Pet Topics

Pet overpopulation, genetics, politics and economics, who knew getting a puppy from a pet store, can be so complicated. You probably thought those big brown puppy eyes are the only thing that matters but as with everything in the world today. Things are not as easy as that.

Despite what you’ve been raised to believe, the world is made up of actions and corresponding reactions. Something as simple as buying puppies can be tainted by these events, may it be negative or positive. To some people dogs are not just pets they are livestock. Although they may not be anything wrong with that notion, it is the conditions in which commercial Labrador breeders keep their dogs that are raising eyebrows.

The Labrador is the most well liked, and popular breed of dog anywhere in the world. They have absolutely amazing countenance. Labrador’s are intelligent, highly adaptable and even-tempered. Sadly, the things that make Labradors such wonderful pets also open them up to human atrocities due to the potential of economic opportunities.
Ninety percent of Labradors sold in pet stores come from puppy mills. Commercial Labrador breeders are very wise. They keep their breeding facilities just over animal cruelty standards but still the conditions are deplorable. Most of the people who own puppy mills begin with good intentions. Sadly greed sets in and when this happens they don’t maintain their facilities and they simply keep the dogs for the purpose of income generation.

Yes, everyone has to acknowledge the fact that for these commercial Labrador breeders, dogs are livestock and not pets. But that is not an excuse. Allowing the mothers to live in smutty cramped cages without any human or animal contact is absolutely in humane. Usually these dogs will go crazy because of hunger, loneliness or lack of any association with other animals or people.

The callousness does not stop there. When these puppies are shipped, they are put in cramped boxes and arrive at pet stores inundated by their own urine and excrement. What’s more, according to one pet shop employee, these puppies are kept in cat carriers and stacked in the backrooms. You can hear the puppies’ wine from hunger, dirt and sickness.
Not only that but dogs produced by commercial Labrador breeders have a tendency to be ill or genetically defective. The illnesses start with the mothers, and are passed on to the puppies. Common illnesses are fleas, ear infections, mange and bronchial illnesses. Genetics also plays a part because some puppies are a product of in breeding.

Some diseases or defects may have arisen from the way these puppies traveled from the puppy mills to the pet shops. These defects are, hip deformities, sprains and bone problems. Still others are afflicted by bad vision, hearing problems and epilepsy.

Although there are pet shops that do get their puppies from responsible commercial dog breeders, Labrador breeders, and private owners, the likely hood is that there are only a few of them that do. The lure of higher profits is sometimes hard to resist for some people. So be the responsible one and don’t patronize the pet stores who are merciless to animals.

Reliable Labrador breeders will help in educating you on how to properly raise your Labrador puppy. Labrador information is readily available in your local kennel club.