Pet Shop
Should You Buy A Pet from the Store or the Pound? by Christel Gowans
A first decision a future pet owner hast to make is where to get their new furry friend. Many are captivated by small puppies peeping out from pet shop windows but don’t know the whole story behind the dogs’ origins. Adopting a dog from a pound instead is an inexpensive, animal-friendly option that must be considered by anyone considering adding a new member to the family.
Most enthusiasts feel the need to give their new pup the best life available: long walks, cuddling on the couch, attachment and medical check-ups. They could not imagine that cute puppy they fell in love with at the shop stuck in a tiny cage with no human socialization, low access to food or water or lived in unsanitary conditions. The sad truth is many shop pups come from puppy mills using these practices to produce 500,000 puppies every year.
Store owners are skilled at concealing the origins of their pups, usually claiming that animals came from reputable breeders and not mills. Reputable breeders don’t sell their animals to pet stores; in fact, the practice blatantly violates many breeding clubs’ codes of conduct. Ensuring that the puppy came from a USDA-inspected place also does not guarantee the pet was properly raised. Modern rules only require breeders to give minimum standards of care and many puppy mills are indeed USDA-approved.
Store pups commonly suffer from genetic disorders on account of aggressive breeding and pitiful care at breeding centers. Psychological issues are also regular because of a lacking in socialization. Store owners might talk to would-be customers with certificates of good health from a veterinarian. Unfortunately, this usually only means pups had a brief check-up that did not include important checks for bugs, genetic problems or other diseases. Health certifications are often plagued with loopholes and provide little if any protection if the dog falls ill afterwards. These problems, paired with the high cost of pets going upwards of $1000, make purchasing a pet from a store risky.
The alternative to taking home a pet shop pup is to adopt a shelter or pound dog. Nearly 10 million animals end up in shelters annually and often, their lives will depend on getting adopted. Most shelter dogs are surrendered not due to behavioral problems, but because their owners had changes in their lives like residence or lifestyle.
Many dog pounds lend services that pet shops do not, including behavioral analysis, vaccines, neutering, microchipping, and treatment for diseases. These services guarantee that an adopted pet would be a smooth fit for the adopting family and is truly in good shape. The tie between the pound and the owner often continues after the adoption, as rescue groups offer training and are available for advice during the dog’s life. These services are usually included in the price of adoption, which is generally much less than the cost buying dogs from pet stores. Giving a dog from the pound a home is the best second option to purchasing from a shop.
About the Author
Christel is a collage grad from Texas. She majored in education.
Christel Gowans is not a pro author she writes for fun. She began composing with the intention to share her thoughts and wisdom with the world. Her topics the she posts on range between large dog beds to how to make a chicken house. Maybe you have realized all her content have to do with pets. Christel has 2 pooches a kitten and a very good looking bunny named Bugs.
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