Pet Shop Horrors: Part Two: The Sale (1013 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.9 on 30 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Manda (View user info) at 2006-02-26 05:04:08 EST
Part one: http://www.ubersite.com/m/84443
When you work at a pet store, you'll see lots of different people wandering in. Mostly it's screaming little children that beat against the glass, while their parents just watch, ignoring the signs that clearly say in large letters and red ink, "Please do not bang on the glass!"
At the end of the night, there are imprints of little faces all along the wall, along with greasy and grubby handprints. But compared to the other people that come into pet stores, little kids are welcome there.
Some of the worst people flock to pet stores, looking to take advantage of lenient financing so that they can leave that day with their dog. Call me prejudice, but I refused to let the eighteen-year-old 'wigga' see the sturdy looking boxer while his little teenybopper skank girlfriend fawns over it as he promises her the dog to prove his undying devotion. You want to see that dog? Sorry, but he's on hold for someone.
My manager, who I can truthfully say isn't interested in the welfare of the puppies, once sold a cocker spaniel to a twenty year old woman that lived in an apartment and had a bad landlord that was restrictive when it comes to noise because there were elderly tenants that complained living all around the woman, who couldn't even play her TV above a medium volume. How do I know all of this? Because I was standing there listening to my manager pushing the sale on this woman.
In case you're not familiar with the breed, cocker spaniels are very energetic and need a lot of training because sometimes they just don't 'get' it. They can also become very bored very easily; sometimes they'll start yipping for attention, other times they become destructive. They're very nice dogs, but when I say energetic, I mean it. They bounce around everywhere and squirm in your arms to be let down so they can jump around some more.
Anyways, it was no big surprise when the woman came back the next day because the dog was too frisky for her small apartment.
When puppies are returned to the store, they automatically must go into the backroom to be quarantined for ten days. The back room of this particular store was in bad condition. Because customers didn't see it, it was often left unattended more often than not by the kennel person. I ended many a shift by cleaning out the cages myself because no one else was going to do it and those dogs don't deserve to be sitting in their own filth. Small dogs, such as Chihuahuas and Lhasa Apsos, were stuffed up to five in one cage. Sick dogs were put with healthy ones that were just returned, spreading disease throughout the whole backroom.
What did my manager do about this return? She stuffed the dog in quarantine, and then sold the woman a yappy pug. All day long this pug yapped in his cage at the store. It was yapping when the manager brought it out to show the woman. Guess what it did when she brought it home? Yup, it yapped all night.
Another returned dog. You'd think my manager would have discouraged the woman from getting another dog, but no, she wanted that $25 sale commission. This went on through FOUR more dogs
Finally, and thankfully, the woman gave up on her search for the perfect bark-less, lethargic dog.
There are people that came into the pet store announcing their intentions to breed the dog for profit. These people are called backyard breeders and are on the same level of puppy mills and pet stores. They do nothing to better the breed—they are just looking to make a quick buck at the expense of their dogs. They hardly ever check out the families before selling their dogs, much like at the pet store where you just fill out a short application, pay, and you're out the door with a new pet. I'll get into this more later.
A woman once came into the store and asked to see the adorable Pembroke Corgi that we had. I obliged, since I wasn't getting any initial creepy vibes from her. I normally talk to potential customers casually, asking a lot of questions, to try to get the best breed for the person. This woman told me, and I kid you not, that she had a dog that she just put down two days prior that was "too energetic" for her. Basically, she euthanized a perfectly healthy dog that just had too much energy.
She didn't leave with that Corgi.
I'm not trying to say that I'm the patron saint of pet stores. When I worked there, I was just trying to look out for the dogs. I believed that by holding off from selling a puppy to someone that would probably give it a bad home, I could help a puppy go to a loving home.
There are some really good people that came into the pet store with great intentions. These are the people that carry pictures of their animals in their wallets, that speak glowingly about their old/current dogs, that buy a book on the particular breed that they are purchasing to refresh their knowledge on training their new puppy.
I was more than happy to sell puppies to these types of people because I felt that the pups were getting the type of home that they deserved, where they would become a member of the family and loved unconditionally.
Coming soon: Part three: Backyard breeders
User Reviews
Submitted by Kaelic (user info) at 2006-10-02 01:34:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was a good series. I think you should write more.
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2006-02-28 13:31:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-02-28 09:56:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-26 21:52:07 (#)
Ranking: 2
Weren't you the guy that made me my very first Uber hate post?
Ah, the memories.
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I only realised that recently, I find it hard to believe that you're the same person.
Then again I've changed a lot since then i guess.
Submitted by BadAssJulie (user info) at 2006-02-27 20:53:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'll never buy an animal from a pet store or a breeder although when I was little, my mom bought me a Yorkie, a lovebird, and a box turtle from breeders and a pet store. My two dogs and my cockatoo are rescues and I think it makes them better pets. They seem to appreciate/respect you and the things you do for them more after the hard lives they've had.
Plus my dogs are mutts so they don't have as many problems as purebreeds. My bird on the other hand has liver problems from being kept on an all seed diet for 17+ years before I got him. When will people realize it's so much cheaper to just feed them the right foods and take care of them properly in the first place than to end up with a shitload of vet bills?
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Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2006-02-27 09:15:35 (#)
Ranking: 2
BTW Anyone know how I can teach my dog to bare his teeth when I say:
CHOPPER SIC BALLS!!!
Cause right now he only does it when he sees Hispanic people. My dog is fucking racist... either that or he doesn't like them because their kids are always trying to climb my 6ft fence to play in my son's clubhouse.
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You should just start saying it when he sees a hispanic person and then give him a treat when he does it. It's ok, my little dog is racist too. He hates black and Asian people. I think he was abused by black people and we had an Asian mail man who pepper sprayed him once.
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-27 20:36:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-02-27 15:22:17 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-27 06:38:29 (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh my gosh. I just looked up the leonberger breed--I want one!!!
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So the fact that this evil bitch would wait 'til I was sat down then spring for my jugular amuses you? What about the fact that this one weighed 15 stones and had feet like dinner plates. Bastard thing was a bear not a dog.
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I'm sure he was just trying to play!
Zoid- That is truly disgusting. I think it's better that I don't watch it. I tend to get very worked up about that type of stuff. Did it have a part about how you can help those types of situations? Legally?
If so, what did they suggest?
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-02-27 15:22:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-27 06:38:29 (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh my gosh. I just looked up the leonberger breed--I want one!!!
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So the fact that this evil bitch would wait 'til I was sat down then spring for my jugular amuses you? What about the fact that this one weighed 15 stones and had feet like dinner plates. Bastard thing was a bear not a dog.
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2006-02-27 15:16:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
watch "Dealing Dogs" about class B breeder abuse.
HBO showed it a few days ago
About the most disgusting thing I had ever seen. The guy would put healthy dogs in kennels with dogs with heartworms so that he could breed heartworms. I shit you not, he would wait until he had about 20-30 dogs, then he would kill them, cut their hearts open, scoop the worms out and sell them for research.
He got busted I hope they lock him away for life
Submitted by Nellypaal (user info) at 2006-02-27 10:37:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I'm not so sure this is worthy of a series.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-02-27 10:18:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i agree with icarus.
Submitted by icarus1987 (user info) at 2006-02-27 09:52:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What's frightening is that some of these people have children. They should be spayed/fixed and put down. All on the same day.
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2006-02-27 09:15:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
BTW Anyone know how I can teach my dog to bare his teeth when I say:
CHOPPER SIC BALLS!!!
Cause right now he only does it when he sees Hispanic people. My dog is fucking racist... either that or he doesn't like them because their kids are always trying to climb my 6ft fence to play in my son's clubhouse.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-02-27 09:13:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I guess there's a profound difference between people who look at animals as vital, human like things or as an elaborate toy or furnishing.
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2006-02-27 09:08:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You are sweet. The people that act like the ones you worked with are one of the reasons that none of my three pets came from a store.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-02-27 08:56:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Agree on all accounts on the breeders comment.
I just found out about a week ago that the first dog we got, who we had to put down because of a slipped disc when he was only 4 YEARS OLD, was from a "breeder" who was actually operating a puppy mill. We didn't know any better then...
...thank God our two dogs now came from reputable breeders. Still trying to convince the wife to get a dog from a shelter. We've got the room and time for them.
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-27 06:38:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh my gosh. I just looked up the leonberger breed--I want one!!!
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-02-27 06:16:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I know someone with a Leonberger. A huge huge dog that goes for me everytime it sees me. I quite like dogs usually too.
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-27 06:00:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm going to have to start posting at normal times.
Damn my being a night owl!
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-02-26 23:59:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Animal lover +2.
Submitted by turkishblend (user info) at 2006-02-26 23:27:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-26 20:21:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by StartMeUp (user info) at 2006-02-26 19:13:25 (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm glad to see this perspective - I'm actually looking into getting a puppy myself - what should I look for, store/breeder wise?
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SHELTER. Rescue a dog that needs it. There are even purebreds in some shelters. Shop around. If you don't meet the requirements for your local shelter, go to another town.
If you're very stubborn about having a purebred dog from a breeder, go to a respectable one. One that will let you see the mom and dad, that has the medical history on them, that requires a home inspection to ensure that the puppy is going to a great home, that isn't in it for the money. Ask around--Craigslist is usually a good one to get references.
No good breeder will ever let their puppies go to homes that they know nothing about.
Submitted by StartMeUp (user info) at 2006-02-26 19:13:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm glad to see this perspective - I'm actually looking into getting a puppy myself - what should I look for, store/breeder wise?
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-26 16:21:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm glad the responses so far have been positive. It makes me feel better about people in general.
Submitted by Billos (user info) at 2006-02-26 13:22:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Very Good, nice to hear from people who care about there jobs and not just care about getting paid
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2006-02-26 12:48:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
These make me want to go home and hold my pets.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-02-26 11:35:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The concept of selling living creatures for commission disturbs me greatly. I would hope that the industry would have some sort of safeguard against sales people who are offenders like the one you mentioned. But when it's clear they don't even care for the animals properly, it comes as no shock. The stores are sad enough as is, when I hear details like this, it sickens me more.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2006-02-26 07:38:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I really like this series.
I ran over my cat the other day. I'm feeling emotionally connected to anyone that's nice to animals.
I didn't mean to - she ran under the car.
I cried a lot.
Fuck, I'm depressed.
You're a nice person.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2006-02-26 06:08:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
ugh, sorry. im tired.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2006-02-26 06:07:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"Call me prejudice, but I refused to let the eighteen-year-old 'wigga' see the sturdy looking boxer while his little teenybopper skank girlfriend fawns over it as he promises her the dog to prove his undying devotion. You want to see that dog? Sorry, but he's on hold for someone. "
helz ya nucca
It's really incredible to see how many people who work at and shop at pet shops are straight up douchebags. There was a place around here called Aquazotic that was shut down just a while ago for repeated failed inspections. They sold feral animals (you just read my other post, so you know where I'm going with this) like ocelots and were sued more than once for the injuries sustained by the owners.
I'm getting kind of pissed off. I'm going to sleep. I'm glad you care about what happens to the animals you handle. Thanks.
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2006-02-26 05:40:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I agree with what you did 100%. Now I've got to go read the first one.
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-26 05:07:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Once again, this is a mini-series that I'm doing, no matter how well received it is.
If you think my method of selling puppies was wrong or twisted, then go ahead and flame away. That's your own opinion, but I was honestly trying to do good, no matter how snobby I came across in the post.