before regarding reputable, responsible breeders (RRBs) and the variety of guidelines that they go by and none of them include selling to a pet store.
Just yesterday, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced a pet store industry coalition to try and effect real change in the commercial dog breeding industry. The intent is to improve conditions for the dogs and puppies in these operations, and ensure that those that choose to purchase an animal have a reliable and humane source to obtain them from.
This is a great first step for the US, but it’s hard to say how long it will be before this group gains any forward momentum. And I wonder how long it will be before we begin to see this type of initiative happen in Canada. So what do we do in the meantime?
Here at the EHS, we are going to generate community conversation and bring more awareness. The only way the stores will stop selling is if people do not buy.
Honestly it confuses me why in the world a person would pay $2,000 for a puppy from a pet store. They are not spayed or neutered, they don’t have papers and chances are pretty high that they will have a variety of health problems.
We have heard time and time again from our local veterinarians that they always know a "mill" dog or a pet store dog, as they get to see them a lot due to the many health issues.
Too bad the buyers don’t know this information.
This past year, we have not discussed not buying puppies and kittens from a store too much because many of you simply know that. Many of you know that you can get a great puppy from the humane society or a rescue group. They are just as cute and just as playful as the “doggie in the window”. In fact, they are even cuter, in my opinion, since they’ve been spayed or neutered and won’t be adding to the population of homeless pets.
So now – Edmonton and the pet loving community – it is up to you to help the EHS get the word out to friends and family and whoever will listen… pet store pet purchasers beware!
And, if you know families that are considering adding a puppy or kitten, please ask them to visit a humane society or rescue group as their first stop; there are so many sweet faces just waiting for a forever family.
Not only medical issues but also behavior issues. Behavior issues that people have little clue how to deal with. Meet the parents of a puppy if you buy from a reputable breeder. They should be very social with people and other animals. If the parents of the new puppy are not showing this…walk away.
So sad PJ Pets sold out at WEM to My Pet. It was a great location for some of the rescue groups to meet for adoption days. Anyone who buys a pet from a pet shop chain that is located inside a mall are really uninformed about animals in general. They have no clue where the animals come from, and no knowledge on the animals history.
Sadly they are bought on impulse, and later they are abandoned and end up at the shelter.
A responsible breeder will spend time with the puppies in their care. I for one, spend several times a day handling my little guys, they are used to being picked up and cuddled. They get brushed from the time their hair gets longer, are used to having their feet touched, go for car rides, so they are used to the concept of a moving object. They are pretty well peepad trained and in the summer (which my litters usually are) get to go outside and start to play in the grass, so they are used to it. They are also vaccinated, dewormed and treated for any possible desease. My parents are very healthy, have never had any health issues, because if they did, they would not be used for breeding. I do not have strangers walk into their playpen area to stop them from catching anything they don’t need. I will video tape the puppies playing in their area (which is half of the kitchen) and make that available to potential owners. Owners are also screened, and if they don’t pass, they don’t get one of my pups. By the time the pups go to their potential homes, I have conversed and correspondet with the new owners for about 4 weeks, After the pups have their first set of vaccinations, they can meet their potential owners, who have to make sure their hands are disinfected before they get to touch the babies. Puppies also come with a one year health guarantee, which speaks for itself. References of other buyers are also made available, one them being my Vet, I also offer to board the pups after they go to their new homes, a) I know they don’t end up in a kennel for possible holidays, b) I get to see how the pups do and if there are any possible issues that need to be dealt with and addressed.
My pups are usually well balanced little fur people that go pre-spoiled, loved and cuddled. Every time I get a call that is a referral, I know I am doing the best job I can do for the pups I send out into the world. If I don’t have any puppies available as I only have one litter a year out of my 4 females, I will recommend rescue societies, as there are cute little guys available and not just big ones. My dogs are neutered or spayed after they have had 2 or 3 litters, and then get to retire at my house in peace and quiet. Grandma now helps to take care of the grandkids, just like in the real world.
This is good to know. Thank you for the heads up, as it is I can’t justify spending thousands on a dog that I have to spend even more money on due to health issues and to get spayed/neutered, which is expensive in itself. People don’t realize that these animals will end up in shelters or on the streets anyway because the cuteness wears off and they are wanted anymore. I get them for a couple hundred dollars at a rescue society thank you.
Just confirmed another My Pet location at Londonderry Mall. Staff confirmed they have at least 10 dogs for sale, NOT adoption.
When I was at the mall the other day I walked passed PJ’s pets in londonderry and noticed puppies in the window. I went back to check just to make sure what I saw, I couldent help but shake my head. I was shocked to see them there again, so sad. I really hope they dont start selling puppies and kittens for sale in pet stores again.
About 10 years ago a past boyfriend of mine gave me a pet store-bought puppy for my birthday. The dog now lives with my parents as we can’t trust her around my small children. For 10 years we’ve dealt with SERIOUS behaviour issues and a myriad of health issues. I now have two dogs of my own, both purchased from responsible breeders, who have lovely, predictable dispositions and (thus far) no health issues to speak of. I think it’s sad people still see pet stores as an option when it comes to bringing a new member into your family.