Over Twenty-four percent of all pet shop puppies are born on Monday when the law of averages calls for just over fourteen percent of puppies to be born on Monday. Why is this? Puppies at pet stores arrive through the commercial dog industry, a network of breeder's (puppy mills) and brokers.
Most brokers (the middle men) pick up puppies from the breeders on Monday. Most puppy mills deliver the pups to pet stores on Sunday night. The wholesale prices paid to the breeder depend on many factors but the weight of a puppy plays an important role in breeders receiving top dollar. Small breed puppies such as Maltese and Yorkshire Terriers can be cut thirty to forty percent in price if the puppies weigh over two pounds at the time of sale. Secondly, getting the puppies as young as possible into the store is a sure way to sell a “cute little puppy“. The older a puppy gets, the more it looses it’s “cuteness appeal“. You will often see pups at reduced prices, when they are getting a little older (10, 11, weeks) and haven’t sold yet. The Canadian Kennel Code of Practices requires that puppies be eight weeks old before being transferred to the broker or sold in a Pet Store. Since puppies born on a Tuesday, for example, will fall a day short of being eight weeks old, it is common place for breeders to lie about the date of birth when they register the puppies. The extra six days that a breeder must hold that pup until the next broker pick-up day will most certainly put the puppy over two pounds and will result in a substantial price reduction
Most brokers (the middle men) pick up puppies from the breeders on Monday. Most puppy mills deliver the pups to pet stores on Sunday night. The wholesale prices paid to the breeder depend on many factors but the weight of a puppy plays an important role in breeders receiving top dollar. Small breed puppies such as Maltese and Yorkshire Terriers can be cut thirty to forty percent in price if the puppies weigh over two pounds at the time of sale. Secondly, getting the puppies as young as possible into the store is a sure way to sell a “cute little puppy“. The older a puppy gets, the more it looses it’s “cuteness appeal“. You will often see pups at reduced prices, when they are getting a little older (10, 11, weeks) and haven’t sold yet. The Canadian Kennel Code of Practices requires that puppies be eight weeks old before being transferred to the broker or sold in a Pet Store. Since puppies born on a Tuesday, for example, will fall a day short of being eight weeks old, it is common place for breeders to lie about the date of birth when they register the puppies. The extra six days that a breeder must hold that pup until the next broker pick-up day will most certainly put the puppy over two pounds and will result in a substantial price reduction
Sunday 13.11%
Monday 24.22%
Tuesday 12.27%
Wednesday 13.09%
Thursday 14.16%
Friday 13.01%
Saturday 10.14%
*Data is gathered from 500 puppies sold at Pet Stores & Commercial Breeders*
Pups at the age of 6 & 7 weeks old that are taken from their mother’s are at great risk for puppy hood diseases, that would otherwise be fought off by the antibodies in their “mother’s milk”. Puppies that are taken from their mothers early also have a high risk of being very under socialized, with severe behavior problems down the road.
All to many pet store purchased puppies, are ladled with diseases such as Demodex Mange, Sarcoptic Mange, Hip Dysplasia, Joint Pain, Kennel Cough, Respiratory infections, eye/ear infections, and even mold on the lungs from ill ventilated and damp living conditions.
Based on the 500 pet store purchased pups in this study, the average cost of veterinary care in the first 8 months of the pups life cost their new owners $2022.83. These costs were incurred just to get their puppy “reasonably” healthy. Of the 500 pups purchased, 6% of the pups had to be humanely euthanized before their 1st birthday due to disease. 30 of 500 pups.
All to many pet store purchased puppies, are ladled with diseases such as Demodex Mange, Sarcoptic Mange, Hip Dysplasia, Joint Pain, Kennel Cough, Respiratory infections, eye/ear infections, and even mold on the lungs from ill ventilated and damp living conditions.
Based on the 500 pet store purchased pups in this study, the average cost of veterinary care in the first 8 months of the pups life cost their new owners $2022.83. These costs were incurred just to get their puppy “reasonably” healthy. Of the 500 pups purchased, 6% of the pups had to be humanely euthanized before their 1st birthday due to disease. 30 of 500 pups.
Kimberly Thomas St. Marys, ON
