Are pet shops allowed to sell puppies?

Storm_rages

Was in a pet shop today and saw some puppies for sale. I was under the impression that it was illegal for pet shops to sell puppies and to be honest I've never seen puppies for sale in any other pet shops.

Am I mistaken? Surely this is not the best way for dogs to find homes.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Of course Pet Shops sell pets!

As for it being the best way for dogs to find homes - that's another debate. But, of course Pet Shops sell dogs. Not much of a Pet Shop really if it doesn't.

animalcrazy

Ignacio Famous Buttermilk wrote: »

. But, of course Pet Shops sell dogs. Not much of a Pet Shop really if it doesn't.

So if they don't sell dogs then they aren't much of a petshop? I have never seen a puppy/dog for sale in a petshop in my live and hope I never do, petshops who sell puppies are supplied by puppy farms, a petshop that doesn't sell dogs is a great petshop to me.

Duzzie

Unfortunalely yes they are. After visiting a shop in Dublin and being surprised to see puppies on sale, we contacted the DSPCA about it. They confirmed that as long as then puppies are being kept in suitable enclosures and being properly looked after, the shop is within their rights to sell them. Personally I think it is very wrong but thats the law.

Whispered

Ignacio Famous Buttermilk wrote: »

But, of course Pet Shops sell dogs. Not much of a Pet Shop really if it doesn't.

I've never seen a pup for sale in a pet shop.

00112984

I've seen puppies in petshops in the States but never over here and I really hope it's not going to become more common.

Frankly, if I saw puppies for sale in my local petshop, I'd ask to speak to the manager and explain that I'm going to take my business to a store that doesn't stock puppies.

Vote with your wallets but tell the powers that be why!

Storm_rages

Yea, this was a pet shop in Dublin. Srameen, i am well aware that pet shops do indeed, surprisingly enough sell pets but as someone who enjoys going to pet shops (i really need a better past time) I have never seen puppies for sale in Ireland.

I know there are worse things in the world for a dog (the pound for example) but it does bet the question what happens these puppies when they stop being puppies and are not sold?

The Sweeper

Personally I think petshops manage to make puppy sales because the puppies always look so bloody miserable that some bleeding heart will react by buying them to take them home out of the place. Put that with the fact that buying a puppy from a petshop is, to me, probably a total impulse buy, prompted by the need to rescue the dog. Subsequently I wouldn't be surprised if pet shops make their money off selling the puppy... Plus a dog bed, dog bowls, a lead, and anything else they can shift off on this poor stooge who had no intention of owning a dog until they walked past the store.

MissyN

Oh GOD I would HATE to see puppies for sale in a petshop.
Vile vile vile.

GeturGun

It's probably the same pet shop I was in just before Christmas and there was one puppy on it's own in a (as far a i know) newly built glass room. The poor thing looked so lonely and miserable that I literally would have bought it if my circumstances allowed!!! Exactly as described here...............

Minesajackdaniels wrote: »

some bleeding heart will react by buying them to take them home out of the place.

I was appalled to be honest and the poor thing looked terrified with everyone looking in and knocking on the glass. Then as I was leaving someone came in delivering 2 big crates with more puppies piled into them looking filthy and miserable. Even some toddler who bent down to have a look exclaimed "EWWWWW THEY STINK" Shocking. I'm not going to go back there ever, will get my kitty food elsewhere. I was thinking about those poor puppies for days.

Storm_rages wrote: »

what happens these puppies when they stop being puppies and are not sold?

Exactly what I was thinking that day.

Gazza22

This is becoming more and more common! I first seen pups for sale in a petshop in south Dublin a few weeks before Christmas and since then there has been a growing trend at least in Dublin.

2qk4u

Ive seen pups for sale in pet shops years ago, nothing wrong with that. Thats like saying car dealers shouldnt sell Mini Coopers because they are cute cars.

ronbyrne2005

In theory it could be acceptable if it was regulated and puppy farms controlled.

Weidii

They should have to buy the pups they sell from sanctuaries.

Duzzie

ronbyrne2005 wrote: »

In theory it could be acceptable if it was regulated and puppy farms controlled.

Even simple things like the control of dangerous animals can not be done here, what chance is there of controlling puppy farms?? AFAIK, the staff in the shop in question are very much against selling puppies and a number of them have left. The owner wont tell the staff where the puppies came from and if he wont tell them, what chance does a customer have of knowing the background of the puppy they are buying.
=

2qk4u wrote: »

Ive seen pups for sale in pet shops years ago, nothing wrong with that. Thats like saying car dealers shouldnt sell Mini Coopers because they are cute cars.

They are exactly the same arent they. There are thousands of cute mini coopers in car pounds that were bought as impulse buys in car shops only to be thown out a few weeks later. Not forgetting the terrible conditions of them car farms and the over breeding of the parent minis.

Rory123

There's a pet shop in Drogheda that sells puppies.
This is not an insult to other animals or their owners but it is my opinion that dogs are just far too intelligent and emotionally advanced (unlike, for example, fish, rabbits, birds etc) to spend the first part of their life in a petshop.

Not much of a Pet Shop really if it doesn't.

... this is either a very obvious wind up to get people angry, or its quite possibly one of most inaccurate, dumbest things I've ever read on Boards!

MissyN

Rory123 wrote: »

There's a pet shop in Drogheda that sells puppies.
This is not an insult to other animals or their owners but it is my opinion that dogs are just far too intelligent and emotionally advanced (unlike, for example, fish, rabbits, birds etc) to spend the first part of their life in a petshop.



... this is either a very obvious wind up to get people angry, or its quite possibly one of most inaccurate, dumbest things I've ever read on Boards!

I agree on part 1 and definitely part 2 Rory123.

00112984

Dogs (and cats) especially need to be socialised from a young age- more so than rabbits, birds etc.

A puppy growing up in a petshop having people knock on his box is not going to be a happy, friendly dog. He's going to be nervous and not used to bonding with people- a big reason that hundreds of mature dogs are marked for euthanasia in pounds each week.

I presume that these puppies are being sold as pedigrees as I imagine that's where the cashcow comes in (someone happier to part with several hundred for a pure bred than a cross)? How are microchips and club registrations kept clear? As in, if you have twenty puppies in stock and 14 of them are, say, rough collies from three different litters, how do you know the papers you get are for the right pup? If there's a mix-up, you could end up with inbreeding down the line.

I can't see a petshop getting a vet to constantly vaccinate and worm the puppies so cross-contamination is rife.

animalcrazy

2qk4u wrote: »

Ive seen pups for sale in pet shops years ago, nothing wrong with that. Thats like saying car dealers shouldnt sell Mini Coopers because they are cute cars.

This is a very stupid statement, there is a big difference between a piece of metal and a living puppy. The puppies sold in these petshops come from puppy farms, in bad conditions where the dogs are overbred and often don't receive adequate vet care. Like, other posters have said, the puppies are often bought on impulse, which means the new owner would have done no research as regards to health and training. Often, the puppies grow up to be misbehaved and are put into pounds or dumped.

So imagine if more and more petshops began to sell puppies, since there is ''nothing wrong with it'', puppy farms produce more puppies which means bigger farms and more cruelty and neglect on the farms. The more puppies in the shops, the more customers and then more abandoned dogs, and we certainly have enough of those.

bigpinkelephant

The worst part is that people feel sorry for the puppies and buy them to "rescue" them- which simply puts more money into the puppy farmers hands.
The pet shop owner isn't going to care that 10 of the puppies he sold this week were sold because of people pitying them. If people are buying the puppies, he's going to keep ordering them, which means the puppy farms will keep breeding them.

Honey-ec

Is there a particular reason why we can't name the shops?

My sister is going out with the brother-in-law of the owner of the big Dublin shop currently doing this. I had a word with him (the BIL) and asked him to speak to the owner about how abhorrent a practice this is, and he said there's absolutely no point in him saying anything, as the owner couldn't give a sh*t.

Pretty much sums up the attitude of most people involved in the puppy industry in Ireland. Including the Government, sadly.

Our man in Havana

What about the poor pet shops that do not buy puppies & kittens but rather find them dumped on the doorstep - what should these shops do? Rehome them & ask for a small donation that goes to a rescue group or simply hand them into the local pound where they will most likely be euthanised??

Rory123

Bond-007 wrote: »

What about the poor pet shops that do not buy puppies & kittens but rather find them dumped on the doorstep - what should these shops do? Rehome them & ask for a small donation that goes to a rescue group or simply hand them into the local pound where they will most likely be euthanised??

Does this actually happen?

Our man in Havana

Rory123 wrote: »

Does this actually happen?

Yes it does! Move often than I would like it to happen! My local pet shop works blooming hard to tame & socialise & then find fantastic homes for these animals - it also costs them a lot of money! but they still do it for the love of animals. Not all pet shops are bad & a lot of them do a lot of work for animal welfare, tis not always about money.

charlie-dee

2qk4u wrote: »

Ive seen pups for sale in pet shops years ago, nothing wrong with that. Thats like saying car dealers shouldnt sell Mini Coopers because they are cute cars.

WTF:eek:

Drivers have to pass a test to own a licence to drive a car, like-wise dog owners in this country need to be educated about dog ownership & animal welfare before owning a dog, education is key.

The Sweeper

Bond, as you say yourself, there's a huge difference between that sort of thing and puppy mill sales through stores.

Whatever about the pet store selling on rescue and recovery animals, I still believe the display of puppies in an enclosed glass case or cage is inappropriate for the animals - same goes for kittens. Especially the sort of cage that doesn't allow them anywhere to hide (that goes doubly for kittens).

comongethappy

In the states, there are many pet shops that will sell puppies

Last time I was there though, one of the new super pet shops had a specially built area - two large rooms (glass fronts), with hideaways, toys, etc - to show shoppers animals from the humane society that need homes. They were there for no longer than a week, and highlighted the need for people to rescue the animals. Anyone interested would fill out a vetting form and complete their adoption with the humane society.

I thought it was a brilliant way to encourage people to rescue, even if they didn't get the animal shown at the shop, it would probably draw there attention to getting a rescue animal from the shelter.

randomgirlinbra

I was so upset to see some of the big pet shops in Dublin selling puppies recently, also it starts this attitude of it okay to do it so more pet shops are likely to follow suit, and im sure it puts pressure on smaller shops to keep up, its not right people, dont buy from shops that are doing this and maybe theyll stop!!!

randomgirlinbra

oh, i do agree with comongethappy tho, shops doing that are doing good!
but selling puppies=NO,

Rory123

comongethappy wrote: »

In the states, there are many pet shops that will sell puppies

Last time I was there though, one of the new super pet shops had a specially built area - two large rooms (glass fronts), with hideaways, toys, etc - to show shoppers animals from the humane society that need homes. They were there for no longer than a week, and highlighted the need for people to rescue the animals. Anyone interested would fill out a vetting form and complete their adoption with the humane society.

I thought it was a brilliant way to encourage people to rescue, even if they didn't get the animal shown at the shop, it would probably draw there attention to getting a rescue animal from the shelter.

I've seen groups do stuff like this in French shopping centres and hypermarkets too.

Sigma Force

"This is not an insult to other animals or their owners but it is my opinion that dogs are just far too intelligent and emotionally advanced (unlike, for example, fish, rabbits, birds etc) to spend the first part of their life in a petshop"

Why should an animal like a rabbit not get the same due care and attention when being sold as a dog? Rabbits require company, socialisation, vacciantions, worming, neutering etc. They don't whimper and whine and paw at the cage and people in general don't understand rabbits at all is why there's no big deal made of it.

As for birds many birds are highly intelligent and many way more intelligent than a dog, they also suffer from boredom and stress and will feather pluck till the point of bleeding, they can pine, they get stressed when their owners leave, they can be destructive like a puppy or dog if bored.
Only that they are locked in a cage unlike a dog they can't do the damage a dog can do if bored so owners don't notice or find it a problem.

In my opinion puppy farms and back yard breeders should be completly banned of course but if pet shops were properly regulated then I don't see the problem in selling pups or kittens. However many shops should even be selling dog food, but there are also exceptions some shops are well run and have a lot of commen sense just wish there were more of them.

Rabbits and birds etc are just as important as dogs or cats and they all should be treated with equal respect and common sense where ever they are.
I have a bird, and he is much more needy than any dog I've ever had.

If people don't want to buy from a shop that has puppies or kittens then don't be hypocritical and buy from a shop that sells an similar animal like a rabbit that also requires a lot of what a cat would.

*Jumps off soap box*