This just really burns me up.

[wheezie23]

There are two pet supply stores near my house. Both do grooming and boarding, and they are the only suppliers for Canidae pet food in my area. They are owned by the same man. I've been shopping there for the last two years because they are close, convenient, and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I've had Rocky groomed there several times (my big rottie mix) and he loves it there, too.

Yesterday I went there to pick up some more dog food. I noticed a sign outside that said, "We now sell AKC puppies!" and shook my head. I went into the store, picked up my 25 lb bag of food, and took it to the counter. It was then that I noticed the three cages stacked behind the counter. The top one had two Yorkie puppies inside, both very, very young. The sign on the cage said, "Yorkies M - $1000 F - $1200"

I motioned at the cages to the girl at the counter and asked her where the puppies came from. She said the owner drives every couple of weeks out of state to get them from a breeder. I told the girl that I was sorry to hear that. I told her to cancel my sale and to tell the owner that he just lost a customer. I told her that I would not support a business that would sell puppies, and that he was promoting irresponsible breeding and at worse, puppy mills. I plan on writing a letter to him directly to make sure he understands where I stand.

I don't understand how someone, who seems to really genuinely care about animals, can think it's ok to do this. His businesses are doing well. Or they were. I'm telling everyone I know not to do business there until he stops selling puppies.

I'm wondering if Canidae would object to their product being sold in a store that sells puppies?

Thanks for letting me vent.

Thela

[Eliz222]

Thela, vent away! I think that's terrible!! He's doing it for the money and those poor puppies are paying for his greed..... Good for you for telling all your friends...hit him in the pocket book...that's where his heart is.

[tena]

That type of direct action definetly will be noticed in a small store. Unfortunately he's going to have to loose business equal to the cost of the puppies bfore he gives it up.

Stores are profit driven and those pups probably have a high mark-up. If he sells them he can convince himself that he is satisfying his customers. Make some noise...let him know that other customers don't like the puppy selling.

Lets hope it works

Vent all you'd like

[Scully'sMom]

Thela, go for his pocketbook!!!!!!!!!! I'd most definitely write to Canidae and inform them of this practice.

[Kramersmom]

The three stores where I use to buy canidae but get the Innova now DO NOT SELL ANY SORT OF ANIMALS! I would think Canidae would be upset to find out that one of there stores they sell to are selling puppies. Way to go, speak out, like the others say, go for his pocket book.

[savannahsmom35]

Good for you for speaking up. A reputable breeder would not have sold thier puppies to him to have him just sell them to any Joe-Blow off the street. I do feel sorry for the puppies who need a home but I feel worse for the owners who are going to end up sending $1000 for a dog and then may spend double that in vet bills due to health problems. It is a bad situation for everone involved.

The store where I get Savannah's Canidae does not sell puppies either.

Please keep us informed as to what he says about you letter (if anything).

[kayharley]

You go girl!

I get my Canidae at a feed store where they sometimes sell baby chicks but that's it. Even Petco will not sell dogs or cats but promote rescue and shelter groups to use their facility.

[Lisad]

Thela,

I second the motion..."You go girl!!!" And yes, please vent away. The store owner's irresponsible behavior, as we know, just perpetuates backyard breeding of (already) overpopulated and unhealthy animals. The results are always tragic for the animals.

[mollysmom1]

Ditto! Hit him where it hurts, in the moneyclip! You mentioned your'e feeding Innova now. I have been feeding Molly Canidae, but her skin is still very dry and she itches a lot. So I had some samples of EVO, which she seemed to like, although It's high protein, and I worry about her putting on weight. What type of Innova are you feeding your "kids?" And why did you switch from Canidae. This food thing is driving me crazy, trying to find the best brand for her. Any response will be greatly welcomed. Molly's mom

[wheezie23]

Nancy, I feed my dogs Canidae right now. I may be having to switch, tho, since this store is the only one in my area that carries it.

I got an email response from Canidae.com regarding the pet supply store. Here is what they said,

Hello Thela,
Canidae will be sorry to lose a loyal customer and though we understand your
concerns, we do not actively support or condone puppy mill type facilities.
However, we are in the business of making high quality dog and cat foods and
believe that even puppies and kittens that start out life in poor
circumstances deserve to be feed quality pet food too.
Sincerely,
Diane, Team Canidae

Not the response I had hoped for, but they need to make money too.

Thela

[kayharley]

I guess I can understand their response...if they were not to do business with that "questionable" store, there would probably be other food sources available to compensate Canidae's demise and only the dogs would suffer.

Sad but true.

I am very much like you, wheezie and feel the frustration.

[Brody'sMom]

I was in a pet store in Manhattan yesterday and they had 3 or 4 little tiny Cairn puppys, I felt so bad for them. I guess they must buy complete litters. I felt even worse for a wire haired fox terrier that was in there. He was over six months old and was in a crate that was really too small for him. I wonder what happens to pet store puppies that don't get sold. As for Canidae, one of the pets stores where I buy that also sells puppies.

[OzGirl]

Just about every pet store I've been in sells puppies, a lot of them so called "designer dogs" - cocker-doodles, labra-doodles etc.

It just seems to be the accecpted thing over here. I HATE IT!

[Deasta]

I think you did the right thing but voicing your concerns and having the courage to walk out. Everything starts with one small step. I am a firm believer in doing whats right, even if it means never having to shop at that store again. YOU CAN make a difference!

Its unfortunate that the cooperate company from Candiea did not feel the same. But, alas, thats cooperate America, they must tread the fine line of democracy to please the massess be it right or wrong

Hopefully your statement will send volumes to your local pet store and prehaps he will change his mind and stop selling these poor puppies!

We too have a HUGE puppy mill located here in wisconsin. I still cant believe they have not shut this guy down..in fact he just had another ad this week for Fox, Carins, Westie, Scotties...like one breed after another...so so so sad!

I have another question..What is this brand dog food? We live in a very very small town and dont have much acssess to pet supply stores...WE do however have the Foster and Smith Outlet in a nearby town (Grant foster and Smith are living here in my backyard basically and have created a huge pet supply store which I believe is nationwide) I am not sure if they sell dog food..I doubt it..but is this something I should be feeding my doggies??

I currently use a diamond brand from the feedmill..is this bad???

Any info would be appreicated!!!

Thank you and again GOOD job at standing up!!

Stacey

oakie says GOOD JOB for helping to save a puppy!!

[toomanypaws]

I understand your frustration, but unfortunately dog food isn't the big ticket item in stores, supplies AND puppies are. It all boils down to money. I have to drive 45 minutes to another city to buy Canidae at a small boutique type store that sells specialty dog food and pricey dog accessories. The local pet store that sells Canidae not only sells puppies, it advertises out front "WE BUY PUPPIES". Well isn't that great . . . NOT! Imagine all of the backyard breeders who think they can make an extra buck breeding puppies this encourages. I so wish there could be some mandatory spay/neuter law put in effect to control all of these unwanted puppies and puppy mills. It just sickens me to think of the countless puppies trapped inside cages tonight, alone in total darkness. They deserve better.

[wheezie23]

I just don't understand, then, why Canidae won't sell their foods in Petco and Petsmart. It would make it available to more consumers and guarantee that it'll be sold at stores that promote adoption rather than bad breeding and puppymills. I found Nature's Way (the Dick Van Patten food) at our local Petco, so I'll be switching to that.

Thela

[bradl]

It may be the case that smaller producers like Canidae won't (or can't afford to) pay what PetsMart and Petco would charge them to carry their food. I imagine these mega pet stores have schemes similar to shelving charges (slotting fees) at grocery stores.

[Greg]

Nancy, I feed my dogs Canidae right now.  I may be having to switch, tho, since this store is the only one in my area that carries it. 

We buy Canidae on Amazon.com .....40lb is $43 shipped to your door. I belive the supplier is petfooddirect....but shipping is cheaper through Amazon.

You can get some storage containers that seal good and break it down into those once you open the bag.