Pet shops use the natural appeal of puppies, kittens, and other
animals to sell these animals at an inflated price—often several
hundred dollars or more for “purebred” animals. Common problems
in the pet-shop industry include selling sick and injured
animals, failing to provide proper veterinary care, keeping
animals in unsanitary conditions, and using inhumane methods to
dispose of sick or unwanted animals. You can help bring about
changes in local pet stores if you know what conditions to look
for and what steps to take. Where the Animals Come FromThe vast
majority of dogs sold in pet shops are raised in “puppy mills,”
breeding kennels located mostly in the Midwest that are
notorious for their cramped, crude, and filthy conditions and
for their continuous breeding of unhealthy and hard-to-socialize
animals (see PETA’s factsheet on puppy mills for more
information). Birds, rabbits, mice, and other rodents are often
mistakenly thought of as “starter pets” and sell very well, so
pet shops keep plenty in stock.