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TCat Member 
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Has anyone heard more information about the new pet store opening at the Commons? What I have heard is that they will be selling pets, including cats and dogs at this store. Is this true? There is an overpopulation of animals in this area and we are #2 in the state for how many pets our county shelter kills each year. Also, many of these animals for sale in stores come from horrible puppy mills... it's hard to control that problem. And no reputable breeder does breeding for a profit. Wouldn't it be better if the store would allow local rescue groups, the animal shelter or the Humane Society to showcase some of the loving pets in need of homes rather than promote additional (and in many cases irresponsible) breeding? This is what PetSmart does and they seem to be doing well. Also, the NWO featured some local rescue groups who could use the support. I have several pets who we are always buying supplies for. If this store does sell animals, I know I for one will not be supporting them with my dollars. Don't give pets as gifts and support your local resuce group or Humane Society. Over 50% of their pets are purebreds (if that is what you are looking for) and all of these pets want a loving home. |
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Steve Adkins Member 
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TCat wrote: And no reputable breeder does breeding for a profit. They don't????? What do they do it for then??? |
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Jim Flynt Member
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Steve Adkins wrote: TCat wrote:And no reputable breeder does breeding for a profit. Steve, I was wondering the same thing. |
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TCat Member
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Most of the breeders that I have met and talked with tell me they do what they do for the love of the breed. With the cost of vet bills for the mom and all the puppies and the time good care and nutrition takes, they usually just about break even, not really make a profit. Also "professional" breeders should be following careful guidelines for maintaining the good health of the breed. When animals become popular they get over-bred by those people just looking to take advantage and make quick profits. That is why you have so many genetic problems with many of the purebred dogs these days. A good breeder would want to check you out, make sure you are committed to this animal, and give you a guarantee, as well as the health records of the puppy and his parents. There is a great article about it the ASPCA's website - http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_puppymills I know a lot of people don't understand how bad it can be, but not only do you run the risk of supporting a very cruel industry, you are likely to end up with a sick pet that can cost you a lot of heartache and money. |
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DOGGETTJA Member 
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Tcat I agree. I would never buy a purebred animal from a pet store. We did buy a working dog once sight unseen and a doberman from a very reputable breeder out of state but most of our dogs find us as we live on the end of a road and have had dozens of dogs put out here over the years. They have been wonderful, loving intelligent animals and their pedigree never mattered. We welcomed them into our family. |
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ff12 Member 
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agree with you that there are enough pets available without having to market cute kittens and dogs to little kids who will put the pressure on mom and dad to get the doggie in the window. besides doesnt tractor supply sell a majority of your pet supplies,no tractors or tractor supplies , but plenty of stuff for horses dogs cats even rabbits. |
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bama80 Member 
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Its not really profit.... it's more of a "handling fee" kinda like how you can sell tickets to things on the internet for more and its not scalping if you call it a handling fee. |
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zippitydoodah Member
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I haven't been in there but I heard they had Yorkie puppies for $1999. |
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ff12 Member
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Maybe I am not the most observant person in the world but I was at the commons and did not see the pet store. Saw a place to pamper your pet if you have a lot of disposable income. Is it the same place? |
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S. Smith Moderator
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ff12 wrote: Maybe I am not the most observant person in the world but I was at the commons and did not see the pet store. Saw a place to pamper your pet if you have a lot of disposable income. Is it the same place?The name of the pet store is Goochie Pucci. Their address is 2205-I Oak Ridge Rd. (in Oak Ridge Commons). I haven't been in there yet, but they're advertising as "The Unique Pet Boutique." |
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Steve Adkins Member
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This is not Steve Adkins writing right now, this is his daughter Kayla. And in response to the comment made about the new pet store in the Oak Ridge Commons, I have known the couple, and their children, that own it for about four years now, ever since my family moved to Greensboro. They used to run the "All About Pets" store in Brassfield. The are wonderful people and I believe that before you make any assumptions about where they get their cats and dogs that they sell, you might want to ask them, TCat. I have been buying supplies for my lizard, dog, and two cats from them and will continue to do so. Their store, Gucci Pucci, (I'm not sure on the spelling...its pronounced Gucci Poochie!!) should be opening soon, if not already open. Maybe you should visit their store and realize how warm and friendly these people are. The down-to-earth atmosphere is extremely apparent and I absolutely adore the couple who run it and if you ask my dad, I'm difficult to please. So before any other possible negative comments come out about the store, please do go visit this place and the people who run it. By the way....tell them I said 'hi'. |
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S. Smith Moderator
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Kayla, thanks for jumping in here and giving us your personal perspective. Feel free to get your own user name and join us any time. I'm glad to hear a personal reference for the local pet shop and its owners. |
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Ruffhouse Member
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I know this is not the subject of the thread but you are all animal lovers it seems. I am moving to N.C in about a month and am looking for a house to rent. I have dogs. What is it like out that way to rent a house with dogs? Any ifo would be great. |
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Stonefree Member 
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Kayla, I am glad you chose to participate, I think that the intention of TCat's post, TCat correct me if i am wrong, is to pose the question not make an accusation. Today's society has, with paris hilton and britney spears, turned the toy class of dogs into accessories, like purses. This store seems to cater to that mentality. While i support their rights to have a business, i don't support the accessorizing with pets. Trust me i spoil my pets alot, upper scale boarding, good health care. But people should always treat their animal companions with the same level of commitment that they would any realtionship, pets are companions not objects to be decorated. I am also quite certain that the pet store that helps support the animal shelters in finding homes for dogs would get my business, the ones that simply provide shiney new over-priced animals won't. Stonefree |
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Ruffhouse Member
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I have worked for pet stores that sell cats and dogs. Never again. Puppy mills need to be stopped and as long as people buy from a store they promote the puppy mills. Now I have heard of stores that claim they buy from reputable breeders. Well I don't breed much but I show my dogs and have quality dogs. And I can tell you from being part of that world no reputable breeder will sell to ANY pet store. The majority of us have contracts stating just that. Our pups do not end up in shelters. I and most of the breeders I know have a contract stating that if you can not keep this pup for any reason no matter what age he/she has to come back to us. On the other hand I have worked for the stores that promote adoption. This is a very very good thing. But believe me they are not all what they say they are either. But as long as there is that all mightly credit card that reputable breeders can not compete against people will pay 3 or 4 times for a unhealthyy at times and nof of quality puppy. |
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Jim Flynt Member
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Stonefree wrote: Today's society has, with paris hilton and britney spears, turned the toy class of dogs into accessories, like purses. i don't support the accessorizing with pets. But people should always treat their animal companions with the same level of commitment that they would any relationship God forbid that any pet be treated like Paris and Brittany seem to treat their other relationships. And I say this as a lifetime dog lover with the two greatest Golden Retrievers in the world. Both of which, I might add, came from a breeder and not a pet store. |
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Stonefree Member
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Point taken Correction: The way a normal person should handle their relationship. Not spoiled, brain dead, talentless skanks. :-) Stonefree |
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kidwell Member 
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I for one never had any good expierences at All about Pets..And have heard alot of others say the same thing..I will have to say this time I will travel elsewhere for my pet supplies! It seems to me from people who have checked it out also say the prices are little( or actually alot) on the high side..Just my 2 cents... |
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TCat Member
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I was out at Red Dog Farm this past weekend - http://www.reddogfarm.com. They are a rescue farm/facility/network that has been featured in the NW Observer before. On a very chilly morning quite a few folks came out to help take care of the animals and, in-spite of the temperatures, a great time was had by all. There were a number of kids involved with their parents and we all pitched in to help and then got to spend some time with the rabbits, donkeys, goats, dogs, turkey, etc. They are doing really great work there and looking for more volunteers As a part of a rescue network they also have animals that need to be adopted or fostered including some adorable pups. Think of them (or the Animal Shelter, Humane Society or http://www.petfinder.com) when you are looking for a new member of the family. Also, don't forget to support the end to the annual seal slaughter by boycotting Canadian seafood (either sold in grocery stores or used in a restaurant) and visit http://www.hsus.org/protect_seals.html to sign the Humane Society's petition showing Canada our support against this.  |
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Ruffhouse Member
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Hopefully all of you are paying attention to the news. There has been a major recall on all menu foods. The food is killing our pets. It causes liver and kidney failure. |
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triaddogs Member
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I have never met a respectable breeder that would sell to a pet store. Responsible breeders most always have every litter sold before they are ever even bred. Responsible breeders are breeding because they think they can improve the breed, or have a dog that should be repeated. I personally never will breed anything even though most of my dogs have multiple titles behaing their names. They are all spayed and neutered. Forsyth County doesn't allow pets to be sold in pet stores. That restriction has improved overpopulation and increased adoptions in Forsyth County. Maybe that is the way to go here. (although I did notice a grooming shop in Kernersville with a "AKC consignment puppies" sign in the window. They are a new store and maybe they will get stopped. One other note...respectable breeders are not breeding "designer" or "hybrid" dogs. There are enough breeds out there to avoid the Scnoodles and Malti-poos and Labradoodles. The only reason I have for condoning breeding at all, given the overpopultion data, is that certain breeds are bred for working, some are bred to bite, some are bred not to bite, and many are bred for temperment. When you mix all this up you are left with a bunch of dogs that are just like the ones available at your shelter. You breed the working quality out of them, leave puppy buyers with no idea what they are getting, and you can for sure breed a bad dog. ie, Mix a Border Collie with a Lab, you get a big goofy dog who is likely to be nippy and slighly fearful. Breed a Jack Russell to a Yorkie and you get a cute lap dog that is almost certain to kill your cat. You get the idea?!?! And what, possible, could be the use for that? I, too, will be taking my business elsewhere even if it means going across town. Funny thing is, I will drop some cash for pink doggy "bling"....just not there! |
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Cracker Jax Member 
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Welcome to the forum triaddogs!
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ff12 Member
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I have heard that the owner of the pet store has some health problems, has anyone else? |
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TCat Member
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One thing to keep in mind about AKC registered dogs. The AKC PR department would like you to think that 1) you are getting a "superior" dog as if an AKC designation is some sort of seal of quality and 2) that they support animal rights/welfare (although come to think of it I have never heard that from them but it's what many people think. However: The AKC is speaking out against an anti-tethering bill pending in North Carolina, calling it "an attempt to intervene unnecessarily with tethering as a useful tool for confining dogsWith substantive animal cruelty statutes already in place, states simply need to enforce existing law in cruel tethering cases. The already-existing cruelty laws make these proposed tethering bans or restrictions unnecessary. North Carolina is not alone in its attempt to intervene unnecessarily with tethering as a useful tool for confining dogs. Bills similar to North Carolina’s have been introduced in Maine, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. (The proposals in Rhode Island and Virginia have been effectively quashed in committee.) With substantive animal cruelty statutes already in place, states simply need to enforce existing law in cruel tethering cases. The already-existing cruelty laws make these proposed tethering bans or restrictions unnecessary." Isn't that lovely? We can all relax and let state governments enforce their own woeful anti-cruelty statutes and the problem will just disappear. These are the same people who think it's just a swell idea to breed and sell animals when there are 6-8 million homeless cats and dogs admitted into shelters every year. But this latest absurdity is over the top even for the AKC. The topic was what dog lovers should do about legislation in their states to protect their canine friends from being chained up outside all day—exposed to the elements, the boredom and anxiety that tends to accompany being tethered to a frickin’ tree for long periods of time, and God knows what other miseries lie in wait for so-called "backyard dogs." The AKC is a PRO-abuse organization. The AKC now receives MOST of its income from registering puppy mill puppies.They have a business arrangement with Hunte Corporation of Missouri, the most notorious puppy mill broker in the country. Dennis Sprung and his profit-mad board recently approved a business deal with Petland, a chain pet store that sells puppy mill puppies and has mountains of complaints. This particular deal only fell through because the few remaining responsible members of the AKC became angry and demanded it be at least put on hold. But the Hunte deal has been bringing in the cash for some time. Thus, the AKC is now PROTECTING puppy mill and animal abusers' interests. They oppose ALL anti-cruelty laws and bills, because these would reduce profits. They publically state that dogs are "property," to be used and abused at will by the "owners," and that the government has no "right" to pass laws that regulate "ownership," even abuse and killing. In particular, they oppose anti-tethering and anti-chaining laws because many puppy millers (and dog fighters) keep their animals outdoors 24/7, caged or chained, in the weather. |
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TCat Member
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Thank you NWO for featuring the Pug rescue/puppy mill article. Puppy mills are more common than you think and where most pet store puppies come from. When you see a darling pup in a store they just don't seem like they could come from such a horrible place and that buying them supports a cruel industry. I also saw a sign at the pet store saying "Puppy Sale!"... just like 50-cents off bread or some other product. What happens to these pups as they get older and "less cute, less sale-able" and no one buys them. Where do they go then? I doubt they get returned. Just become more animals bred irresponsibly and then turned over to the animal shelter - if they are lucky. The sad thing is you don't want those pups/kittens in the store to suffer. You want them to have a good home, but buying them keeps supporting the disreputable dealers running these mills and supplying the stores. From the article: "After a month of patient, loving care, DeeDee the pug is beginning to learn that people are nice. One of 37 dogs rescued from a Wilson County puppy mill, the 7-year-old female still cringes when you reach to pet her. However, once she realizes that you’re not going to hurt her, she leans in to have her ears rubbed. Her eyes are large and soulful, sad but hopeful." Support pet rescue groups, the Humane Society, the SPCA and neuter your pets! |
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triaddogs Member
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I like you, Tcat. You know your stuff! |
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TCat Member
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Thank you! I've worked for vets, pet stores and volunteered for rescue groups and at the Humane Society. I've seen a lot of sad situations and it hurts to see it. Especially the way laws are structured but also the attitudes and beliefs many people have about how an animal should be treated. It amazes me how lightly some people take the responsibility of the care for another dependant living being. |
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triaddogs Member
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Hmmm...I bet I know you! |
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