| Shelters vs. pet stores: Which is the best place to get your pet? | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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I would like to talk about pet stores vs. animal shelters, for your next pet selection, and the advantages and disadvantages of both. The main things you have to consider, before even beginning to think about bringing another life into your family, are how large of a pet you can handle, the age of your own children (if any), and the living area that the pet will roam and exist in. Other important things to remember are, who is going to take care of the pet, and is your lifestyle going to allow it to be properly attended to? A dog, cat, or even a gerbil is not a piece of furniture. It must be groomed, fed and nurtured with companionship. Once you have decided on the above, where do you go to get your new addition? Should you go to the local pet store, your local shelter, a breeder, or maybe a friend that just had a litter? I would like to suggest that you realize the benefits of a pet that is already six months old or older. This type of pet has already been through its basic shots, and has already experienced all of the growing and common illnesses that young puppies/kittens are infected with. When you adopt a pet from a shelter their policy is, for the most part, that when you buy a pet from a local pet store this is not the norm and people get complacent and just do not follow through with this practice. After a few months the pet becomes pregnant and you have become the proud owner of many new members of the family, and this starts the chain of why shelters are so overrun with homeless animals. People must remember that the pets at the shelter are no less valuable than a two thousand dollar animal you can buy at the pet store. A shelter is the place to go, if you are looking for an animal that is going to really appreciate the fact that you have given it a home. An older animal will realize the difference of a home with love and obviously more attention then it received at a shelter. People sometimes forget that the animal that came from a shelter understands attention and knows the difference between a real home and a cage. This, unfortunately, is the reality of shelter life. The benefits do not stop there. The cost is dramatically different; you will pay upwards to two thousand dollars for a pet at a pet store vs. under one hundred at a shelter. The animal, you buy from a pet store, is in close quarters with other young animals. This is common, and there is little doubt that a pet store bought animal will go through this. It is not prevalent during the first week/few days through this, it is not prevalent during the second week and then your fun just begins. Most people do not understand that in order to get a refund or reimbursed from the friendly pet store owner that you must get a certificate for unfit for sale from your vet within 14 days, after this time period is up you are on your own. So, one thing to remember is to make sure you have your pet examined by your vet, and not just the vet that the pet store uses. Your rights include the following: If your pet is deemed unfit for sale by a vet, you are entitled to a refund or store credit; all vet bills paid for by the pet store to restore your pet to good health, or a pet of equal value. Again, however, your time frame is 14 days. The benefit of buying a pet, from the pet store, is you are tailoring the type of pet that you want, especially if it is a pure breed you are looking for. Other benefits, to a pet store purchase, are that you can get a puppy that your young children are able to grow up with. There are also a variety of sized dogs to choose from. The best advantage, however, is that you will get to work out your credit card by paying close to two thousand dollars, in most cases, or at the very least one thousand dollars. You may also get the pleasant experience of bringing home a puppy that does not show symptoms of illness until a week or two after purchase. This of course can happen with any puppy you get from anywhere, but if it is adopted from your local shelter, or say the SPCA, the animal can be returned without going through a big hassle. But, again, if you adopt a six-month or older dog, the majority of the above problems are not an issue. The animal has gone through all of the basic puppy problems, such as upper respiratory, which is the most common. It is important to remember, that no matter where you get the next addition to your family from, once you take control of that life you are responsible, just as if it were a newborn child. You do have the above rights, but common sense must come into the equation. (Chief Victor "Buddy" Amato is the chief investigator for the Monmouth County SPCA, headquartered in Eatontown. For more information about this column, call (732) 671-9555.) Buddy Amato is a Hazlet business owner, who operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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