Have you ever been to a shopping center, walked by a pet store and paused by the glass to watch the cute little puppies inside? The puppies wiggle their tails — or sometimes their entire bodies — and radiate absolute cuteness. Then, usually, you depart and continue your shopping escapade.
Or perhaps you have actually purchased a puppy from a pet store. I know that I have succumbed to the absolute cuteness on more than one occasion. Sometimes there is that one puppy that you just bond with through the glass. You ask to hold the puppy and instantly melt with the wiggly creature in your arms. This is what happened when my family and I met Maggie.
Maggie was an endearing cream-colored Pekingese who I like to describe as my “soul mate puppy.” She loved to play, but more than anything she loved to be cuddled. She was my world. However, at the tender age of six months, things went terribly wrong. Maggie went from a fun loving, happy free spirit to being listless and began losing weight. This dramatic transformation took place within a week.
After taking Maggie to the vet, she was diagnosed with renal dysplasia, a rare disease that caused her kidneys to not develop properly. Long story short: the veterinarian was surprised Maggie had lived as long as she had. Renal dysplasia is inherited and likely the result of inbreeding. Losing Maggie was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life, and, even though it was about two years ago, it still affects me to this day.
Maggie was 6 months old when she died from renal dysplasia, a rare disorder that caused her kidneys to never properly develop. She went downhill within a week.
In situations of inbreeding, there can be different culprits, but the likely source to blame is puppy mills. Puppy mills have a huge presence in pet stores, and after doing more research (and making the reckless decision to buy yet another puppy from the same pet store as Maggie), I realized that the pet store I trusted was no different.
For those of you who do not know what a puppy mill is, it is essentially what it sounds like. It is a place that churns out puppies. They can vary in sizes, but generally the females are locked in small cages stacked on top of each other and live for one sole purpose: to produce pure bred puppies. Once the female can no longer produce puppies, mill owners dispose of them in different ways, varying from getting rid of them to actually killing them. The situation is rather barbaric.
The pet store I purchased Maggie from had told us they did not get their animals from mills, and for some reason we believed them. In September of that same year, the pet store was affected by a distemper outbreak. Distemper is a deadly viral disease that is closely related to measles. As the animals disappeared from the store, I had asked what was going on. An employee told me that they were remodeling. In reality, they were doing a deep clean of the store. About 20 puppies died from this incident. After the store reopened, for some reason I went back. I saw an awkward looking dog called a Japanese Chin. She was six months old and in desperate need of a home. She was on sale so I made the decision to bring her home.
My new puppy, Belle, had ear mites the first day I brought her home. Then later, upon receiving her papers, I got the shocking news that she was from Beaver Creek Kennels. For those who do not know, Beaver Creak Kennels was a huge puppy mill in Kansas that was shut down for terrible conditions. About 1,200 dogs were euthanized from Beaver Creek.
This news was eye opening to me. People around me had told me not to support pet stores, as by doing so I was supporting puppy mills. I was in complete denial. It can be hard looking at the innocent faces of the puppies in the window, but by purchasing one, you are supporting an intricate system of evil and lies. I am a firm believer that all puppies need and deserve a loving home. However, I cannot support purchasing one from a pet store. My family and I have been lied to too many times and have suffered greatly. Belle is still here with me, but only time will tell what problems may pop up down the road.
Next time you decide to bring a new furry companion into your life, I urge you to think long and hard about where your new friend comes from. There are plenty of dogs that need homes at the animal shelter. If you want a pure bred, seek out a rescue center for that breed, or do some research for a reputable breeder. The only way to end the cruel realities of puppy mills is by not supporting them.
