Should I pay cash for a puppy?
Avoid pet scams: pay to a genuine seller
Make sure that any transactions such as paying a deposit or the full purchase price for an animal are done face-to-face, regardless of whether you pay by cheque, cash or bank transfer. … Don’t use services such as Paypal or Western Union money transfer to make a payment for a pet.
As with our previous investigations of the national pet store chain, we again found animals at Petland stores with illnesses ranging from seizures to respiratory infections, diarrhea and vomiting. At some stores, puppies died without being taken promptly to a veterinary hospital for severe illnesses.
Neither store stocks puppies or kittens, so, no they don’t stock animals from puppy mills. The dogs and cats available there are from local rescue groups and that’s wonderful.
6 of the Least Expensive Dog Breeds to Own
Purebreds
The type of dog that you buy at Petland can also make it an expensive place to shop.
Purebreds are more expensive than mixed breeds.
That’s because they involve careful breeding.
Purebreds can only breed with other members of their breed.
It ensures that the breed stays the same.
However, the breeder has to be careful about in-breeding.
If inbreeding occurs, then there’s a chance that the parents can pass on genetic defects to the child.
Since purebreds are all bred together, there’s always a risk of one of them being a carrier of some sort of genetic defect or disease.
If they breed with another dog who is a carrier of the same defect or disease, then the likelihood of their puppy actually developing or having the disease increases.
To avoid this, it’s a bit more costly to breed purebreds.
Breeders have to undergo genetic testing for their purebreds to ensure they’re healthy enough to breed.
That then goes into the price of their purebred puppies which Petland buys.
To make back their money, Petland then increases the price of their purebreds.
Besides being more costly to breed, purebreds are also desirable and popular.
Many homes specifically want a German Shepherd rather than a German Shepherd mix.
They may want a Bulldog rather than a Bulldog mix.
Since these breeds are popular and in high demand, Petland can sell them at high prices.
There are only ever so many puppies of that specific breed to sell.
If the demand is high enough, then the price will also be high.
Purebreds at Petland are expensive because of the cost associated with breeding them and because of their popularity.
Pet Care
Petland doesn’t sell only goods and supplies.
That means they take on a lot of costs.
They have to keep their puppies alive and healthy to sell them.
If they sell a sick puppy to a family, then there’s always a risk that they can go to court with a lawsuit.
To avoid expensive lawsuits, Petland does its best to keep its puppies healthy.
That means plenty of food, water, and toys to keep them fit and entertained.
Pet food, alone, can be extremely costly.
Certain breeds of dogs eat a lot of food while others don’t.
Depending on the age of the dog, they may also eat more as they go through a growth spurt.
Even cheap dog food can become expensive if you’re buying a lot of it.
They also need to ensure that their stores have the right climate for their puppies.
It needs to be at the right temperatures and have plenty of light to keep them safe and comfortable.
A store that doesn’t have air conditioning or heat threatens the health of a puppy.
Those appliances cost money to run, too.
Keeping puppies healthy and alive costs Petland a lot of money.
To stay operational and make a profit, they have to sell their dogs and supplies at higher prices.
This likely wouldn’t be the case if they were only selling pet supplies.
However, since they need to feed, water, and entertain their puppies, the cost to run their business is high.
As a result, their prices are high.
FAQ
What does Petland do with unsold animals?
Petland is so expensive because they sell purebreds. A purebred is a dog or cat of known lineage, meaning that the pet’s parents and grandparents are all of the same breed. This is opposed to a mixed-breed or “mutts,” which are dogs or cats with lineage of two or more different breeds.
How can I lower the price of my dog?