Pawsh Puppies, a store that sells puppies, has locations in both Northbrook, IL and Lincoln Park, Chicago. The two locations of the company, owned by Laurence Portnoy, have recently been the site of ongoing protests by a group of animal advocates called "The Puppy Mill Project", as well as many local residents who oppose the sales of these puppies. In an article from the Northbrook Star, store manger of Pawsh Puppies, Alex Gershbeyn, talked about adopting shelter dogs, and was quoted as saying: "You're buying other people's problems. These dogs have been abused in some cases and will bite. Our pups are happy and healthy."
This inaccurate and truly ignorant statement may simply be a puppy seller disparaging shelter dogs in an attempt to increase his bottom line. But it raises some interesting questions we will discuss here.
Where to shelter or rescue dogs come from?
Shelter or rescue dogs can come from various sources, and they are often loved pets relinquished by their owners through no fault of their own. Some may even be already housebroken or trained. Others may have been given up for behavioral reasons or due to a lack of basic training. Still others may be young puppies. Most shelter dogs are not abused. According to the Humane Society of the United States, allergies are actually one of the most common reasons people relinquish a pet! Some other common reasons cited by owners are “Moving to a place that doesn’t allow pets,” or “Can’t afford.” Still other shelter dogs were picked up as strays, or transferred from another shelter.
In fact, the dogs in shelters may have originally been purchased from a pet shop, or obtained through a breeder, a friend, or another shelter. Pet shops do not require unwanted dogs to be returned to them, so a person who made an impulse decision to buy that cute $2,000 puppy may end up later dumping that pet at a shelter. Adding a dog to the family should be a fully researched and well-thought-out decision.
"PUPPY MILLS"...
Pawsh Puppies denies dealing with "puppy mills." However, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a "Puppy Mill" is defined as "a commercial farming operation in which purebred dogs are raised in large numbers," so by that definition, and the large number of puppies they sell in their store who have been purchased from "commercial" breeders, Pawsh Puppies does deal with "puppy mills".
So how can the puppy store owner deny it? Maybe he has a different definition than the dictionary? The hot-button term “puppy mill” may mean different things to different people. However, "Puppy Mill", or "Puppy Farm," is defined by most dictionaries as commercial breeding operation, often (but not always) large-scale, for profit. And these are the ones that are USDA licensed (read below), the same breeders Pawsh Puppies claims to buy from. Shelters may also have large influxes of dogs from puppy mill raids. On June 4, 2009, The Anti-Cruelty Society here in Chicago received 20 puppies, including many small breeds, from a puppy mill raid in Tennessee. According to the ASPCA more than 250 dogs were recovered in the raid. When seized the dogs lacked basic care including little or no food, were kept in small feces-covered cages, and had inadequate ventilation. These puppies were destined to end up sold to puppy shops, dog brokers, or similar outlets.
"But they said the breeders were USDA Licensed or Inspected"... THE TRUTH!
On their website, Pawsh Puppies states "Our breeders are all licensed by the USDA," as if that were a mark of quality? They also state, vaguely, that they purchase from the "top breeders in the country..." What exactly makes them "top breeders," is left to question, as they give zero evidence of quality, and further independent research on pet stores, including talking to customers who may have purchased unhealthy dogs, leads one to think otherwise.
The USDA regulates facilities who produce at a wholesale level; produced for pet stores, dog brokers, or research facilities. Dogs being used in commercial breeding operations are often raised like livestock, living in USDA licensed breeding facilities. They may have hundreds of dogs. The USDA only requires what they call "minimum standards for care and treatment", such as food, water, shelter from the elements, etc. The breeding facilities are not required to provide any of the human contact, socialization, stimulation, or daily exercise a dog deserves, and may impregnate their breeding females constantly, then get rid of them when they fail to produce. Once the mother dog is no longer producing, they may be auctioned off, euthanized, or sold for research. Some breeders have even gotten away with shooting their unwanted dogs, as the law at the time, or in that area, did not make it illegal. Here is an article about 80 dogs shot by kennel operators in Pennsylvania, a kennel that was previously licensed.
Breeding dogs do not experience a home life with a family. It is impossible to keep 300, or even 30 dogs inside your home, so the dogs live in separate facilities. Once again, the standards are minimal. For example, it is legal for the breeders to keep temperatures between 45 degrees up to 85 degrees- they are not required to provide certain comforts to the animals. Imagine a small pregnant dog housed alone in a small bare cage in a 50-degree barn building. Is that something you would support through your purchases?
The puppies you see in stores often come in “shipments” from USDA licensed mass breeding operations out of state. They are inspected at different frequencies. Some facilities may be inspected less than once a year. They may have had violations. Even if they pass inspections, which you can find out through public record, how humane or ethical these dog brokers are may be another story. And you can't always count on the puppy store owner to attest to this. According to Jackie Borchew, of Orphans of the Storm, a non-profit animal shelter based in Riverwoods, IL “…most of these pet stores acquire their puppies without ever having visited or researched the backgrounds of their breeders.”
Further information on USDA licensed facilities and the Animal Welfare Act may be found online at the USDA website. You can see what "USDA licensed facility" entails by doing your own research, and individual breeder/dealer reports are public information. ***Disclaimer: This article serves as purely informational in regards to different animal facilities and practices, and does not state or imply any direct or indirect relation of the aforementioned kennels or practices to Pawsh Puppies.
Is a puppy better than an adult?
When you buy from a puppy store, you are taking just as much of a chance on a dogs genetics. You cannot see the parents, nor can you have any warranty that they puppy may not grow up to have aggression, health problems, or behavior issues, genetic or otherwise. Nobody can give you a warranty or guarantee on future behavior. This is the chance you take with any pet, puppy or adult. You must rely on socializing and training your dog properly. Obtaining a dog as a puppy does not guarantee the dog will grow to be any better behaved or less aggressive than if you were to get an adult dog. Furthermore, rescues can often help match a dog to you and your lifestyle! PAWS Chicago, a non-for-profit shelter (also located in Lincoln Park), has the Meet your Match™ - Dog Adopter Survey; a color-coded system for matching pets to their prospective owners through a computer test. Pet shops do not have this, and may not even have knowledge of the breed they’re selling. They may not care for the puppy's long-term health, either. Pet stores are a business and their first interest is profit.
Why should I adopt a dog?
When you adopt a dog, you are not only gaining a companion, you are saving a life. You are also making room for another homeless dog to take that dogs place in the shelter and giving another dog a chance at adoption. On the other hand, if you buy from a pet store, you not saving a life, you are simply making room for another "shipment" of puppies to take that pup's place. You are encouraging it. While you may pay $1,350 even for a mixed breed (aka mutt) in a pet shop, you can find a large variety of mixed breeds, and also many purebreds in shelters for a fraction of that price. For example, all types of puppies and dogs at Animal Care and Control are $65 adoption fee, which includes spay/neuter and vaccinations. Also, remember that the puppy store may have purchased their “stock” for only $400 or so, from a mass-producer of puppies, and could be re-selling it marked up to $1,500.
What about good breeders?
Even reputable breeders will often have a lower price than a pet shop! Do your research- A reputable breeder knows the parents (and has matched them together for specific reasons), knows the dogs background, pedigrees, and genetics, and health. They perform any necessary pre-breeding health testing to ensure healthy long-lived offspring- such as OFA, CERF, full thyroid test, cardio screening, VWD test, or variations depending on breed. Often one or both parents should be titled in conformation, obedience, or another dog sport that shows suitability for breeding. All the dogs should be registered with AKC or UKC, (but registration alone is not a mark of quality). Reputable breeders do not create or sell mixed breeds, period. If you are seeking a specific breed, a great place to start is a local breed club. Or a local dog show where you will find fanciers who truly love the breed, show their dogs or title them in different venues, and are breeding not for profits, but to create better dogs. A reputable breeder will never sell to a pet shop or dog broker, period. They want to know where and to whom their puppies are going, and want first rights to take them back, should you not be able to keep them. But you must make sure they breeder is truly reputable- Here is a fantastic comparison of reputable breeders VS. Backyard breeders
A dog is a dog, whether purchased for $3,000, or adopted for $55. They will still give you the same companionship and lifelong love. Whether you make an educated choice, or a poor choice, that is up to you the consumer. When you spend money, you are voting!
Also check out The 7 worst reasons to get a puppy, and Understanding puppy classified ads, don't be fooled! and see Many celebrities speak out against puppy stores, a mainstream cause
Besides Pawsh Puppies, there are several other pet shops in the Chicago area that may sell "Puppy Mill" puppies: Let's Pet Puppies, Pocket Puppies, Animal Kingdom, Top Dog's Puppy Store, Happiness Is Pets, and Petland. Remember, reputable breeders never sell to pet shops.
Now, here is a video of our rescue dog, a purebred Dalmatian adopted from a breed rescue. He happens to be fantastic with children and is well behaved due to obedience training. Alex Gershbeyn, or anyone, tell me this dog is “someone elses problem”!
Comments
What a terrible thing of him to say! To disparage shelter dogs? That is just low. Your article is packed full of great information and you make good points. When you get an adult dog you know what you're getting that is one benefit of adults.
Puppies are not better or safer, I know PLENTY of people who bought a dog at a pet shop and it ended up biting someone!!!! My cousin bought a puppy Shih Tsu at a pet shop and he's one of the meanest dogs you'll ever meet. I would never trust him around a child. Sorry but the guy is an idiot for what he said.
good info. thanks
Dogs at pet shops are not healthy and are not going to live as long as a dog from a reputable breeder. The dogs in Pawsh Puppies don't even look like the breed they're supposed to be. No educated person would ever buy from a pet store, they all have puppy mill dogs. The poor mother dogs, imagine that life, then being killed when you're not getting pregnant anymore. I hope Pawsh Puppies leaves.
I believe breeding and selling of animals should be banned until the day comes when there will be no need for Animal Control shelters where they put pets to sleep for lack of space. This guys says shelter pets are bad? There are PUREBRED shelter pets, most of whom come from stores like the one he owns! So he is saying his OWN dogs are "no good" once they enter the shelter system? HE IS A SICK PUPPY. The key is: DON'T BREED OR BUY, SO LONG AS SHELTER PETS ARE FORCED TO DIE.
dogs from shelters are abused unwanted dogs, shelters sell them for 100's which they get for free, here in indiana they kill the ones they cant sell for a big profit, and sell the bodies as fertilizer? real humane
boycott all shelters
People will do anything for money. Selling puppies from puppy mills for thousands of dollars is a disgrace. These are the very same puppies that end up in the shelter because they are taken away from there moms too early, they have genetic problems and many of them are sick or infested with round worms making them uncontrollable. The people who sell these animals are the biggest problem that contribute to the shelters over abundance of animals. Also today many people impulse buy not realizing that a puppy is a lifetime commitment. another factor is losing jobs or moving to where pets are not wanted. People just dump animals because it is easier than taking care of them. Vets are expensive and people who sell animals don't advise you of all the facts the owner needs to know. The law should really put a stop to selling these puppies and shut down all puppy mills. They are horrible and these animals will invariably be put down due to overcrowding in the shelters.
We bought our 1st puppie from a Pet store & had huge Vet bills & behavior problems. We rescued after that & have had nothing but Perfect THANKFUL pets. Our Pet Store Pup had more medical & behavior problems than any of our rescues put together. He's just a low life trying to sell a product. Sad part is there are people out there that would believe his trash talk. :-(
Shelters do NOT have dogs that are free!!!! OK, I have a female dog I need spayed so I know, prices for that are from $250-$350 at Chicago area vets, even out in the far suburbs its $180 was the cheapest. Rabies vaccine is another 35, dewormer 20, parvo vaccine 10. Shelter dogs already have that, and you think they are free???? Not to mention the food they eat, the cleaning, the flea treatments. That $90 adoption fee is a profit? Haha, so ignorant.
They sell sickly pupppies. Unless you want to spend thousands in medical bills on one of these tiny deformed things, buy from a reputable breeder.
I understand about the many, many dogs that need homes. But, I didn't want to deal with a rescue or shelter. I had a specific breed and age in mind, and didn't want to "settle" for what was available, or have to jump through hoops. I ended up getting a sweet smart mixed breed puppy from a family who had an accidental breeding. I don't regret my decision at all. Shelters are not for everyone.
There are no guarantees that a shelter dog or a pet store dog is going to be a "good" dog and not bite someone or have health issues. No one way is right for everyone. I know people that have gotten fantastic dogs from shelter, and some of my friends have bought wonderful puppies from pet stores. I don't believe one is superior to the other. It all depends on the individual situation.
I don't think this article was about that shelters are the best, but I do think they are. I don't know what you're talking about with "settling" there are all sorts of dogs in shelters, look at the dog in the article that's a purebred Dalmatian, how is that settling?
What does age matter, dogs only live like 10 years and most of the dogs in shelters are under 5 or younger. I know what you mean by not wanting to deal with a shelter, that means you would not have been approved, as you're probably an irresponsible pet owner. Don't tell me you also paid for your accidental mutt?
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I didn't want to deal with a rescue or shelter. didn't want to "settle" for what was available, or have to jump through hoops. I ended up getting a sweet smart mixed breed puppy from a family who had an accidental breeding. Shelters are not for everyone
I guess you don't know the issue then, because yes one is clearly better than the other.
You can't just say since you have a friend with a pet store dog and the dog is ok, then it's all equal and good. There *is* a right way...to either adopt, or find a reputable breeder. Not the puppy store or backyard breeder.
Guys, this pet store is selling this mutt breed crap, they have Shorkies, Shiffons, Multi Poo, Morkies, Cavappos,all that mixed breed stuff that you would have to be an idiot to pay for. God these people should go out of business. Only an idiot would pay for a mutt that was created on purpose to make money.
Breeding animals for profit should be illegal. These pet shops are uncaring & just out to make money,. In my opinion they're all worthless.
They have some UGLY UGLY inbred dogs, too. None of them look right, especially the French Bulldogs look horrible and inbred. Then the mixes never look right because they are not even a breed, they have no traits. Look at this dogs ears are not even set right pawshpuppies.com/pics/puppies/DSC09728.jpg Imagine how ugly it will be when it gets older why pay for this stuff?
They actually have a whole page on their website of photos of their customers with their newly purchased puppy mill mutts. Most of them are 20 y-o Lincoln Park Trixies or lonely older women. All Morons. I hope they realize their mistakes and are better educated now.
They order shipments of puppies from pickmepuppies.com and other places, puppy mills they have never been to. They are all out of state and the owners Lawrence and manager Alex have never been there to see the puppy farm in person, or the suffering dogs that live there to breed.
Shelter dogs are often unwanted, not always abused. Many shelters dogs are young pups who grew to adult size without losing their puppy energy. They haven't gotten long walks or trips to the dog parks to burn off that energy - so they often become destructive to the yard or house. You can find purebreds in shelters and rescues too! Check out petfinder.com.
As for shelters making a profit!! Name one!! Don't breed or buy while shelter pets die!
I looked at their website and the pictures of the owners holding their new dogs. They make me sick. Don't they understand what they're supporting? If I still lived in Chicago I'd be outside of that store every day protesting.
Thank you very much for this article. You are educating the public about not buying dogs from pet stores. In this day and age, it's hard to believe that people are still ignorant about puppy mills. The manager of the store, Alex Gershbeyn, is heartless to thwart adoptions from the shelter. He is actually causing a mindset that would create even more killing in our nation's shelter system. We are killing 5 million a year in the shelters and this is no time to breed, sell or buy pets. Thank you for exposing this. I have 4 wonderful dogs from the shelter in Los angeles. If they were someone else's problems, like the store manager calls these dogs, they are my family now and we love them very much. The dogs on death row are indeed problems, problems that can easily be solved by adopting them. That's like saying homeless people or orphans are "someone else's problems," This guy is a complete jerk and deserves to be shut down. PROTEST them like we do here in Los Angeles.
That dog is adorable he is totally awesome I can't believe this heartless jerk would try to scare people from adopting, it's really pathetic of him. What a pig.
OMG, what an a-hole. Heartless jerk that doesn't care about animals only the cash they bring in. Please boycott this store everyone!!
shelters sell dogs to be able to take care of the rest of the dogs in the shelters... no kill shelters are good shelters..they don't get enough donations and they have to pay for food and shots and getting them fixed..the small fee is an important one...DON'T BOYCOTT ALL SHELTERS...people who think that are stupid and obviously don't know what they are talking about...there are so many organizations out there trying to help these animals. even kill shelters they are over runned with animals and they don't like killing them but when they have more dogs coming in than they can take care of and support and not enough dogs getting adopted they have no other choice but to euthanize....it sucks but its the truth.
This guy is a total disgrace to the human race!!!!! He has NO regard to life-if he did, he would not be taking puppies from over breed dogs-not taking care of the puppies and then willing selling sick puppies to non-educated people that have no idea where these puppies actually came from. This guy should be banned from selling anything. Heard he has seen the court room more then once. PEOPLE PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR DOG FROM PET STORE.
This woman is a disgrace. People who sell pets are profiteering from immoral acts. To sell flesh and blood and consciousness for profit is in the good mans mind, unthinkable. Especially when shelter dogs are equally as wonderful.
From your paragraph in this article titled," Is a puppy better than an adult?"
You said,"This is the chance you take with any pet, puppy or adult. You must rely on socializing and training your dog properly."
This is an area I agree with you on, and find it puzzling that people complain about getting a puppy and it not being socialized already. Don't they know that socialization is an ongoing process, much like raising a child?
Working in the pet-care industry, I strive to educate potential dog owners. I never recommend pet stores, nor do I shame a customer who has purchased from a pet store. Sadly, many of the pet store dogs become very ill or die within the first year of life. I don't understand why some of my customers pay $1200 for a poorly bred "designer" dog, especially when there are much healthier & less expensive dogs available. Regarding shelters making a profit..I've never seen anyone come close to it. I suggest anyone who disagrees, volunteer in one for a month.
From the many dogs I have cared for, I've found shelter dogs to be just as good as pure breeds. "Mutts" seem to have much less health problems. Also, I've worked with pet-store dogs who are neurotic and down-right nasty. Sadly, the owners of this store seem to be in the wrong business. Perhaps, they should consider working with inanimate objects.
For anyone looking for a specific breed, I suggest looking for a breed-specific rescue or look on Petfinder.com. Many dogs are relinquished due to reasons other than bad behavior. I've had a few customers give up new dogs, because their child became allergic. There was nothing wrong with the dog. Many rescue dogs come "ready-made" with potty-training & obedience skills.
So many potential dog parents fail to really consider how much responsibility and work is involved with any dog, especially a puppy. Sure they look so adorable at the store, but are you ready to get up 2-3 times per night to let your puppy out? Whatever the choice: a store, shelter, breeder, etc.--every potential dog owner really needs to consider the responsibilities of owning a dog & raising that dog in a safe, healthy & happy home. What happens when the pup eats the remote?
Do your research. This article contains lots of good information. Talk to everyone you can before selecting a breed and a breeder or sto
Owning a dog is a major load on the environment, for several obvious and not-so-obvious reasons. Ethically speaking, one can partly make up for that by obtaining one's dog from a shelter.
There exist many shelters, with lots of dogs to choose from. A little persistence would enable most prospective dog owners to find a dog that is right for them.
But alas, most people get their dogs from breeders and pet stores--pure selfishness.
Good job on the article here!
They're selling PREMATURE puppies.
"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "TEACUP" PUPPY".
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 21 canine Toy breeds, or breeds of diminutive stature. The term “teacup dog” is not a breed, but slang for an undersized dog. Good breeders never use this term!
One commonly found medical problem among teacup dogs is hydrocephalus, or “water on the brain.” Fluids build in the brain, causing pressure against the skull. Often a teacup dog suffering from this condition will have bulging eyes and a stressed appearance. It might also be “wobbly,” having difficulty walking or holding its head steady, though these symptoms aren’t always present. There is no cure for this condition, but when it occurs in humans, a shunt is placed in the brain to drain the fluids into another point in the body where it can be flushed by natural processes.
A teacup dog might also have thin, weak bones, blood sugar disorders and other medical problem
(cont. from below)
One reason for the problems associated with these tiny dogs is that many are the result of mating two runts to produce very small offspring. Runts, while deserving of a good life, often have medical issues that, when bred with another runt (or even a healthy dog), weaken the offspring and breed rather than strengthen it.
A “teacup dog” can sell for upwards of $1,000 US Dollars (USD), providing a strong financial incentive to "backyard breeders" and puppy mills to purposely breed dogs that are not genetically fit. By placing a demand on this market, consumers unwittingly encourage this practice of turning out compromised dogs, many of which live their lives with numerous problems that ultimately lead to exorbitant vet bills and shortened life spans.
If a teacup dog is desired, perhaps the best thing to do for the breed and your wallet is to contact a local reputable breeder and request a very small puppy from one of their litters. Ask for and verify pedigree or
(cont. from below)
It seems as though there is a plethora of people who are insistent on buying tiny puppies in the 2 to 4 pound range. Also commonly referred to as a "Teacup puppy".
The word "Teacup" has been used to merely describe the size of a puppy, meaning it is very small and will probably be under the standard size which is 4 to 7 pounds for the Toy Group, Yorkshire Terrier breed. We cannot imagine anyone wanting anything smaller than that! Their bones are VERY fragile and can be broken by jumping off of a couch, falling off of a bed, being stepped on or worse.
Many breeders, while tacking a whooping price on a puppy, "claim" to breed so called "teacups" as if they were a breed all their own. Don't be fooled! They are NOT a breed of their own. Don't buy mixed breeds! They are not "designer" they are made to fool you into paying for a mutt you can find at a shelter.
If a pet store or breeder says they specialize in "teacups" RUN, RUN, RUN for the hills! Most "TEACUP" p
(con't from below)
Some of the problems that may be encountered are both genetic and congenital in these tiny babies and the list is a long one.
The risk of open fontanels (soft spot from the cranial bone not forming), portosystemic shunts (PSS- abnormal vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver. As a result the blood is not cleansed by one of the bodies filters: the liver.), hypoglycemia, cardiac problems, collapsing trachea, luxating patellas, Leggs Calves Perthes disease, seizures, hydroencephaly, blindness and digestive problems can be increased in these tiny babies.
Problems such as respiratory problems can remain or worsen throughout their lives. These babies frequently are so fragile that they do not live more than a few years. There have been several tiny Yorkies as adults who still had open fontanels and their owners had to carry nourishment with them all the time. Their vets have felt it unsafe to give a full dose of vaccine so the puppies had to get several injecti
(con't from below)
There is no such thing as a "tea cup" Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Poodle, or any other breed for that matter. They simply do not exist. "Tea-cup" is just a marketing ploy given by unethical and unscrupulous breeders to drive up the price of their puppies!
So called "Teacups" fetch anything from $1000 to $10,000! This is ridiculous and shameful! There are a lot of chronically, unhealthy puppies because unscrupulous breeders and puppy mills are inbreeding. Some poor darlings only live for a very, very short time!
They take the little teeny, tiny Yorkies and they breed 2 1/2 pounders with 3 pounders ... well, they’re playing with genetics. You should NEVER breed a female of any breed less than 5 pounds.
PLEASE educate yourselves before buying a tiny puppy whether it is a Yorkie or any other breed. You could be in for months or years of heartbreak not to mention staggering veterinarian bills!
If you want a healthy puppy, never fall for the "teacup" act. Te
Here are stories of real dogs: prisonersofgreed.org/
It's a really great, informative website, just check it out!
Hundreds of thousands of dogs suffer in puppy mills in this country. The dogs are prisoners of greed. They are locked in small cages. They freeze in the winter and swelter in the summer. The dogs never get out of their prisons. They are bred over and over again until they die. The only way to free them from the misery of these horrid puppymills is to eliminate the demand for puppies by refusing to buy a puppy in a pet store and boycotting those pet stores that sell puppies. When people stop buying puppies in pet stores, the puppy mills will go out of business and the misery will end. The state and federal governments do not enforce the laws to protect the dogs. The commercial breeders and brokers have huge well-funded lobbying efforts. Please join this fight to free the prisoners of greed. The only person who is going to make a difference for the dogs suffering in pup
Wonderful information. Thank you for shedding light on this issue. Most people already know all this stuff, it is online everywhere, even USA Today, but not everyone knows it or else there would be no puppy stores! Keep up the good work.
Don't ever be fooled by a pet stores sales techniques!!!!
Nearly 50 pet stores throughout the Chicagoland area have vowed not to sell puppies in order to raise awareness about puppy mills and promote local adoptions. The campaign is led by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which has pushed for similar efforts in cities across the country.
Independent retailers who signed the puppy-friendly pledge received information that they will now be able to hand out to patrons on finding reputable breeders and adopting dogs. They also received placards to hang in their windows and display in their stores that read, “We love puppies; that’s why we don’t sell them.” Retailers that have signed the pledge so far include the Bark Bark Club and Tails in the City in Chicago, Cody and Carl’s Boulevard in Barrington, Follow Your Nose in Evanston, and Suburban Pet City in Oak Park, among many others.
Most of the 2 to 4 million puppies sold each year come from puppy mills, which breed large numbers of puppies in often questionable conditions, a
If you are set on getting a puppy, please download and read: HOW TO GET A PUPPY
It is free. www.howtobuyapuppy.net
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