Comments on: Pasco Pet Store Sells Sick Puppies http://www.mattmcgee.com/pasco-pet-store-sells-sick-puppies/ I got your tagline right here... Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:16:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Kahlilah http://www.mattmcgee.com/pasco-pet-store-sells-sick-puppies/#comment-309 Kahlilah Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:02:06 +0000 http://www.mattmcgee.com/?p=180#comment-309 Well of course they get them from suppliers. I figured most people knew that, and only continue to buy from pet stores because there are so many choices, and it's easy. Whenever you buy any sort of pet from a pet store, you can expect it came from a "mill". Not many chain pet stores buy from individual breeders. With some animals, like reptiles, birds, and some rodents, this probably doesn't matter. But if you are getting a cat, dog, or ferret, the chances of them having congenital problems is increased tenfold if they were bred in a mill. That's just the way business goes.. as a prospective pet buyer, it's down to you to ask where the animals came from, or pay more to get your pet from a breeder. Well of course they get them from suppliers. I figured most people knew that, and only continue to buy from pet stores because there are so many choices, and it’s easy. Whenever you buy any sort of pet from a pet store, you can expect it came from a “mill”. Not many chain pet stores buy from individual breeders. With some animals, like reptiles, birds, and some rodents, this probably doesn’t matter. But if you are getting a cat, dog, or ferret, the chances of them having congenital problems is increased tenfold if they were bred in a mill.
That’s just the way business goes.. as a prospective pet buyer, it’s down to you to ask where the animals came from, or pay more to get your pet from a breeder.

]]> By: Eric Lander http://www.mattmcgee.com/pasco-pet-store-sells-sick-puppies/#comment-280 Eric Lander Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:52:21 +0000 http://www.mattmcgee.com/?p=180#comment-280 Four years ago we bought my mother a Chocolate Lab as a Christmas gift after the family dog of 17 years had died. We bought it from a new store that we thought was clean, reputable and safe to deal with. Despite being a rescue-dog fanatic, we bought the purebred for $900. He ended up being a great dog. Great with kids, a bit beefier than the average Lab, but a well mannered dog. At three years old though he was diagnosed with cancer. He never made it to his fourth birthday. Local newspapers and television stations have since identified the store as having the same problems for dozens of families throughout the area. I know of at least three other owners who had their pets die of cancer within 5 years of having bought them there. While I would'nt throw that store under the bus on this alone, there's a smoking gun involved. I don't intend this to be an animal rights activist type of comment... However, I do think that this problem is more common than we may believe. Perhaps it's time to hold larger stores and brands to standard for the breeders they source from. Four years ago we bought my mother a Chocolate Lab as a Christmas gift after the family dog of 17 years had died. We bought it from a new store that we thought was clean, reputable and safe to deal with.

Despite being a rescue-dog fanatic, we bought the purebred for $900. He ended up being a great dog. Great with kids, a bit beefier than the average Lab, but a well mannered dog. At three years old though he was diagnosed with cancer. He never made it to his fourth birthday.

Local newspapers and television stations have since identified the store as having the same problems for dozens of families throughout the area. I know of at least three other owners who had their pets die of cancer within 5 years of having bought them there.

While I would’nt throw that store under the bus on this alone, there’s a smoking gun involved. I don’t intend this to be an animal rights activist type of comment… However, I do think that this problem is more common than we may believe.

Perhaps it’s time to hold larger stores and brands to standard for the breeders they source from.

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