I am a huge advocate of “adopt don’t shop,” a motto used by numerous animal-rescue organizations to encourage prospective pet owners to consider adopting rather than turning to a breeder or, more problematically, a pet store.
Pet stores selling puppies may seem benign enough, but a quick Google search can reveal a darker truth: The majority of these dogs come from puppy mills — facilities that breed hundreds of dogs at a time in inhumane, unsanitary conditions without proper veterinary care, nutrition, or space.
Consider Pet Express, which has locations in Braintree and Saugus, and formerly at the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers. I have visited the Danvers location, and found the scene disturbing. Most of the puppies, who lay isolated in tiny, fish-tank sized glass cages lined with newspaper scraps, were asleep the entire time I was there. Even if some had been awake, there was little room for them to move around, and nothing in the cages for them to play with. In fact, I don’t even remember seeing water in the cages. These were not healthy dogs.
Despite the “no puppy mill guarantee” on its website, documents linking Pet Express to two pet brokers — Menning Enterprises in Minnesota and Pinnacle Pet/Puppy Travelers in Missouri — with histories of U.S. Department of Agriculture violations are publicly available and all too easy to find.
While those sad eyes behind the glass may be tempting, it’s not worth the heartache and cost of bringing home an unhealthy animal that requires extensive veterinary care. Instead, consider finding your new furry family member at your local animal shelter.
Based on conversations I’ve had with people who prefer to get their pets from shops or breeders, it seems much of this preference is rooted in misconceptions about mixed-breed dogs, certain breeds, or rescue dogs in general. However, breed alone is an unreliable indicator of behavior in dogs. According to a 2022 research study that examined the breeds and behaviors of more than 2,000 dogs, “Breed offers little predictive value for individuals, explaining just 9% of variation in behavior.”
And as someone who has worked with dogs for more than nine years, I can confidently say I’ve had more problems with French bulldogs than with pit bulls (sorry, America’s favorite dog).
Providing an animal from a shelter with a good home is not only beneficial to the individual animal, it also has a wider impact on reducing overcrowding in shelters. Plus, knowing that you’re making a difference feels pretty great, and caring for a pet can bring mental health benefits and a new sense of purpose.
Alyssa Cantwell is The Item’s Opinion editor. Her column appears every other week.
