There was a story on Saturday's Business page in the Herald about a local woman who is suing Petland, accusing them of selling dogs bred in “puppy mills” but marketing them as coming from reputable breeders.
My heart goes out to this woman, who obviously loves the little Boston terrier she got there. That little dog, Jasmine, is lucky to have been taken home by a caring soul who is doing everything she can to make her healthy so she can have a good life.
Buying animals from a pet store - any pet store - is risky business, indeed. Luckily, there IS an alternative: adoption.
There are hundreds of wonderful pets just waiting at shelters and in foster homes for somebody to love them. And for people who really want a specific kind of dog, there are breed rescue groups, too. Just Google, for example, "beagle rescue groups" and you can find one in your area.
Fostered pets are an especially good deal. Volunteers with rescue groups take dogs (and cats, too) home with them to be loved, socialized and perhaps trained until a "forever home" is found for them. These "foster parents" can tell you all about the animal they have sheltered: whether it gets along with other animals, whether is likes to sleep on the bed, whether it has a food intolerance. To find foster animals, contact one of the local rescue groups. And you can find the groups through any of the local shelters.
Another good reason for adopting: the pet comes spayed or neutured, vaccinated, and usually microchipped. And all those services are included in the adoption fee.
If you're looking for a pet and choose not to go to a pet store, please consider adopting. The animal you save will love you just the same.
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