A recent post by Maureen McCabe - Central Ohio real estate entitled The Christmas Puppy reminded me of a post I did last year.
In light of Maureen's post, I thought i would mulligan my previous post for this year's readers who might have missed it.
It's long... but if you are considering purchasing a puppy for Christmas, please take a moment to read through it.
Originally posted December 2007:
I remember when I was a kid, every year at Christmas it was the same. All I wanted for Christmas was a puppy. Year after year, I didn't get it. Well, now that I'm wiser (okay, older too), I realize exactly why my parents (umm.. I mean Santa) were reluctant to buy bring me a puppy for Christmas.
It is an enormous responsibility to own a dog, or any pet for that matter. Of course, as parents we all want to teach our children about responsibility, I can certainly understand that. At twenty and eighteen years old, I am still trying to teach my sons about responsibility. But, to bring a puppy home for Christmas can be a huge mistake. To buy a puppy from a puppy mill or pet store is an even bigger mistake. 
Those cute puppies in pet stores, even those with an AKC price tag, all come from puppy mills - trust me on this. No reputable breeder will place their puppies through a pet shop. I have done a huge amount of research when a sick puppy mill puppy came into my life two years ago. I didn't know the difference then, between what a puppy mill is or isn't. I thought there was nothing wrong with purchasing a puppy from a farmer who raised dogs or from a pet shop. What I didn't know at the time, and have educated myself about it all by default, was that this particular farmer had over 500 dogs on his property at the time. Yes, he was a puppy miller and he was selling Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, among many other breeds.
We only went "to look" at the Cavalier puppies to see what the farmer had. My husband didn't even want a dog! I thought a puppy would be good therapy for us, since my oldest son had just moved out and we were all (even my younger son) hearing the echos through our emptied hallways called "empty nest syndrome". I thought a puppy would help cheer up my younger son, and perhaps replace the void of not having his brother around. I sure would have appreciated the extra distraction, as well. What a trap we fell into! The smallest puppy just stole our hearts. We were told they were "on sale" because it was now one week after Christmas and their rush of sales were over. Hubby ran to the ATM to take out cash to pay the farmer $800 (on sale!) for the little 2.5 pound bundle of love.
That little (expensive) bundle became very ill in less than 24 hours. He had a seizure the next morning in our family room. We ran to the P.E.T.S emergency hospital -- this happened to be New Years Day -- and paid hundreds more to have him stabilized. He only stayed there for the day, but we were at our wits end. He had already stolen our hearts, and we were willing to pay whatever it took to save his life. When we told the vet's office where we had gotten our new puppy, a worried look came over their faces. We were told that he was the worst puppy miller in the county.
I won't go into the huge controversial topics here about puppy mills and who or who isn't a miller. What I want to point out, though, is that there are thousands of dogs who are in need, waiting for homes in shelters. Wonderful dogs, Dogs that need a home and will love you tenfold for bringing them to your home and showing them the love they crave. Training your dog is very important, and the rewards are tenfold as well. If you must have a puppy, there are rescue organizations who sometimes have puppies available as well. Many times they are up to a year old, and have been returned because people do not have the time or the patience to train them. They bring home a puppy for Christmas, and then realize that there is real work involved in raising a dog. So, rescue organizations step in, and wait for good people like you to step forward and adopt.
This puppy that we purchased on sale for $800 ended up costing us over $1500 in vet fees over the next two weeks!!! Because I learned about my rights regarding The Puppy Lemon Law, I complained to the PA State Attorney General's office, and the miller refunded my intial $800. Since then, I have spent thousands of dollars on additional vet fees, surgery to repair his faulty knees and holistic vet fees to prevent it from happening on his other knees.
He has issues - but he is our little neurotic, happy, lovable puppy who just turned 2 years old. We brought a brother (from a reputable breeder) to join our home as well, and the difference between the two dogs is -- one from a puppy mill and the other not -- is enormous. I have never had a vet bill higher than a cough and an upset tummy from something he ate, from our breeder-obtained dog, and they are only 2 months apart.
What I have learned in the tons of research I have done, along with my efforts to help with dog rescue organizations, is that these local farmers who sell puppies know that local people are on to them. So what do they do? They advertise in the newspapers of neighboring counties and states. If you see an ad in Maryland or New Jersey for puppies in Pennsylvania, please be aware. Do your research on the Kennel or Breeder.
Please realize that I am not saying that every puppy seller is a miller - just ask the right questions. Ask to see the parents of the dogs. Ask how many breeds of dogs they sell. Ask what sort of health guarantee they give and what sort of health testing they do on the parents. You have no idea how important this is, until you bring a puppy home that has genetic problems from poor breeding, genetically unhealthy parents, and inbreeding, etc.
And please realize that bringing a puppy home for Christmas can be a very stressful event in this young life. This will be the first time they are separated from their surroundings, the activities and excitement of Christmas can be overwhelming. Stress can sicken a puppy, can make him frightful, and it may not be a great experience for all involved, including the family.
It is heartbreaking to bring home a puppy, only to later find out that his is a very sick puppy, and feeling helpless while cradling him while he is near death. It is also a very expensive experience. I wouldn't trade my little furry bundle of joy for the world, but considering the amount of money we spent on medical bills because we tried to save a buck and not purchase from a reputable breeder, I realize that we could have purchased a "show" dog for the same amount.
Instead of bringing home a puppy during the hustle and bustle of Christmas, here are some other gift ideas for your children that you can try:
- wrap up a colorful collar and leash -- for the puppy you will be bringing home after the holiday hustle and bustle is over.
- wrap up a plush doggy bed -- for the puppy you will be bringing home after the holiday hustle and bustle is over.
- wrap up a children's book on "training your new puppy" in anticipation of the puppy you will be bringing home
- wrap up a pair of colorful water and food bowls -- in anticipation of the puppy you will be bringing home
- wrap up some toys and blankets for your child to donate to the local animal shelter
- wrap up a special stuffed puppy so they can start practicing on how to love it!
In the meantime, you will have plenty of time to research quality breeders and rescue organizations, meet them in person, and make sure that the puppy you bring home is the best one suited to your family's needs. After all, this is a lifelong decision. And it is a life you are agreeing to take care of - one that will depend on you for all of it's needs.
Happy holidays to everyone, including your furry household members -- and remember, Don't Shop. Adopt.
and Dugan and Domino... or .... Puppy Ying-Yang 
Looking for a home in Lancaster County that can accomodate your special family pets and animals? Visit Homes in Lancaster PA - Real Estate in Lancaster County for assistance with your Lancaster Real Estate needs.
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Edited to add ---- I though I would post a photo of my mother's rescue puppy. She is a Luckystar rescue dog (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rescue) -- or at least her mother was. Her mother was rescued from a puppy mill - while pregnant. Lucky for everyone, the miller did not know at the time and this puppy was born in the foster family's home. She is the highlight of my mom and dad's life, and as senior citizens she brings them joy every day. She is also the best friend of my two little pups. If you are interested in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, please contact rescue organizations first! You can get advice from the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club or the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club
The point is, with research and patience, a puppy can come into your life through a rescue organization, as opposed to a pet shop if you prefer a puppy to an older dog for your family (although older dogs need homes and can be wonderful, greatful pets!).
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