FINAL UPDATE: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

FINAL UPDATE
There is a lovely couple in my apartment building who own a pug and had another who recently passed away.

Last week they mentioned to me they were looking to get another pug, bc the one they have is VERY lonely. It was like fate. I jumped up and down and insisted they see Lenny. Now Lenny (they kept my name!!!!!) lives in my building. Oscar and I see him every morning during our morning walks. I could not be more happy.

Moral of this story: While there are definitive "right and wrong" sides in life, one must always follow their heart. I know some of you are not happy that someone bought Lenny, but for me, I could not be more happy to know my boy is at peace and in the arms of people who love him
The end



UPDATE: 2/14
We are going to go there tonight and see if we can speak directly with the owner. I have also contacted Ask Asa, and 7 on your side. (thanks Jess, I sent them my post excatly and got a call this morning). My DH thinks we can't handle two dogs in the apartment, but is very open in doing something to get Lenny out of there. I still need him with me.....PS--I live in NYC.

I will let everyone know how it goes.






So I have been reading your posts
about pet shops and puppy mills for months. I agree one hundered percent. I got my first pug from a noted breeder. They call me twice a year to check up on Oscar, and I love them.

Simultaniously, every so often my husband and I pass a pet shop in our neighborhood and see the cutest little pug you have EVER seen. Every dog in this shop (and there are at least 40 of them) are puppies. People are buying them each day.

This is a story about a pug I have named Lenny

So the first time I met Lenny was in October. He was 3 months old and a lot older than most of the dogs in this shop. He was crying, so I asked the people if I could hold him. It was love at first site. They were also selling him for HOLD ON $2,500.00.


Then during November I had a friend visit us in the city, we passed the shop and Lenny was still there. Only this time he was no longer in the front of the showroom but the back, sleeping in a 2 by 2 crate. I was told he was "reduced" to $899.00. I gave him a kiss and told him I would pray for him....

I wasn't going to buy him, but I began getting upset. Pugs, need much exercise in their formative months. I asked the shop if they ever walked these guys or if they could ever play. NOPE

Christmas I walked in again. Lenny was no longer in the main showroom, but now in the back of the store. He was behind the counter, so you had to "look" for him, he was not in plain site. I said to them, this dog is 4 months old, he needs exercise. How much is he? For XMAS he was bumped back up to $2,300.00


Time passed. I forgot about Lenny--figured he was purchased by now. I felt good that I listened to you all and did not buy him (PS I would never buy him anyway, including the fact he was so expensive)

SATURDAY
I went to the pet store. I said to Jim, there NO way he would still be there. He was.....

His head buried under his paws, laying in this metal crate, no pillow, no blanket, no bones (they teethe like no ones business at 6 months)

I asked to see him. Bc he is so big (he can hardly fit in the crate now) they told me I needed to take him to a special room to see him. I did. He was so happy to stretch and play and be out of that horrible jail. This isn't right.....


I asked how much he was and now he is on "clearance" at $699.00 (OUT OF CONTROL)

I cried, bc I think they will send him back to the mill, or a pound if they can't sell him. All I kept thinking was what if he gets euthanized

I called the owner of the store an hour later and told them I have been watching this pug and I would like to take him off their hands. He asked me to give him an offer (which I did) and he would call me back.

he did an hour later and said the price was firm.


Guys, Lenny is going to die. Isn't there SOMETHING I can do to save him? Can't I write to someone, can't we do anything????????????????????


I know, I know, no PETS FROM PET SHOPS. Don't you think this is different? Don't you think we need to save Lenny?

Message edited 2/27/2008 11:19:22 AM.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

That is the saddest thing ever.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

I would say EFF what anyone thinks about buying a pet from a pet store.

THE animal is what is suffering here.

regardless of how you feel about pet shops and pet shop owners, the poor little animals that do not get purchased suffer the greatest.

to make yourself feel better, you *could* look at it as "rescuing" him from his terrible "life" at the pet shop, and his likely and far too untimely death.

take him home and give him the love he deserves.

in any event, you are still screwing the guy out of almost $2k

ETA" after thinking about it, I would still get the dog, BUT I would write an open letter to the NYTimes, the Post, Craigs List etc...documenting the treatment of the puppy.

file a complaint wth the BBB and anyone else...the Humane Society maybe.

I would rescue the dog, but wouldn't let this guy off the hook unscathed.

Message edited 2/12/2008 11:38:52 AM.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

awwwww...I am not a dog person at all...but I have a sweet spot for pugs..I have no idea why.

I would give in and save him...good luck with your decision.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

This story seiously makes me cry. I am honestly sitting here with tears in my eyes...

I honestly don't know what to tell you. My heart says GET HIM OUT OF THERE NOW!!!! But my head says, if you support the pet store, it will only prove that people will have that emotional attraction (as you do and should b/c this poor animal is suffering) and buy the pup so the pet store gets what it wants - your money.

The question is, are you too emotionally invested in this pup to just see him most likely go to a kill shelter and know that eventually he will be euthanized or do you buy him?

The only thing I can suggest is that you visit him as much as humanly possible. Find out, if you can, where they would bring him if he doesn't sell and go there and adopt him once he's at the shelter.

It's a major gamble do that as you can't be 100% sure that where they say they're going to send him is where he's really going to go, but I guess it's really all you can do.

I'm sorry, I just don't have a good answer for you.

I'll say this much though... if I felt the way you do now, I'd probably have bought him no matter how wrong I knew it was. I know that's not a good thing but it seems to me that you are VERY emotionally invested in this pup.

If you want to "stay strong" go to a shelter. Go see the pups and other dogs in a kill shelter and see how badly they need a home too and see how you feel then.


Ugh... let's just say I don't envy the position you're in right now.

Good luck.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

I would call the ASPCA/SPCa and file a complaint of neglect. If you need the info, fm me.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Unfortunately, this is why you (meaning the collective you, not you specifically) need to just stay away from the pet stores. If you don't go in them, you will never be tempted.
Lenny's story is very sad, and there are many, many other puppies who are going through the same thing as him. I hate to say it, but if you buy him, you are still perpetuating the puppy mill business. You might "save" this one dog, but he will be replaced by 10 more.
Maybe you can tell the owner that he should keep your name and number if they determine he is unsellable and to give him to you before giving him to a shelter. If he is really being treated poorly/inhumanely, I would call the ASPCA and have them intervene.

Message edited 2/12/2008 11:38:54 AM.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

I think the fact that people might 'condemn' you for buying a pet store pup is a ridiculous reason not to get this dog -- *if* you want him and if you can afford to keep him. The fact that you would be supporting a puppy mill, however, is NOT a ridiculous reason and it's something you need to think long and hard about...

You can flame me all you want, but I PERSONALLY wouldn't want to let this particular animal suffer just because he may have come from a puppy mill and in some way I'd be supporting that... I'd go get him... but mainly b/c I probably wouldn't be able to stop myself. :(

ETA -- This is coming from someone who has rescued ALL of her pets -- included her horses... so I'm not a big supporter of pet stores and have never gotten a pet store animal. I think I've only been inside a pet store that sold animals once in my life...

Message edited 2/12/2008 11:41:39 AM.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Posted by Kara

Posted by Ophelia


ETA" after thinking about it, I would still get the dog, BUT I would write an open letter to the NYTimes, the Post, Craigs List etc...documenting the treatment of the puppy.

file a complaint wth the BBB and anyone else...the Humane Society maybe.

I would rescue the dog, but wouldn't let this guy off the hook unscathed.

Interesting.

I think whatever you decide, something like this should be done.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Posted by Jennie0898

Posted by Ophelia
the poor little animals that do not get purchased suffer the greatest.

Jess, honestly, this is not entirely true. Yes, the pups in the pet store are suffering to an extent, but the dogs that suffer the most are the adult dogs that are being over bread in puppy mills.

Those dogs are literally bread until they die from being over bread. They breed these poor dogs until their uterus is protruding from their little bodies. I'm not even exaggerating a little bit.

It's a VERY sad, viscous cycle.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

I'm not on the pet board, am not a pet owner (other than fish) & haven't read up on puppy mills. I'm not sure that my opinion is even warranted, but since you XP'd, here it goes:

I agree if you don't want to buy a puppy from a pet store, than you don't go in it.

But you did & now you're emotionally attached to a puppy.

I would leave the owner my number & tell him if for any reason he changes his mind, call you.

Then I would blast out an email/letter to craigslist, etc about the poor treatment of the dog.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

You have FM

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Message edited 2/12/2008 12:15:34 PM.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

that is so terribly sad. i know i would no matter what the "negative" feedback is, go and rescue this little angel. no way could i sit and watch an animal be treated so cruel and heartlessly. JMHO..........

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Oh man. This is hard. I know that pet stores support puppy mills and I firmly believe people should not ever buy from them. But you're already very emotionally invested. My own heart is breaking just reading about Lenny.

Can you kind of weigh it out with your conscience? Would you be able to forgive yourself for supporting a puppy mill? Would you be able to forgive yourself if you walk away from Lenny, regardless of what may happen to him?

I, for one, wouldn't flame you if you adopted him, given the circumstances. But I would suggest that you never go in a pet store again after that, and definitely write those letters no matter what you decide to do.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Start the bad press now...what is the name of the pet store and where are they located?

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by Jennie0898

Posted by Ophelia
the poor little animals that do not get purchased suffer the greatest.

Jess, honestly, this is not entirely true. Yes, the pups in the pet store are suffering to an extent, but the dogs that suffer the most are the adult dogs that are being over bread in puppy mills.

Those dogs are literally bread until they die from being over bread. They breed these poor dogs until their uterus is protruding from their little bodies. I'm not even exaggerating a little bit.

It's a VERY sad, viscous cycle.

I am sure that this is true. I have no doubt of it.

but in Nancy's specific situation, I couldn't walk away.

I would do something to harm this person's business. but I couldn't KNOWINGLY let an animal die.

not for the sake of the "team".

I avoid pet stores like the plague, mostly b/c my dh won't let us have one. but also b/c I know the animals there are truly sad. that makes me sad.

but I don't think that just not buying is the way to go. feeling THAT passionately, I'd definitely want and NEED to take a more active roll.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

Posted by Jennie0898

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by Jennie0898

Posted by Ophelia
the poor little animals that do not get purchased suffer the greatest.

Jess, honestly, this is not entirely true. Yes, the pups in the pet store are suffering to an extent, but the dogs that suffer the most are the adult dogs that are being over bread in puppy mills.

Those dogs are literally bread until they die from being over bread. They breed these poor dogs until their uterus is protruding from their little bodies. I'm not even exaggerating a little bit.

It's a VERY sad, viscous cycle.

I am sure that this is true. I have no doubt of it.

but in Nancy's specific situation, I couldn't walk away.

I would do something to harm this person's business. but I couldn't KNOWINGLY let an animal die.

not for the sake of the "team".

I avoid pet stores like the plague, mostly b/c my dh won't let us have one. but also b/c I know the animals there are truly sad. that makes me sad.

but I don't think that just not buying is the way to go. feeling THAT passionately, I'd definitely want and NEED to take a more active roll.

I agree wholeheartedly. Which was why I said to her, I don't know what to say... My heart would be saying BUY HIM! But my head would say, don't. It's a horrible situation...

I think going public with it is a GREAT idea though. I have heard of pet stores being protested so much that they've stopped selling animals and have an adopt-a-thon for the ones they do have.

I'd say that would be the best outcome for this story.

I understand how emotional it can be to see that pup in the window, unfortunately, that's what these losers prey on.

Hopefully by bringing this place and it's practices to light will stop it from selling any kind of animal.

Re: LONG: I NEED YOUR HELP, I don't want to start a war but I need advice

to heck with what it is the "right" thing to do- give Lenny a good home and let yourself love him.

Go buy him, bring him home and give him love.

But, write a letter to every network, craigs list etc- exposing the store and how awful they are.

Don't let anyone tell you that you are doing the wrong thing-

You are giving a loving home to a dog and, at the same time, you will be giving bad publicity to a bad place- good for you!