Why to Adopt from a Shelter Rather Than a Pet Store

Puppy mills are defined as commercial breeding facilities that mass-produce dogs for sale through pet stores, or directly to consumers through classified ads or the Internet. In simple terms, these businesses known as puppy mills put their profit, or the amount of money pulled in through sales, above the care required for these dogs. Mills ship their canines to pet stores or sell them on the Internet for common consumers to buy and take home. Buying puppies from pet stores rather than shelters can lead to many consequences, including behavioral problems, disease, a shorter life span, and price differences; on the other hand, shelter adoptions provide a sense of security and trust in your adoption.

The condition of these facilities is a frequently addressed topic. Puppy mills often confine their pups in metal cages, commonly piled atop one another, with little to no protection from the elements. These could include drastically cold or hot temperatures, stormy weather, or extreme winds. The puppy’s food and drink are often restricted or replaced with unhealthy equivalents, leading to famished or thirsty pups. Even worse, little puppies are often forced to sit for long periods of time in their own waste since there is little attention received from workers. Because freedom from the crates is uncommon, the small dogs miss out on practice opportunities for necessary social skills.

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But where do these puppies come from? The answer is breeding dogs. Breeding dogs, commonly female, are forced to give birth to mass amounts of pups in short periods of time. Breeding is repeated until the initial breeding dog loses the ability to pass off more puppies. This cycle not only affects the original birthing dog, but also her litters. When immense stress is placed on a pregnant dog, the stress has the capability of affecting the kin, just like humans, and may result in a premature birth or aloof puppies.

When she is finished breeding, it is not uncommon for workers to ‘euthanize’ her and replace her with a new dog, only for the process to begin all over again. Euthanasia is the humanly-inflicted death of a person or animal, usually occurring when one is on his or her deathbed and the option is often selected by inflictors as ‘the only solution’. That is not the case in this situation, and euthanasia can be committed through cruel and painful methods, such as drownings and shootings.

Veterinary care is also limited in the mills. Since dogs in these facilities are ultimately bred for a profit, genuine care and love take a backseat role. Proper veterinary care costs money, and paying for individual check-ups can add up. Mill owners often take the cheap route and lend this job to unqualified workers, often performing operations without anesthesia. Veterinary care is important. Without qualified care, issues with hygiene, infection, and illnesses are more likely to occur, especially since the dogs are stuck in such close, contagious quarters.

Alongside the veterinary and psychological disorders, rapid breeding also can affect the relationship of the pups and their mother. Attachment and basic social skills are important for any being to thrive, and this attachment can be ripped away from these dogs. Since puppies are so frequently churned out for a quick buck, there is barely any time for the dogs to familiarize themselves with their mother and littermates. This can reflect onto the setting of a family pet bought from a pet store. Since the basic social skills and attachment were not present at a young age for these puppies, the same can be true of their relationship with humans. Pet store pups may have issues with attachment, aggression, anxiety and fear. Social situations are necessary for dogs to thrive.

Pet stores receive dogs from puppy mills, but where are these facilities? The Midwest has the greatest concentration of mills in the US, with Missouri leading the region. Puppy mill pups begin their lives in mills all across the United States. Amish and Mennonite communities also commonly sell puppies, especially in Indiana and Ohio. Puppies are transported to pet stores or sold on the Internet by trucks or planes. The form of transport can also affect the growing puppies. Close quarters can result in anxiety, fear, stress, or illness.

Another form of breeding dogs for a profit is probably the most innocent: backyard breeders. Backyard breeders are sellers who breed their own dogs, often household pets, from the home. These can include neighbors, friends, and even family members. Although his or her intentions may be pure, these breeders are still breeding dogs for an ultimate cash reward and may not have access to safe breeding equipment or know the proper safety procedures necessary to conduct this activity. Animals could die early or may develop genetic defects or disease due to a lack of proper hygiene. An early death or lethal illness can certainly hurt the adopter, who was only interested in a simple family pet.

There are many methods to tell the difference between a puppy mill sponsored facility and a legitimate breeder or shelter. One obvious giveaway of a puppy mill or suspicious activity is the unwillingness of a worker to show off the whole facility. Before an adopter enters the premises, he or she should be sure to ask to see the entire breeding space. If the worker denies entry, he or she is more likely to be serving a puppy mill operation. Interested customers should also request information about the license of the breeding facility and make sure the corporation is of proper legal standing. Puppy mills can be licensed or unlicensed, but are required to be licensed in order to sell to a pet shop.

One should also be aware of pet stores and the likeliness that these businesses are supported by puppy mills. It is important for families interested in a new pet to look closely into background information on their breeder, especially if the seller is a backyard breeder. Location is also a sign of a proper or improper breeding facility. Ask sellers about their breeding intentions and background information.

Other issues are common among purebreds, or dogs carefully bred with fellow members of the same pure breed to produce a selected result. Purebreds are often highly sought after by dog competitors and people interested in a specific breed. Along with being popular, purebreds are costly and are sometimes a result of inbreeding because of the decreasing amount of actual ‘purebreds’. Purebreds are estimated to have a higher chance of developing genetic issues in contrast with mixed breeds. Genetic issues can include but are not limited to hip dysplasia, an enlarged heart, or issues with the respiratory system. These issues arise when closely related dogs are bred together, either forming genetic disorders or continuously passing them down the genetic line.

The pair selected for breeding can produce a life-altering effect on their pups. One significant example is the difference in life spans between dogs from shelters versus purebreds. Shelter dogs commonly have a longer lifespan than dogs from puppy mills. This is because of genetic defects in purebreds. In some cases, immunity to some diseases can be built up in mixed breeds because the distance in relation allows for the collection of different traits.

Although many of these puppy mill issues may seem temporary or insignificant, there are issues that can significantly alter one’s relationship and time with their new pup. The death of a beloved family pet upsets everyone, so why hasten it? Puppy mill dogs are at a much higher risk of shorter lifespans than mixed breeds. The partner of the original breeding dog is of a different breed or unrelated to the original, so the resulting puppy is less likely to receive possibly harmful disorders. Overall, mixed breeds offer a much longer life expectancy for the price an adopter pays.

Behavior issues are also much more common among puppy mill dogs because of the situation they are born into. Along with affecting the dog’s experiences with other animals, behavior problems can shift relationships between humans and pets. The dog may be afraid of humans, so growling, barking, or other forms of aggression may occur when in contact with young children or excitable people. Opposition may argue that behavior issues can be trained away, and this may be true in some dogs; however, this is not the case for every puppy mill pup. Dogs from puppy mills are automatically at a higher risk of developing these tendencies and sticking to them throughout their lives solely because of their background.

Another sharp contrast between adopting a pet from a pet store versus a shelter is support. Dogs adopted from shelters come from an environment with volunteers that are not interested in serving animals’ needs for the profit. Workers genuinely care about the animals’ safety, needs, and personality. They want these dogs to move to a loving and stable home and will be more likely to look further into future owners’ backgrounds. This is not to discount pet shop employees who may also care about animals, but it is apparent that shelter volunteers have done their research on the benefits of shelter adoptions and are not striving for a profit.

Support services targeted for home life with a new dog at pet stores are often somewhat limited as well. There is a need to make more room for a greater profit, and often pet stores are not interested in keeping up with their dogs after the business process is over. Pet stores are not charity; they are businesses.

The business aspect of pet stores is easy to see when one compares the prices of the two pets. According to Frances Battista, “Buying a pet can easily cost $500 to $1,000 or more. Adoption costs range from $50 to $200, depending on whether the pet comes from the city shelter or a rescue group that has spent money on boarding, vets and grooming”. Animals from shelters are unlikely to be purebreds, which automatically lowers the price. At some shelters, microchipping, injections, neutering, and spaying are included in the initial adoption cost, making this price even more tempting. Older dogs from shelters can even be housebroken compared to little puppies from pet shops. The price of housebreaking a dog can be very expensive, from the proper clean-up equipment to the possibility of additional obedience training. Plus, one will be less likely to have to buy a new carpet or invest in a cleaner.

Adopting from a shelter also saves another dog besides the adoptee. According to the Humane Society of the United States, one can rescue a dog “and open shelter space for another animal who might desperately need it”. Over one million dogs are estimated to be euthanized in shelters every year. Why not send one of those dogs to a loving home? As mentioned above, shelters are often filled to the brim with animals. This allows a broad selection of breeds and hounds to choose from. There is likely a shelter dog for everyone.

Some may argue that one is still saving a life by buying a pet, but this is not truly the case. Although the individual dog may be adopted, money is still being passed on to the cruel owners of puppy mills to continue this abusive practice. Others may say that a shelter dog is in its situation because of its behavior or a defect, but this is also rarely the case. According to the Humane Society of the United States, “Most shelter pets wound up there because of a human problem like a move or a divorce, not because the animals did anything wrong”.

Adopting from a shelter can literally save a life and open up a slot for a new furry friend. There are about ten thousand puppy mills in the country, with more than two million dogs reproduced in mills annually. It is not uncommon for these animals to eventually drift to shelters, only increasing the capacity of the already-overpopulated facilities. Adopting from a shelter is the best way to work against puppy mills. There is no way for any money spent to travel back to mills through this method.

Buying puppies from pet stores rather than shelters can lead to many consequences, including behavioral problems, disease, a shorter life span, and significantly high prices. Shelter adoptions serve the cause against puppy mills and the abuse of puppies and breeding dogs. Adopting also opens up more shelter space for future rescues and allows for adopters to literally save a life. A broad selection of animals is available, allowing future families to find the perfect pooch. Adopting from a shelter offers a clear conscience and support for interested adopters.