How Healthy Is That Doggy In the Window?
Published May 11, 2010
It's not easy to pass a local pet store display, with big brown puppy eyes looking at you and tails wagging, but a recent AP-Petside.com poll reveals that plenty of people do. Many are concerned about the temperament and health of that doggy in the window.
More than four in ten people (47%) said they think pets purchased from pet stores could very well have medical or psychological problems they wouldn't know about. 38% of people would have the same concerns about a pet purchased from a breeder and 32% worried about the health of a pet acquired from a shelter.
Women seem to be more concerned about the health of a new pet from a pet store than men. 49% of women expecting their next pet to come from a pet store said they worried it would have psychological problems, compared to 38% of men.
With pet store puppies health in question, it's no wonder that the pet store is the least likely source for getting a new pet. Only 13% said their current pet comes from a pet store. Just 8% said that they were planning to purchase their next pet from a pet store.
The majority of America's pets seems to come from unlikely sources such as friends, relatives, as strays or gifts. 53% of people acquired their pets in a more unconventional way. 26% said they come from breeders. Dog owners are much more likely (35%) than cat owners (5%) to get their pet from a breeder.
Sometimes pet owners have good intentions but that doesn't translate into actions. While 54% say that their next pet is most likely to be a rescue, only 30% said they got their pet at an animal shelter.
How did you get your pet? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
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Comments (35)
This is one of the reason I only adopt from shelters and would never buy puppy from a breeder. Even humane dog breeders are more concerned about creating a dog that conforms to standards of a certain breed rather than creating a healthy dog.minsk apartment
I completely agree with the above comment, the internet is with a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.