Complaint Review: Pet Paradise - Englishtown New Jersey

Pet stores in general are poor places to pick your next best friend. The animals in pet stores RARELY come from ethical breeders and are ALMOST always from puppy mills or backyard breeders. Puppy mills and backyard breeders are in the game to make money. They don't have any regard for the welfare of the animals. The breeding animals at these facilities live thier whole lives in cages. They rarely get any medical attention because that cuts into profits. These animals spend thier whole lives never knowing the joy of squeeky toys or kind loving hands. Your best bet is to seek out a breed specific rescue, or research an ethical breeder. The difference between an ethical breeder and a backyard breeder/puppy mill is that the ethical breeder's goal is to BETTER the breed. NOT make a profit. Thier profits come from breeding winning show dogs, NOT from mass producing and selling pups. The reason ethical breeders charge more for thier litters is simple. The sire, dam and pups are raised in thier homes. Not in cages. The sire and dam are health screened BEFORE they are bred. They are certified free of certain breed specific health defects that could be passed on to thier pups. Breed specific rescues are also not in the game for profit. Thier number one concern is the health and welfare of the animals they place. Many people are unaware of these things and many people (myself included!) have an "I want it now" attitude" Ethical breeders rarely have more than a few litters a year, so you would likely have to wait on your healthy new pup. There are also forms to fill out and in many cases interviews with the breeder, who will want to make sure that you are able and equipt to care for one of thier precious pups. Pet stores are easy. You get up one day, go the pet store and come home with a pup. No questions asked. Unfortuately, people whos hearts were in the right place end up broken hearted over thier sick or dying pup. Save yourself some heartache, when you are looking for that perfect addition to your family.....check with breed specific Rescues or do the research to find an Ethical Breeder. It will be worth it in the end.

I'm not sure if "Pets Paradise"in Australia is the same company as in the US but the story is the same. In November I popped into Pets PAradise in Sydney and saw the most adorable "Chihuahua" pups I'd seen, I asked the salesgirl about the color which was a mottled black and brown, she said it was the color of a long haired breed of chihuahua. I paid 399$ for the little guy and took him home. Within a month he had grown way beyond the size limits of any breed of chihuahua. I called the shop and asked the girl about this, she replied, "as a cross he may grow to any size" I said cross? you said he was a long haired variety she replied " he is a long haired cross, look at your paperwork. Sure enough the SEALED envelope she had handed me at time of purchase showed in very small print chihuahua x. As you can see what was said and what was written were completely different, but since it is on the paperwork provided there is no recourse. The shocking part is how the paperwork is given in a sealed envelope since the buyer is so preoccupied with his new friend (at the time I had my maltese with me too, so my hands were full). My vet has told me he is most likely crossed with some type of terrier. So the good part is I have an extremely loyal little mate who is the centre of attention everywhere I go! The bad part is I get laughed at all the time for being ripped off!