Why You Should Adopt a Dog Instead of Buying From a Pet Store

Introduction: The Hidden Cost of the Pet Store Puppy

"How much is that doggie in the window?" Passing by a pet store, it is easy to be tempted to buy a puppy or a kitten. Yet that impulse purchase carries a hidden cost — one paid not by the buyer, but by the millions of animals waiting in shelters across the United States. Buying a puppy from a pet store feeds an industry dedicated to breeding more and more animals in a manner that is neither good for the animals nor ultimately good for society. Owners, too, often suffer the heartbreaking experience of dealing with a dog that has serious health problems or is difficult to train. Understanding where pet store puppies come from — and what alternatives exist — is essential for any prospective dog owner.

According to the American Humane Society, approximately 3.7 million animals were euthanized in American shelters in 2008 alone. The organization reports that 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. This occurs despite considerable efforts by the Humane Society to avoid euthanasia except when absolutely necessary. While some of these animals may have been unsuitable as pets due to illness or aggression, many were healthy animals killed simply because of overcrowding. The most common reason people surrender their pets is that they are unable or unwilling to continue caring for them. There are, in short, too many dogs for too few owners in the United States, and purchasing puppies from pet stores only worsens the imbalance.

The Animal Shelter Crisis in the United States

Pet stores sell dogs that were bred in so-called "puppy mills" — large, commercial breeding operations that produce young animals as if they were commodities. Many dogs within these facilities are severely mistreated, and the breeding dogs are killed once they can no longer produce quality stock. As the ASPCA explains: "In order to maximize profits, female dogs are bred at every opportunity with little to no recovery time between litters. When, after a few years, they are physically depleted to the point that they can no longer reproduce, breeding females are often killed" (What is a puppy mill?, 2011, ASPCA).

There is a common misconception that purebred dogs are "better" than mixed-breed dogs because an owner "knows what he or she is getting." In reality, dogs bred in puppy mills are produced without any concern for genetic quality. Because puppy mill operators fail to apply proper husbandry practices that would remove sick dogs from their breeding pools, puppies from puppy mills are prone to congenital and hereditary conditions. The unsanitary conditions in which they are kept also make them susceptible to diseases such as kennel cough and parasites (What is a puppy mill?, 2011, ASPCA).

Puppy Mills: Cruelty Behind the Cute Facade

When a dog has a severe or congenital condition, the owner is often forced to choose between expensive treatment — for conditions such as hip dysplasia — or euthanasia if the dog cannot be saved (Buying dogs in pet stores, 2011, Dog Guide). Dogs in puppy mills and pet stores are frequently kept in wire cages that force them to remain in close contact with their own feces. Not only are these metal cage floors harmful to a dog's paws, but they also make housebreaking considerably more difficult: because the dogs are in constant contact with their own waste, their natural instincts are violated, making it harder for them to understand and follow the rules of a clean household environment.

Instead of spending money — often a considerable sum for a purebred or a "designer" crossbreed like a cockapoo — to fuel an industry rooted in animal cruelty, it is far better to adopt one of the countless animals in shelters that need a home. For families that want a dog of a specific size and temperament, there are many breed-specific rescue organizations committed to placing dogs of particular breeds that are in desperate need of good homes.