When you’re ready to acquire a new dog you’ll have several choices, with some methods definitely better than others. Pet shelters, Dog Breeders, Pet Stores and Puppy Mills are the most common sources, and it’s important that you carefully examine exactly what you’re getting into with each of these choices before making your purchase.
The Good
Shelters
If you’re less interested in the breed of a dog and more interested in simply finding a good companion animal, your local animal shelter is the best place to begin your search. Here you'll find well taken care of dogs of all ages and sizes and breeds.
Shelters will often allow you to spend some time to play with a dog you're attracted to before making your final decision on adopting it. They understand how important it is to match animals with the right type of owner. Once you’ve made your decision, you'll pay an adoption fee and you’ll get a new dog that has been fixed, vaccinated and injected with a microchip.
Breeders
Reputable breeders are the definitely the best option if you’re looking for a specific purebred puppy. A reputable breeder works for the benefit of the breed and is less concerned about profit. They care about who adopts their puppies so expect to be questioned about your plans for the dog. After a conversation or two it isn’t unusual for a breeder to decide against allowing a potential customer from adopting one of their puppies, so be prepared for this possiblity.
If you are approved by the breeder, you’ll likely have to sign a contract in which you agree to: spay or neuter a dog purchased for companion purposes only; notify the breeder of any medical conditions the dog might develop; notify the breeder if you have to get rid of the dog so they can help you find it a new home; and, if you’re buying the dog for breeding purposes, that you will breed your dog in accordance with breed standards.
The contract could also include other stipulations as well. Now, this may seem a bit rigorous, but the breeder is only trying to ensure the best interest, health and well-being of the animal. Any pet acquired from a responsible, reputable breeder can be very expensive, but you’ll know that your new family member is as healthy as s/he can be and free of genetic defects.
Where do you find a reputable breeder? Once you decide on the breed that’s right for you, check with the relevant local and national breed clubs. They'll be able to recommend a breeder in your area.
The Bad
Pet Stores
For many people, a trip to the mall to the Pet store is the most convenient way to acquire a new dog. And who can resist all those cute little puppies that seem to be so excited to see you. Let’s face it, it’s amazing that anyone ever makes it out of a pet store without taking one of those cuties home with them.
However, even though the animals appear to be well cared for and the store’s staff may vouch for their health and quality, the truth is usually entirely different. Why? Simply because the only source of dogs for today’s pet store is a puppy mill, because no reputable breeder would allow his or her dog to be displayed and sold in this way. So that leaves puppy mills as their source — the ugly side of acquiring a dog, as you can read next.
The Ugly
Puppy Mills
“Puppy Mill” is a term used to refer to a breeding facility that breeds dog only for profit. Therefore, little or no attention is paid to animal breed standards. In fact, the worst puppy mills simply stack their dogs up in cages, where they’re underfed and given very little medical care.
In order to churn out as much product as possible, the dogs are continually bred, heat cycle after heat cycle, giving the female dog little or no time to recover before she is impregnated again. The conditions under which these dogs are kept and bred often produce dogs with minor to major behavioral and medical problems.
Also, be aware that not all puppy mills are large facilities. Any “backyard breeder” who breeds dogs only for profit and not for the benefit of the breed is nothing more than a puppy mill.
The price you pay at a puppy mill is less than what you’d pay for a dog from a reputable breeder, but in the long run, you may end up paying much more. It’s normal for dogs from puppy mills to be plagued with medical problems because of their lack of proper medical care and malnutrition. You may end up having to pay for an excessive amount of medical exams, shots and medication.
As always, it’s important for a consumer of any product to be prudent before making their purchase, especially when dealing with a living, breathing creature that will be loved and cherished by all members of your family. So choose wisely.
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Glenn Cutforth is a writer, eBook publisher and graphic designer.
Visit his websites at: The Complete Cat.com and How To Classics.com
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Published by Glenn Cutforth on July 15, 2006 10:24 AM
