Puppies and Pet Store Rip-Offs: Don't Let This Happen to You

In my experience as an animal shelter volunteer and as former dog groomer, as well as reading numerous posts on pet forums and elsewhere on the internet, I have come across an all too common problem: many new puppy owners have been the victim of pet store rip-offs. It is only when visiting the groomer, pet store, or vet when many pet owners realize they didn't get all they paid for. Many owners have bought puppies under the wrong breed label, thought they were paying for shots which the pup didn't get, and have encountered many unexpected, costly problems such as poor health conditions, behavioral problems, allergies, deceptive language from sellers, "hidden fees", and extra expenses for care. It is then when many of these pets end up in the animal shelter.

Adorable animals are often sold where ignorance is the best customer. Cute puppies can literally sell themselves to unsuspecting buyers who will unknowingly pay an extra high price to bring home a handful of problems. An informed customer is the best defense against pet store rip-offs. Prior knowledge also protects buyers from legal troubles. It's hard to tell if pets are sold using deceptive methods on purpose; it's unthinkable that anyone is knowingly contributing to the problem of homeless pets. Perhaps sellers are also ignorant. More likely, stores are giving in to the motto of the customer is always right and therefore must know what they want. Stores are also careful not to say anything that might seem like they're trying to talk anyone out of a sale. So before you buy a pet, ask yourself, do you really know what you're paying for, and can you tell if you're getting it?

As a customer, this first line of defense may seem obvious, but remember that a real puppy is more than just a cute stuffed animal. For a real dog, what you see is only a small part of what you get. Unlike with an inanimate object, a real pup has needs and one of those needs is vaccines. Puppy shots include a combination series of shots, given in sets, and the first rabies vaccine isn't completed until the last set, given at around four months. (Additional shots are recommended for some dogs, and recommended ages for shots can vary; consult with a vet.) Rabies vaccines are required by law in most states as rabies is a disease fatal to dogs and humans; some states may require additional shots and groomers and pet boarding facilities may have added requirements. With no vaccines, puppies are even more vulnerable to disease, and legal problems. Note that the first set of shots is not given until around six to nine weeks; eight weeks is the age at which puppies are often sold. To get the second set, it's best to have a shot record. Some vets require a shot record to know when it's safe to give the next set.

Many potential dog owners don't think they need to know this until after they have brought the puppy home. Beware, without this vital knowledge, many new pet owners have purchased an eight week old puppy and were told that their new dog has had "all shots" or is "current on all shots" and did not get all they were, or thought they were paying for. At just eight weeks, "all shots" could mean "no shots" because the puppy has just recently reached the age at which they are eligible to receive the first set (again, this varies by state, consult with a local vet). The words "all shots" are deceptive because vaccines must be updated on a regular basis to keep the dog current. Due to these updates, it's not possible for a puppy to come with "all shots"; they can only be "current" or "up to date". Even when getting a puppy that doesn't come with shots in the purchase price, new owners need to know the importance of vaccines and laws in their state. They also need to be prepared for the cost of puppy vaccines; that first vet visit is very important. It would be a very good idea to pick and meet with a vet before getting the dog to learn about puppy shots and veterinary costs.

The only way to tell what shots a pup has already had is to look at the shot record. Sometimes puppies come with a shot record, sometimes not. When giving a first good look at the vet record, if available, many new owners have come to the realization that the only thing that the puppy has had was deworming, if that. Sometimes the pup has had the first set but the new first time dog owner took "all shots" literally and did not realize that the pup still had other sets to receive. Sometimes more shot sets and a vet visit are included with the purchase and the customer must either return to the place of purchase or visit the veterinarian to get them. A customer who misses this information in the purchase will end up missing the appointments, and may have to start over with another first set of puppy shots (consult with your veterinarian). Customers who are not given a shot record do not know when, or if, shots were given may also have to start at the beginning.

Sometimes customers can contact the store to get the missing shot record that the store 'forgot' to give, sometimes not. It is possible that the shot record was not given by mistake in a few cases, but this is not much comfort to a customer who is now faced with unexpected vet fees or who must start over having missed the date for the next set, or worse, is the new owner of an already sick puppy. Given too soon, another set can be dangerous for a young pup and many vets recommend starting over if the exact date is not known. In the meantime, a pup who is behind on shots remains vulnerable to disease and may become ill, especially when on the ground, and particularly in areas frequented by other dogs, such as pet stores. Healthy adult dogs can pass diseases to puppies who do not have the same immunity. For the health of your puppy (and the sake of your wallet) be well informed about puppy shots, and deworming, before getting dog. If you're told the pup comes with shots, make sure you get the shot record. To know your getting what you pay for, read it thoroughly before you leave with the pup, and be prepared to pay for shots needed in the future by knowing the schedule and expense.

If you want a healthy puppy instead of a high priced sickly rip-off another factor is the puppy's age. This is also an important factor to avoid legal trouble. Many states require that puppies reach a certain age before being separated from the mother dog. In many places, the age is eight weeks, but this varies from state to state. All buyers should know the legally required age for their area. All reputable breeders will know and follow the required age and will not part with dogs under this age. To avoid being deceived, it helps to be able to estimate a puppy's age but it can be hard to do, so be sure to ask. However, don't ask "is this puppy 8 weeks". Instead ask, "How old is this puppy?" Better yet, ask "When was this puppy's birthday?" and do the calculations yourself. Reputable breeders should know the exact date. For the sake of the pup's health, and for you, this is important so you know that you are not buying a puppy illegally, by someone who is breaking the law.

The reason for this law is because one way puppies build their immune system is by drinking their mother's milk. Early separation makes for sickly puppies. While it's possible, but difficult, to bottle feed a puppy on special puppy milk substitute made specifically for dogs, they don't get the same immunity boost. Yes, it is also possible for pups to stop nursing early, but the law doesn't change. In addition, stress, plus a change in environment, particularly for a puppy who has not had any shots, can bring on illness more easily in younger pups particularly when they have a weaker immune system due to lack of mother's milk. In addition, if a puppy in a store is just 8 weeks, or barely the legally required age to sell in your state, how old do you think that puppy was when separated from the mother to be transported to the store?

An obvious requirement to pick a healthy puppy is the ability to identify a healthy puppy. Not so obvious are the early signs of illness or a weaker immune system. Is that puppy that falls asleep in your arms a happy puppy or a sick puppy? Is the less than playful behavior part of his or her personality or a sign of illness? Is that extra small size a healthy one, or a sign of a puppy who is too young, in poor nutrition, or ill health? It can be hard to tell, but at least know the common signs of sickness. There are some obvious signs, such as a puppy with a distended, bloated belly usually has worms but could have something worse. Puppies should be warm, have a wet nose, and no discharge from any area. Puppies should be active and playful. Note that many puppies in stores come from puppy mills where dogs are treated as objects or products and used for mass over breeding. They live in unhealthy conditions, in small cages, with little human contact before they are transported to stores at the stage of optimum cuteness where they are sold just before they get very sick. Puppies who survive can still have behavioral problems due to lack of human contact at an early age. Inbreed dogs can also have behavioral problems and are highly prone to genetic defects that may not become obvious until later in life. Stores may offer a 'health guarantee' or refund in case of sickness, but get details in writing, and read them throughly. Often the policy requires you to give your pet back if you want your money, and does not mean they'll fix your pet's health problem. Read more about puppy mills in the resource links. Many stores don't do a good job of checking out breeders; they may never visit the facilities to check on care or living conditions. Some have generic papers as the only evidence of where the pup came from. The puppy mill problem is so bad that many see a puppy, any puppy, for sale in a store as a sign of an unhealthy pet.

Another concern for your wallet is knowing how to identify an acceptable price for a breed, in addition to what's included for that price. Contrary to what many believe, the price of a certain breed in a store can actually be higher than price for buying directly from a reputable breeder. Going from breeder to store to buyer adds a "middle man" which raises the price. Also, if you know how to identify a reputable breeder, you can be sure you are not getting a puppy mill pet. Reputable breeders are aware of the problems with puppy mills and stores and prefer not to sell through petstores. Reputable breeders should make sure you leave a well informed pet owner. Reputable breeders often require that pet quality dogs are spayed or neutered. Some will even offer a return policy to take back the pet in the event that the new owner can't keep it. (This is a way to keep their dogs off of death row in animal shelters, separate from a refund policy.) Reputable breeders will know the genetic background of the pets to ensure healthy pups with reduced chances for inherited genetic problems. Reputable breeders can test for diseases like Giardia and Brucellosis before purchase and provide proof of testing. Giardia and Brucellosis are contagious to humans and are frequently found in puppies from puppy mills. Find out if tests for diseases and tests for common genetic defects in the breed are included with the price, and be sure to get the pup's papers which show lineage and what tests have been done. Those will be a better guarantee of health than a generic wellness certificate from a store which says nothing about disease or genetics testing.

If getting a certain breed as a puppy, know how to identify that breed as a puppy. This is not as easy as it sounds and many buyers have been sold puppies under a different breed or mixed breeds as pure purebreds. Note that a "hybrid" or "designer dog" is not a new breed but a mix of two existing breeds, and in fact a mixed breed readily available at animal shelters. Also note that most breeds have rescue groups and shelters can put you on a waiting list for a desired breed, or mix of breeds, and even a desired age for the pet. This means you can get a purebred dog, even a puppy, for a very low price, by saving a life.

If getting a pet from a rescue group or animal shelter, know how to identify a good one. Good rescues and animal shelters will make sure the pet is spayed or neutered before leaving and you will have paperwork, including shot records, blood tests and records for other health exams, as well as date of last flea treatment in hand when you take the dog home. This ensures all services are done. There are some fees involved with adopting a pet but these cover services including spaying or neutering, vaccines, and blood tests which would often cost more if done separately. Services vary by adoption agency and by the age of the dog; many adult dogs come with some training and are usually already housebroken. When adopting a pet, essentially the pet is free, and adopters get a discounted rate on the services that come with the adoption.

Last, there are some deceptive terms often used as selling points which can mean unexpected grooming expenses or health problems for you or your family. Avoid these troublesome events by knowing realistic definitions for dog coat terms. Non-shed or low-shed often means a higher maintenance coat including regular trips to the grooming shop for hair cuts. Double coat often means high shedding. Hypo-allergenic is a term which describes allergens produced, different from hairs shed. Hypo-allergenic is also a relative term; every person has varying degrees of sensitivity. Read this article to learn more : Understanding the Coat of Low Shed Dog Breeds and How it Affects Your Allergies. The only way to know how a dog affects you, or your family, is to spend time around the specific pet, not just a dog of the same breed. Unexpected allergies from someone in the family, or not realizing the time or expense it takes to care for a dog are common reasons dogs end up in animal shelters. Lack of understanding for these terms is costly error for you, who may have to give up a pet you have grown attached to, and very costly for the pet, considering less than half of shelter pets get a second chance.

The problem of pet overpopulation is a growing problem and getting a pet isn't a purchase that should be entered into lightly. Every pet requires a lifetime of care and a certain amount of expense to care for and keep healthy. Be knowledgeable about pet care about before bringing any pet home to avoid being deceived and to be a better prepared pet owner. There are drastic consequences for the poorly researched purchase of a life. Prior knowledge is vital to the life of your puppy and will keep you from being ripped off. Save a life and save your wallet. Know how to raise a happy, healthy puppy to keep your pets at home, out of hospitals and out of the animal shelter.