Puppies sold in pet shops - illegal?

eth0_

I noticed a new pet store had opened in the Boyne Centre in Drogheda, so
I went in to have a look today. I was disgusted at what I saw. Puppies! 4
labrador puppies in a glass cage 4ftx4ft. With nothing but sawdust on the
floor so they were slipping around the place.
I think this is so, so cruel, I was under the impression it was illegal
to keep puppies and kittens in a pet shop now, for one thing it will give
an animal severe behavioural problems to be stuck in a tiny prison for
weeks, even months, and you have to wonder what becomes of these poor
little things if they aren't bought and grow out of their 'cute little
puppy' stage? I've heard of animals being destroyed in the US if they
aren't bought as puppies in pet shops in shopping malls.

Does anyone know if it's illegal, i'd really like something done about it!

Beëlzebooze

call the ISPCA, ask them, they should know

koneko

As far as I know it isn't illegal as long as they have a licence.

If the conditions are bad, I'd report them to the ISPCA so they can take a look for themselves.

These puppies are generally born in puppy farms and sold across Ireland and the UK (apparantly they just bring a truck full of puppies over from here to the UK!).
Very dodgy scary places. Puppies from pet shops often have all sorts of health issues (including worms and the like), and don't get their shots

eth0_

Originally posted by koneko
As far as I know it isn't illegal as long as they have a licence.

If the conditions are bad, I'd report them to the ISPCA so they can take a look for themselves.

The conditions weren't 'bad', per se, the cage was clean and they didn't look ill, but personally I think it's cruelty to keep four puppies in a cage all day with hardly any exercise

koneko

I absolutely agree with you 100%, but unfortunately the ISPCA might not be able to do much as long as they're being "taken care of" (to an extent).

It wouldn't hurt to give them a call though, I might be wrong about the legality thing

Washout

why should the rule just aplpy to puppies and kittens...what about rabbits and gerbils and hamsters and such!

not to mention ppl who keep snakes in a tank.

eth0_

Originally posted by Washout
why should the rule just aplpy to puppies and kittens...what about rabbits and gerbils and hamsters and such!

not to mention ppl who keep snakes in a tank.

Because puppies need a hell of a lot more mental and physical exercise than a rabbit etc. Small animals like gerbils and hamsters and rabbits will sell quicker than a 500 euro puppy as well, so they're not going to be stuck in that pet shop for too long.
Actually, that pet shop had two little bunnies huddled in the corner of a cage with 5 guinea pigs.....correct me if i'm wrong, but guinea pigs aint exactly friendly to rabbits, are they?

I feel sorry for all animals in pet shops, it was the puppies that alarmed me most...

watty

Guinea Pigs need LOTS of space to roam in too.

They can be in pet shop till Adult, which can be size of a small rabbit. A day old guinea pig "pup" is about size of adult hamster (but no tail), and runs around more.

I was AMAZED on TV3 to hear DSPCA say you could keep Rabbits and Guinea Pigs together. You Can't!!!! The rabbits can seriously injure the piggies.

Pet shops often put Rabbits and Guinea Pigs in same cage. Unfortunately the Buck Rabbits are not too fussy on partner's spieces or even which gender!

Maybe "pet" shops should only sell food, hutches etc, not animals at all, but have lists of licenced breeders.

Perhaps tropical fish in pet shop are OK (Know nothing about fish keeping so have no idea).

Chipmunks in anything smaller than a full avery seems cruel?

SantaHoe

Why would anyone want to pay for a dog from a petshop when you can adopt one from a rescue center for nothing?
Unless you're into breeding and Crufts and all that daftness.

watty

Originally posted by SantaHoe
Why would anyone want to pay for a dog from a petshop when you can adopt one from a rescue center for nothing?
Unless you're into breeding and Crufts and all that daftness.

In which case you won't be buying from a pet shop either...

I read it is a bad idea to offer pets "free to a good home" as people value and treat better something they pay for..

I recommend giving the Resuce centre a donation..

* They need it.

* Reduces any unconcious idea "it was free anyway".

Yes I know a pet is in reality the same "value" no matter if it was "free" or £1000. But unfortunately we all unconiously attach "worth" based on mponetry valeu

arac

I am also quite disgusted at this too. I remember being in America over the summer , where those kind of set ups are the norm. In one pet shop I visited I recall, seeing a St Bernard, and two labrador pups in a relatively small glass box, and the st bernard was desperately trying to drink his water supply which came out in drips from a sort of tap, it was disgusting and very upsetting to see.

SantaHoe

Originally posted by watty
In which case you won't be buying from a pet shop either...

Oh right yes, good point actually.
Serious breeders and all that...

I read it is a bad idea to offer pets "free to a good home" as people value and treat better something they pay for..

Well that's one way of looking at it... but wouldn't that also make people think that the animal is their property and so they can treat it any way they want?
I think if you're unfit/unwilling to take long term care of an animal in the first place - it's going to have a shitty life wether you paid for it or not.
Anyway, a good rescue center will send an inspector to a prospective home before releasing the pet... are there any petshops doing that?
I think it's far better to abolish the notion of a pet being a gift, (as I'm sure we all do) - and reinforce the idea that a pet is going to be a permenant addition to your family for the rest of it's life.

I recommend giving the Resuce centre a donation.

Yep, doesn't even have to be money either, I heard one Dublin animal shelter asking people to bring in old blankets if they wanted to help out.

JohnJames1700

I checked this out on the ISPCA legal handbook.

I work in irelands main pet shop chain for 5 years and have never heard of dogs being allowed to sell in stores.

Are there restrictions in relation to the place of sale?
Section 23 prohibits the sale of animals as pets in a public place making it an offence to so do. According to Section 2
“public place” means “any place to which the public have access whether as of right or by permission and whether
subject to or free of charge.”.
Where a person is convicted of conducting an illegal sale, the Court may provide of the humane disposal or
destruction of the animals.

CeilingFly

There's no issue having dogs for sale within a private retail store once the relevant licence is in place - this is not a "public space" in terms of legislation. Public are permitted inot the store by invitation ofd the management (just like any retail premises)


Also, always beware of thinking in human terms when loooing at how a dog is kept.

A space of 4ft x 4ft in an open style cage is quite suitable for puppies. In human terms tha's probably a 15ft x 15ft room (size of a substantial bedroom)

As for sliding about the place - that's what puppies do.

Also they won't be "kept for weeks / months" - probably sell in a few days.



They have a facebook page and seem to be selling them for at least 2 years. Usual stupid types giving them one star reviews because they see them selling puppies and saying they are reporting them to ISPCA.


I'd prefer this than than DoneDeal backyard dealers meeting in a carpark.

kylith

CeilingFly wrote: »

There's no issue having dogs for sale within a private retail store once the relevant licence is in place - this is not a "public space" in terms of legislation. Public are permitted inot the store by invitation ofd the management (just like any retail premises)


Also, always beware of thinking in human terms when loooing at how a dog is kept.

A space of 4ft x 4ft in an open style cage is quite suitable for puppies. In human terms tha's probably a 15ft x 15ft room (size of a substantial bedroom)

As for sliding about the place - that's what puppies do.

Also they won't be "kept for weeks / months" - probably sell in a few days.



They have a facebook page and seem to be selling them for at least 2 years. Usual stupid types giving them one star reviews because they see them selling puppies and saying they are reporting them to ISPCA.


I'd prefer this than than DoneDeal backyard dealers meeting in a carpark.

Where do you think these puppies come from? Reputable breeders and rescues don't supply dogs to pet shops. These pups are 99.99999999% certain to be BYB/puppy farm dogs.

PraxisPete

Is this shop still selling them 14 years on?

kylith

PraxisPete wrote: »

Is this shop still selling them 14 years on?

What is with the spate of zombie threads all over Boards recently?

DBB

For the love of all that's holy... This is by far the zombiest zombie thread I've ever closed... FOURTEEN YEARS OLD?!!
If anyone wants to start a new updated thread, feel free.

With mod hat off, these shops do still sell pups, and the issue of whether they've enough space, or whether they slip, is the least of the issues that owners of these extremely substandard pups face once they buy them. For what it's worth, I have personally monitored quite a few pups which didn't sell for months. They never set foot outside the pet shop enclosure for MONTHS.