Purchasing a pet: what that doggie in the window really costs

How often have you or a member of your family gone into the pet store at your local mall to look at the furry bundles in cages or behind windows? Some sleep, others stand and stare back--and then there are the ones that huddle in the back, their eyes huge with fright. Sales clerks are more than willing to let you hold the cute puppy or kitten, and your heart melts. You feel sorry for the animal because you know you could provide a much better home for this little guy--which is exactly the reaction that pet stores count on.

You rationalize that this pup must be from a reputable breeding establishment; after all, it's registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC). In truth, the AKC advises that it "is not itself involved in the sale of dogs and cannot therefore guarantee the health and quality of dogs in its registry," and it basically has no idea where and how these pups were bred and raised.

So before you pay $500 or more, question where this puppy or kitten actually came from. Puppy and kitten mills are major suppliers to pet shops. It has been estimated that there are more than 4,000 puppy mills in the United States, which produce more than half a million puppies a year.

Puppy mills are large-scale commercial breeding facilities that produce many different breeds of dogs. Dogs are bred for profit only, and there is virtually no concern for the health or emotional well-being of these animals. Brood bitches are killed once their reproductive capacity wanes.

On www.stoppuppymills.com, I read that the mother of the puppy you hold in your arms is probably exhausted, starving and sick, and she has never run on grass in a yard or felt loving arms cuddle her. She has never known kind voices or a full meal or a warm, clean bed to sleep in. The article went on to say that she may die this month from any of a number of ailments. If not, she might wish she did--if she could wish. She will die young--whether from neglect and abuse or from being shot when she no longer produces puppies for sale.

Puppies from these facilities lack socialization, live in squalid, over-crowded conditions, are fed inferior food and often have congenital problems, including hip dysplasia, kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, deafness and behavioral problems, which may not show up for months or years. They are taken from their mothers when they are only 5-6 weeks old, and they're trucked hundreds of miles to a pet store. They are often too young to eat dog food or too sick to care.

"In August 2001, 17 states had enacted laws or issued regulations that allow consumers to receive refunds or reimbursement of veterinary bills when a sick puppy is purchased," writes the Humane Society of the United States.

Often these regulations set limits on how much will be paid toward veterinary bills, and they only apply if a disease or defect is found within a week or two after the sale. Some pet stores will also offer a replacement pup or refund, again within a specific period. Before purchasing a puppy from a pet shop, check the Puppy Lemon Laws in your state at www.malteseonly.com/lemon.html.

Please remember: By purchasing a puppy or kitten from a pet shop, you are contributing to more suffering and more deaths of animals at the puppy mills that bred them.

Backyard Breeders

Although not as large an operation as a puppy mill, backyard breeders often possess the same deplorable conditions. Usually they're limited to two or three breeds of dogs. These people often breed solely for the money, advertising in newspapers and selling to pet shops. Puppies and kittens sold through these operations can be infested with fleas, have a wide array of physical problems, and, like the puppy mill animals, have virtually no human contact to socialize them.

One of my cats, Simon, was raised in such conditions. He is now 11 years old and still is very stressed if any attempt is made to pick him up. As with children, negative experiences early in animals' lives are imprinted on them forever.

Responsible Breeders

Should you decide a pet would be a welcome addition to your life, do some research. Read all you can about the breed that interests you, and ascertain if it will fit your lifestyle. If you don't have an active life, for instance, don't purchase a breed that needs a lot of exercise such as hounds, retrievers and shepherds.

After you've decided on a specific breed, attend a dog or cat show, and discuss the breed's qualities with experts. Read dog or feline magazines that provide a list of breeders in your area. Also, contact a local breeders club, and ask for a list of reputable kennels or catteries.

Your next step is to contact these facilities. Some may have puppies or kittens available immediately, or you may have to wail If you decide you don't want to breed or show your pet--and if you're willing to take in a full-grown dog or cat, not a puppy or kitten--breeders often have older animals for whom they would like to find a good home. This has been the case with three of the Newfoundlands I've adopted, who've been wonderful, healthy pets.