Family loses pet bought at store

A friendly Shetland sheepdog puppy named Maggie came to live with Lauren and Jamie Loeser and their five children just in time for Christmas 2002. She quickly won their hearts and became part of the Rye family. Just two years later, the Loesers lost Maggie to cancer. She died Thanksgiving morning last year.

"When we realized she was sick and took her to the vet, she already had a tumor the size of her heart, behind her heart and in front of her lungs," Lauren Loeser said. "It was inoperable, so we decided to try chemotherapy. They did all they could, but it didn't work."

The Loeser family tried everything it could to save Maggie, including giving up family vacations to pay her medical bills, which amounted to thousands of dollars.

Now the family is working to educate people about the best way to buy a dog.

Puppies as products

Loeser said her husband, Jamie, called one day three years ago and said she should come see a Shetland sheepdog puppy at a local pet store.

Loeser had heard stories about puppy mills and didn't want to buy a dog from a pet store.

"I told him it wasn't a good idea to buy from a pet store, but he said the owner had assured him she came from a wonderful kennel," Loeser said. "I went to see her, and of course, fell in love."

Loeser said her family had waited until her children were older before considering a dog, but it didn't take long for Maggie to fit in.

"We sail, and Maggie took to sailing right away," Loeser said. "She was right at home on the boat.

Loeser said her family chose a Sheltie because longevity is a breed trait.

"Had I known where she came from, I might not have bought her," she said.
After Maggie's death, Loeser researched the kennel where the dog came from.

"What I found is that it is not actually a puppy mill, but a funnel for puppy mills," Loeser said. "They take in truckloads of dogs from all across the country and ship them to pet stores. I feel like the pet store lied to us."

The owner of the pet store where Maggie was purchased agreed to an interview on the condition that neither he nor his store be identified.

"I only know of two dogs that died from here, and I have been in business 18 years and sold over 8,000 puppies," said the owner. "Over time, we will get dogs with different things, mostly colds. I tell people that, if puppies are going to get something, it?s usually while they are eight to 10 weeks old. I am always most concerned with hip problems, but would certainly be concerned with cancer. I make sure the parents are healthy."

The store owner said 90 percent of its dogs come from the Midwest or South because there are not enough breeders in the Northeast.

Good breeders don't sell through pet stores

Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the Humane Society of the United States, said their feeling is that a reputable breeder would never sell its puppies through a pet store.

"A breeder wants to meet the people who buy their dogs," Shain said. "They want to make sure its a good match for the dog and the family. There are specific needs for each breed, what they need for exercise and nutrition. Some breeds are good with children, others are not."

New Hampshire State Veterinarian Steve Crawford said he would do background research on where a dog is coming from before buying the pet.
"A lot of the time, people do impulse buys," Crawford said. "They're cute; I want him. People have to realize it's a long-term commitment when buying a pet."

According to Shain, three out of every four dogs turned over to shelters come from pet stores and large breeding companies.

Lisa Dennison, executive director of the N.H. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, confirmed many impulse buys do end up at the society.

"People (who) buy at pet stores are often emotionally motivated," Dennison said. "Their heartstrings are tugged. The store will not consider if this is the right breed for you. They only care if your credit card will be approved.

"We get complaints on pet stores a dozen times a week, and there?s nothing we can do about it."

Loeser encourages people to go to a local breeder, or the local rescue center.

"Be patient and learn all you can about the dog before you take it," she said.
The Loesers have a new Sheltie, Dreamer, born on Valentine's Day, who needed a new home.

"We needed him and he needed us," Loeser said.

Reference: www.seacoastonline.com

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