Puppy Mill "Protest"

[therising]

rising , better stop the subscriptions to "Playdog"................

I'm telling you - ever since, I took your advice and took the Viagra, everything looks good.

[winfield31]

I'm telling you - ever since, I took your advice and took the Viagra, everything looks good.

Rosie.JPG yep , the viagra even helped me on this one............

[wheresthesun]

this is a beautiful, elegant dog

You're kidding, right?

[wheresthesun]

Because Steve went out of his way to register, and answer the question, I am, certainly, not going to give him a hard time.

While he does seem sincere, I, still, would, strongly, advise anyone, who is thinking of buying a puppy, to not buy it at a pet store.

And, if Steve is really a pet lover, he would admit that as well.

BTW I have been to Steve's, and, puppies aside, it's a great store. However, because they sell puppies, I choose not to go back there.

I agree with this 100%.
I should say that I am not just pulling this out of my *** but that I have a family member who is very active with animal rescue and I know that buying a pup from a pet shop (with all due respect to Steve) is a huge risk.

[winfield31]

You're kidding, right?

no , I'm not kidding , this dog , wts , is so unique & awesome looking , now I'm not "rising" crazed over her (close..........) , but I really love the way this gal looks...........

[WNYresident]

Zoe
Also, if you follow up on where the puppy was born, you will trace it back to a puppy mill. -- ask to see paperwork and proof of where the puppy was born and what its parents look like.. see where you end up.

Have you ever traced them back from steves?

[stevespets]

What reputable breeder do you know that would sell its puppies to a pet store? Also, typically breeders breed one breed. in steves case he carries like every breed... so this broker visits different houses for each different breed... highly unlikely. Also, if you follow up on where the puppy was born, you will trace it back to a puppy mill. -- ask to see paperwork and proof of where the puppy was born and what its parents look like.. see where you end up.

also, i work with dogs that were bought from steves, and sadly most of them have behavioral and/or health problems.. due to bad breeding.. along with not growing up to look like the "purebred" they are supposed to be.

please visit http://www.stoppuppymills.org and inform yourself and make your own decision.

to steve... you should think about putting dogs and puppies that are up for adoption from local shelters instead! that would be amazing!! Thank you.

Zoe, I agree, there are puppies that need adoption and that is a great place to start your search for a puppy. The city shelters have quite a few dogs that would be a great addition. There are also dogs there that should only go to a home where the people know how to handle dogs with behavioral issues as that is why most dogs are surrendered. I do however object to local shelters bringing in puppies from out of the country and selling them as local strays.

As to "What reputable breeder do you know that would sell its puppies to a pet store?" my response is that there are a lot. I guess we would know them and you might not? Breeding puppies well is a lot of work and it's expensive, the breeders that I know do not want the additional work of selling them, that too is a lot of work.

Steve

[stevespets]

Buffalo Animal Shelter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The City of Buffalo Animal Shelter has issued an urgent plea for dog and cat adoptions.

Several dogs housed in the shelter for months desperately need homes. Cats and kittens now fill the 45 kennels reserved for them, while the 57 set aside for dogs are near capacity.

“These are truly Buffalo’s forgotten, and people need to help,” said Anne Bingenheimer-Serravalle, a spokeswoman for the shelter. “We live in times where everybody has to help to make things better. Animals give so much back, but they are doomed without a home.”

The four-legged creatures now in the shelter are a small percentage of the more than 5,000 that pass through its doors annually.

Here are a few animals that need homes:

• Miranda was malnourished and ill when she came to the shelter in April after wandering the streets. Despite the hardships she has encountered, the Labrador mix is said to be loving, gentle and docile.

• Waldo, a pit bull mix, also has been at the shelter for months. He was found abandoned, with a foot-long scar on his side, but is said to be a loving dog with a wonderful temperament.

“He’s sweet despite [being left to fend for himself] on the streets of Buffalo,” Bingenheimer-Serravalle said. “He has survived and has no animosity toward people or animals. But he’s been here since May and needs a home.”

• Mona, a pit bull mix puppy with tall ears, also has been in the shelter for months. She is said to be smart, energetic and lovable — and loves having her stomach rubbed.

• Jason and Ethel have bonded so closely that the shelter wants the two kittens adopted together.

“These two cats just love each other. I’m changing their names to Romeo and Juliet,” Bingenheimer- Serravalle said.

“Any person who adopts one of these dogs or cats is truly creating a miracle for this animal,” she added. “They’re giving it its life.”

The shelter, at 380 N. Oak St. in downtown Buffalo, is open from 9 a. m to 3 p. m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Wednesday; and 9:30 a. m. to 2:30 p. m. Saturday.

To facilitate adoptions, it is waiving the $10 adoption fee for a limited time.

msommer@buffnews.com

I totally support the Buffalo Animal Shelter. They are working in tough conditions with little funding. In the past Steve's Pets has helped them with food and free advertising.

thinking aloud here, what do you all think about offering a free care kit to anyone who adopts a puppy from the shelter?

Steve

[OneEmerald]

I totally support the Buffalo Animal Shelter. They are working in tough conditions with little funding. In the past Steve's Pets has helped them with food and free advertising.

thinking aloud here, what do you all think about offering a free care kit to anyone who adopts a puppy from the shelter?

Steve

That's a nice idea Steve, but how many puppies do they get? It seems they usually have adult dogs.

[ZoE25]

Demonstration cancelled until further notice. I will email those that are interested. The news channels were unable to make it on that date

Steve has been very nice throughout this whole thing and we appreciate that. However, people need to know where these puppies come from. Without a doubt in my mind, these puppies are shipped from mills. Unless, Steve can provide the breeders names, location and contact, we will continue.

(also, rewarding the sale of puppies/dogs from shelters is a good idea!)

Thank you.

[stevespets]

(also, rewarding the sale of puppies/dogs from shelters is a good idea!)

Thanks for the responses,
I have a tendancy to call all dogs pups. Maybe because they keep me young at heart.

I will assemble a kit and let you all know what's in it and then if you would be so kind as to comment on it, that'd be great!

Steve

[CAugust]

I just read the entire topic, I think Steve is being very very gracious - I have been to his store much more often when my children were little - I will say that the staff were wonderful - aside from sales, they also had pre k classes and scouts there prior informing them on care of pets etc etc......

Many many people ONLY want a dog with papers - I personally preffered my mut - but to each his own.............

Steve - that is a generous offer of putting together something for those adopting from the shelter...................

[NBuffaloResident]

So has Steve followed through on what he posted here?

[mspenny719]

I just read the entire topic, I think Steve is being very very gracious - I have been to his store much more often when my children were little -...
Many many people ONLY want a dog with papers - I personally preffered my mut - but to each his own.............

Yes, Steve is being gracious but lets not forget how he makes his money. Its his job to present his puppies as dogs bred in fine circumstances and maybe he even believes it. Steve should visit the place where he gets his puppies and report back. Unfortunately, when someone makes money selling puppies this way, they're unlikely to believe they're doing anything wrong.

Dogs are living creatures and I don't think they should be treated like merchandise.

[gorja]

Originally posted by mspenny719:
Yes, Steve is being gracious but lets not forget how he makes his money. Its his job to present his puppies as dogs bred in fine circumstances and maybe he even believes it. Steve should visit the place where he gets his puppies and report back. Unfortunately, when someone makes money selling puppies this way, they're unlikely to believe they're doing anything wrong.

Dogs are living creatures and I don't think they should be treated like merchandise.

From Steve's pets website-

Steve’s Puppies: As healthy and well-socialized as any you can buy.

Because Steve’s is a pet store, we are especially sensitive to the deserved charges leveled against those who neither breed
nor care responsibly for the puppies they sell. That is why we have also taken the extraordinary measures of conducting not just numerous on-site visits at The Hunte Corp., but also week-long observations in which we were welcome to review every aspect of puppy care. After accompanying us on one such visit, Steve’s primary veterinarian, Dr. Harry S. Newman, was able to declare that “Steve’s puppies will be as healthy and well-socialized as any you could buy.”

http://stevespets.com/puppies.pdf