Complaint Review: Petland

First, I have several VERY healthy animals from pet stores. In fact, NO major health problems. And some of these dogs are eleven years old. Since it is unlikely that you will ever end the business, you should be a little more realistic in your ideas. How about trying to change the standards instead? Yes, there are bad breeders, and bad pet stores, but there are just as many bad shelters, not to mention bad buyers. Some vets did an unbiased study, it is posted at the website for the American Animal Welfare Society, and was posted by AVMA, but I am not sure if it is available for public use there. Guess what the results ACTUALLY were. There were not particularly different findings between the pet shops, shelters, private parties, ect. Not in the first two weeks, and not for hereditary and or congenital defects. There were even areas where pet shop puppies came out ahead! Please read it. I am not saying that things don't need to change, but I believe in being realistic. And FAIR.

Just because I believe my local shelter is a complete disaster (you would not BELIEVE what I have seen come out of there), doesn't mean I am going to go and say to never get pets from shelters because they are all horrible people who don't care. I don't believe the big P ran their shelters very well either, which is ALSO a matter of public record. Shall we ask how many people have had good experiences with a shelter as opposed to bad? The percentages would most likely be similar. We need to change the standards and the rules ALL THE WAY AROUND. My local shelter should not be able to pump out animals with life threatening illness without repercussion (besides bad publicity) when others must follow different rules. We need to work at setting better standards for everyone, and every avenue. And make them the same.

My local shelter should not be able to display an animal with parvo in public place around other animals with the condition that it will be up for adoption when it is better, do you know what would happen to a store that did that? And they did, at a very large local chain where others are encouraged to bring their pets. Stores are not allowed to knowingly falsify breeds, shelters do. Stores are not allowed to place animals under certain ages, shelters do. Stores must disclose ALL information, shots, medical, who the animal came from, shelters don't. Pet stores here have very strict space requirements, alot of math involved, I haven't ever seen my shelter not overcrowded. I have never been able to verify a store putting an animal down because it was there too long, it doesn't make sense when you think about it, it's cheaper for the store to give it away, euthanasia costs money, but shelter's do.

These are just general statements, from my own observations, and RESEARCH, and experiences, and my knowledge of the law in my state. They are my own opinions. I have meant to offend no one whom works at a great shelter, and truly works hard for the benefit of animals. I see these comments too often, and yes, I think we need to get the USDA to change their requirements, standards, and penalties to those who deserve it. Maybe think of some incentive that we can offer to stop cruelly producing animals in mass quantities for re-sale. If we believe our local laws are too lax, we need to work on those too. But we need to work on them on ALL fronts, and not just one, and not throw in the good apples with the bad. To do otherwise is a double standard, and hypocrytical. Not all puppies from pet stores are walking nightmares, I have proof of that several times over, not all puppies in pet stores come from horrible places, and not all pet stores and employees are uneducated, uncaring, money grubbing jerks.

Alot of problems can be solved by reading contracts, and exercising some sort of reasonable expectation, knowing your rights, and making an educated decision on what is right for you. We can say that any breeder that would sell to a pet shop is horrible, but might their reasoning be similar to the ones that have everyone with their own websites now, and advertising on sites full of breeders? Are you aware of the relationship some of these breeders have with the stores their puppies go to? Are you aware of exactly how knowledgable or ethical every breeder whom sells to a pet store is? How discriminating they may be? Sorry for the rant here, but it is unfair to persecute a group as a whole, for the faults of some, and give others a free pass because they do not carry the name pet store. Do you think it fair, ethical and reasonable to group people in a similar manner as well?

i'm very sorry for the trouble you are having with your new puppy, but it's a story that those of us involved in animal rescue hear all to often.

your puppy came from a puppy mill.

you should NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES buy a dog from a pet store. you are supporting a horrendous cycle that is heartbreaking to say the least.

there are beautiful, sweet dogs all over the country dying in shelters because of ignorance. not only are pet store puppies brought into this world in a terribly cruel manner, but people ended up wasting their money and emotions on pets that require a lot of care and usually ended up having to be put to sleep before they are one or two years old.

next time you want to get a dog, please visit your local shelter or contact a rescue organization first. if you are dead set on a certain breed or having a puppy, find a reputable breeder through the AKC or an affliated club.

not only will you be getting a better quality animal that isn't part of the horror of puppymills, but you will not be emotionally invested in a pet that will die prematurely.

you could have avoided this situation entirely by doing some research. please look into the horror that is puppymills and encourage everyone you know to stay away from petstore puppies. if i were you, i would write petland a letter saying you will not shop at their stores for any reason until they stop the sale of puppies, kittens, bunnies, and any other live small mammals.

First of all, I don't believe you are obligated to go to their vet anymore since I think you are past the time of the immediate part of the warranty in which they pay for life threatening illness? Read your warranty again closely and make sure. Make sure you even want whatever options agreed to in the warranty. Make sure you follow them if you do. Then I would go to a vet of your choosing and see if they can figure out a reason for why the puppy may be doing this. Could even be a mis-shaped kidney. Have they checked for stones and such? Diabetes? UTI (but I think alot of the same anti-biotics used for colds ALSO work on uti's)?Some of the things mentioned are unlikely though. There may not be ANY physical reason, it may just be the puppy, and there even some breeds which are known for this like cockers, without medical cause. However, if there is a congenital cause, it SHOULD be covered under the warranty because the dog was BORN with it (provided that they cover it). However, they probably don't compensate for vet bills. READ YOUR CONTRACT before you waste your money on a lawyer. Check your lemon laws as to what they are responsible for. I'd imagine that if they had to, they would have paid it. Make sure you know what you both agreed to and what your remedy's are before you do anything else. Also, is your puppy still being treated for cold? What meds and how long for each has the vet tried? I may have some suggestions to ask him about if that's the case. Have you considered trying diapers? Paps need alot of attention.