Chain stores, especially big ones make their profit on the concept of high volume and minimal outlay of cash for what they sell- and that attitude carries over to live animals as well. The people they hire are hired because they will apply- not because they know anything about caring for animals, or can give intelligent answers to care questions. Selling puppies at pet shops in CA is indeed stilllegal- though I think they have to have some paperwork that proves the animals were not just puppy mill produce. (And I could easily be very wrong on that as I have not confirmed it.)
Many states have laws requiring veterenarian issud health certificates to legally sell puppies; but most of those laws also have loopholes, and pet shop owners generally know every single one and use them ruthlessly.
Best advice I can give is to adopt from shelters, or if you want a specific breed, get to know a breeder for some months befoe you buy so you know they are legit. That will also assure the breeder that you are serious about taking care of the puppy they sell you.
I've worked in pet shops, and I'm happy to say all the ones I worked in would not sell puppies or kittens; and were really big on making sure new hires knew how to give good advice on taking care of what they did sell.
(I was the ferret master at the one in Tucson- none of the other employees liked handling the little darlngs; and I adored taking care of them.)
I would put one in the pouch of my apron and carry him or her around for an hour or two as socialisation while I worked- stealing a few moments here and there to play with them. My ferrets were happy and friendly, and I sold more of them than anyone else working there as a result. But it was also a family run shop.
no subject
Chain stores, especially big ones make their profit on the concept of high volume and minimal outlay of cash for what they sell- and that attitude carries over to live animals as well.
The people they hire are hired because they will apply- not because they know anything about caring for animals, or can give intelligent answers to care questions.
Selling puppies at pet shops in CA is indeed stilllegal- though I think they have to have some paperwork that proves the animals were not just puppy mill produce.
(And I could easily be very wrong on that as I have not confirmed it.)
Many states have laws requiring veterenarian issud health certificates to legally sell puppies; but most of those laws also have loopholes, and pet shop owners generally know every single one and use them ruthlessly.
Best advice I can give is to adopt from shelters, or if you want a specific breed, get to know a breeder for some months befoe you buy so you know they are legit. That will also assure the breeder that you are serious about taking care of the puppy they sell you.
I've worked in pet shops, and I'm happy to say all the ones I worked in would not sell puppies or kittens; and were really big on making sure new hires knew how to give good advice on taking care of what they did sell.
(I was the ferret master at the one in Tucson- none of the other employees liked handling the little darlngs; and I adored taking care of them.)
I would put one in the pouch of my apron and carry him or her around for an hour or two as socialisation while I worked- stealing a few moments here and there to play with them.
My ferrets were happy and friendly, and I sold more of them than anyone else working there as a result.
But it was also a family run shop.
-Badger-