Please Don't Buy From Pet Stores

I'm writing this to bring awareness and attentionI instantly thought of my puppy's family and
to a horrific but not new discovery that we oftenparents still there and the conditions other dogs
don't think about. When you purchase puppies orare living in. It's really just too sad. I just wanted
kittens from pet stores or pet chains, you'reto spread the word and let anyone know that
supporting mills. . .may be in the market to buy a designer dog or a
When we buy a pet or even shop at a store thatnew pet from a pet store, to please head to a
sells puppies, we contribute to a heartlessshelter and adopt or at least look in the paper and
underground industry that forces dogs to spendbuy from a homebased breeder that care for
their entire lives in cages constantly breeding totheir animals. I learned that NO local breeder that
support consumer demand for puppies.cares for their animals sells their dogs or cats to
If you're not familiar with the definition of a puppypet stores. They adopt them out only to people
mill, it's similar to raising cattle for production.they believe will take care of the dogs and they
Often times female dogs are kept in tiny cagesdon't keep them in aquariums. . .Even if the owner
and are forced to breed as often as possible forof the store promises and tells you they buy local
their entire lives. No love, proper attention or careor not from mills, it's almost impossible.
given. Once they've produced many moneyInvestigate where they get their dogs first
making litters, they're put down. It's a businessbefore purchasing. I'm a REALTOR. Now while
afterall. I won't go into the graphic and sad detailstalking to buyers or showing backyards perfect
of what goes on in a puppy mill, but here's a link iffor pets, When they agree, (and many new
you choose to look further into this and educatehome owners will buy a dog.) I try to spread the
yourself and others.word without being pushy of course. Just a
[simple, "This is a great yard for a dog! Just please
There are SO many strays and beautiful, lovingadopt and not buy one from a pet store, mall or
dogs and cats available for adoption, there's noonline" We can all make a difference by just
reason to continue breeding these dogs in massletting others know however you can.
numbers and sell them for insane amounts ofPuppy mills sell to local Pet Stores for $10-$60 per
money especially in the conditions they're living in.puppy. But you pay 10x's MORE.
I'm guilty of this.Puppies purchased in pet stores are often
I purchased a Silky Terrier from a pet store foraggressive, problemed and hard to house train.
$900. It was adorable and I fell in love. I honestlyPetSmart is a wonderful chain. They don't sell
didn't know a thing about mills or what was behindpuppies, (Which I'm sure they'd make a mint on)
all this. All I knew was I saw him in a 10 gallonand only sell cats and kittens that have been
aquarium and he looked at me and that was it.neglected or strays. Adopting from them is safe,
The pet shop owner assured me that all his dogspurchasing their in-store products at least go to
are USDA certified and the places he purchasessupport animals not mills.
them from are inspected and stamped forThanks for listening and please spread the word,
approval. I believed this and it's a very well knowneven if just randomly; "Don't buy from pet
pet store in Kamms Corner, (Cleveland) Later,stores" Not that I want to see them out of
after doing my own investigation I learnedbusiness, but until they change their method of
something else completely. The papers for mygreed and obtaining animals I've lost respect and
silky had the mill at the top. I dug around andwon't support.
found it's no different than any other mill, =(