Buying Pets on the Internet Can Be Disastrous

A story in last Wednesday’s newspaper talked about things people
should do when getting a puppy. There were lots of good ideas about
how to pick the right pet.
A story in last Wednesday’s newspaper talked about things people should do when getting a puppy. There were lots of good ideas about how to pick the right pet. But the reporter also discussed looking on the Internet for a potential pooch. And this can cause some problems. Buying anything on the Internet can be a bit risky. Buying a pet on the ‘net is downright foolish.   

Let’s talk about the Jones family who recently adopted a new puppy. They did some research and chose the breed they wanted. And they did a lot of reading to learn as much as they could about their new family member. Sounds like a great start doesn’t it? Well it was, but from this point, the story took a bad turn. As a result, they ended up with an absolutely miserable situation.

After careful consideration, the Jones decided they’d get a Labrador. Labs make a good family dog; they heard. And they had friends that had one in their family. The perfect family pet, they were told. This seemed to be the perfect breed for them.

Mr. Jones began his search for a breeder. First, he looked in the local newspaper and then he went on the Internet to see what might be available. Almost all the pups he found were irresistible in their photos. But one stood out as a perfect choice. He was a cute, purebred Lab with a good pedigree, the ad said. Best of all, he was available for a very reasonable price.

There was only one problem; he was from a breeder in Oklahoma. But Jones was assured in a phone call that shipping wouldn’t be a problem. The breeder had done this lots of times and she would make all the arrangements. And she assured Jones that all the pups in the litter were completely healthy and that all of them had been examined by a vet. It all sounded fine, so Mr. Jones sent his payment right away. They’d have their pup in just a few days.

When the puppy arrived at the airport, he looked great. He was all they had hoped for, happily wagging his tail. They took him home and spent the day getting acquainted. He got a new bed, some fun toys and he even learned how to get some tasty cookies if he did some simple tricks. They named him Marcus. And somehow, he seemed to know his name from the first time they called him.

The next day, Marcus went to the local vet for his first vaccinations. The veterinarian examined him and then delivered some bad news. Marcus had two very serious health problems. His heart wasn’t beating properly (he had a very loud heart murmur), and he had a luxating patella in one of his hind legs. All of a sudden, the Jones’ realized that their perfect little pup was not at all what they thought he would be. How could this be? He was supposedly so healthy, they thought.

The breeder was nice enough on the phone when Jones called to tell her about Marcus’ problems. She said she’d be glad to take him back and send another puppy from the same litter. “These things happen once in a while,” she said. She explained it really wasn’t a big deal.

But the Jones family was heartbroken. They couldn’t imagine returning their little guy. He wasn’t some toy that they had purchased at the store. He was already a part of their family. He couldn’t be replaced.

Jones asked if the breeder might at least help with some of the medical expenses, but she refused to do so. Either keep him as is, or return him to me, she said. They were stunned by their bad luck.

Fortunately, situations like this don’t happen very often. But when I hear these stories, I always wonder. Why would anyone want to buy a puppy from an anonymous breeder sight-unseen? Why take such a chance? Purchases from an internet ad or from a pet store are risky, because the buyer never gets to know the background of the pup. Health and behavior traits of pups are inherited from their parents. Seeing a young dog’s mother and her owner/breeder is paramount to learning what he will be when he grows to an adult. It’s impossible to see health or behavior problems in a simple photograph.

In a perfect world, all transactions would be perfectly safe. Honest people don’t misrepresent themselves or what they sell. This puppy had reportedly been “examined by a veterinarian.” He shouldn’t have had two congenital health problems. Luxating patellas and most congenital heart problems are easy to diagnose during a simple physical exam. Sad to say, but this pup had never been fully examined by any qualified vet.

 The Jones family could have avoided all of this if they had taken some precautions. If only this puppy had been examined by a veterinarian of their choice before they took him home, they could have found out about these problems before they bought him. But it’s nearly an impossible dilemma when the sale is from another state. And victims like the Jones have little protection or recourse in such a situation.

So what should someone do when looking for a puppy or any other animal? Be very careful. Shop around by going to shows and visiting with different breeders. Good breeders are always up front and honest. If they don’t have any pups for sale, they’ll refer you to someone else that does.

Buying from a breeder is much safer than any sight-unseen deal on the ‘net or purchase from a pet store. Nearly all good breeders sell directly to the public. They don’t use a middleman to market their product. They meet with potential new pet owners and show concern about where their puppies go. They don’t just sell their pups to earn a profit.

Think about it. If a breeder has a quality blood line, why would he or she sell at a discount or to a wholesaler who marks up the price to sell at a pet store? Breeders who sell at a discount or wholesale price are often puppy-mill breeders. They produce large quantities of pups often with poor quality. Most of the time their motivation is simply to make a profit.

Caveat emptor: buyer beware. There are many pitfalls, so be cautious and you can avoid a disaster like the one the Jones family endured with Marcus. Two surgeries and countless visits to the vet later, they have a dog that will live fewer years than the average lab and will always require medical treatment for his heart problem.

Take your time and talk with several reputable breeders. Buy from someone you can trust and always have the puppy examined by a veterinarian before you take him home. Never buy on impulse. Be careful and you’ll find a healthy pet that will live with your family for many years.

And as we greet in the new year, remember to give that special pet of yours a hug. Thanks for all your ideas that have made my job so much easier. We’ll see you in 2007!

Pete Keesling is a veterinarian at San Martin Veterinary Hospital. He writes a bi-weekly column for South Valley Newspapers. If you have questions about pet care, e-mail them to sm****@***oo.com or mail them to Lifestyles, 6400 Monterey Road, Gilroy CA 95020.