New Pet Owners Beware When Purchasing

These Days you need to be careful where you are selecting to purchase a new family member whether it be a Cat or Dog.  Over the years I have talked to many puppy or kitten owners that have bad experience in getting a pet shipped to them. There has also been good stories as well. The phrase Family raised I think is misused at time, just like the word pocket pet. I purchased a couple of my girls from a breeder in Kentucky and when they came home they where very sick. The plane ride alone did not help but it didn't cause the issues they had. One of my Girls Ginger had many battle scars along with emotional scars from being raised in a Kennel environment. She had pneumonia and many parasites such as Coccidia which is a very contagious parasite. My other girl Ellie had parasites and as well as pneumonia and needed to be hospitalized due to her being so sick. These girls where pups that where supposedly raised in a healthy and clean environment where they where being socialized. They came with a health certificate dated the day I recieved them and the next day they where seen by my vet which was very discussed that a vet could have signed their papers for them to fly. The flight alone with the condition that they where in could of killed them.  Ginger was 7 months old and is a very mellow girl a little timid due to her up bringing, but we are working past that. Ellie was 8 wks saved in time, but I wonder with her being as sick as she was if I didn't get her then would she of lived? When purchasing a new family member please be sure you aren't supporting a Puppy or Kitty Mill. You want to ask to see both parents when purchasing a Hybrid dog to be sure you are getting what they say they are. Try to buy local or within driving distance to avoid such hora stories as this one. Unfortunately, Pet stores are not the best places either. I walked into a pet store to view the pups and compare what they where selling for way over my price. What I found was a puppy with such a bad overbite that they where selling for over a $1000.00, not ever telling the expected families looking to purchase that this puppy could grow to have issues as a older adult due to the overbite. I was appalled to think they cared more about making a profit then to warn the future owners.  Not to say all pet stores are bad, but do your homework first.