Question on pet stores vs. breeders

[Shadowkins]

I have been reading all the posts on people asking about mixed breeds and the possibility of buying them from pet stores. Now please, I don't want to add fuel to the fire ,I simply want to better understand...if no one buys these dogs at pet stores, what happens to them? Do they, in time, end up at shelters or are they returned to the breeder? If so, not buying them at pet stores doesn't seem to fix the problem and these so called breeders still continue, don't they?

I do understand the explanations from the experts on the site, I guess I am just concerned as to what happens to the poor pups...they sure didn't get a say in the matter.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who has wondered this.
It seems such a shame for the animals...as usual their welfare comes last because of greedy people.

[oc_spirit]

It depends on the contract between pet store and puppy mill. Some are sent to shelters, some are simply euthanized, some are sent back to the puppy mill to use as breeding stock, some a big truck comes and loads them up and they are just never seen again...

What does not buying these poor pups do? It stops the profit so the pet store starts losing money housing these pups as opposed to making money, and the puppy millers go bankrupt from no income.

[Tiffany0204]

It's very sad, those poor pups have to pay the price for someone else's greed. It makes me very mad. I have a hard time going into petstores that have animals in them, I feel so bad for every poor pup that's in there.

[Cassiepeia]

*nods at what OC said* Yup, basically that's it.

I know that down here in Australia, there are some rescues who actually keep a good eye on the petstore puppies and when the time is up for them in the store, they go in an take the pups on board (no payment is made). Of course this is only if the dogs were due to be dumped in a shelter or put to sleep (both of which are common).
Then the rescue groups work hard at finding new homes for them.

Sadly that doesn't happen for all, but at least some are being given a second chance....and even better, NO profit goes to the horrid breeder who put them there in the first place.

Cass.

[Shadowkins]

Thanks... I'm glad you answered but I'm just sick at the thought of those poor puppies who don't get the chance to know a loving home.
It's ironic how we humans consider ourselves a superior race when some of us do that to another living creature

[Cassiepeia]

Something you could do is contact breed specific rescue organisations and notify them when you see their breed in petshops.
Hopefully they'll keep an eye on those pups and see what they can do to help, if the pups are (hopefully) not sold. They may be able to convince the pet shop to hand them over, if they're not destined to end up back with their breeder.

Cass.

[Pippinislove]

What happens to the dogs depends on the pet store. Some are sent to shelters or euthanized, sometimes they continually lower the price to nothing so someone will eventually take it.

What not buying from pet stores accomplishes is the pet stores having a "product" that isn't wanted and isn't making them any money. If they aren't making any money off of keeping and trying to sell these puppies, they'll stop buying them from the mills and bad breeders. If the mills aren't getting the pet stores to buy from them, then THEY aren't making any money and they'll stop breeding.