When you bought your pet from a pet shop, did you assume that at the back of the shop, there’s this one cozy corner with warm lights, soft cushions, and a cute dog nursing its newborn puppies?
In reality, it’s more like this:
These are not photos of irresponsible pet owners.
To be brutally honest, if you have ever bought your pet dog or cat online from a pet shop or Pasir Ris Farmway, YOU might have been the direct cause of these animals’ suffering. YOU have encouraged pet farms to continue breeding, to supply because of YOUR demand.
Why aren’t they properly taken care of?
To put it simply, pet farming is a business that involves high risks and operating costs.
Bitches can give birth only once to twice a year and usually give birth to no more than 4-5 puppies, usually lesser, for smaller breeds. Furthermore, it’s common to have bitches, which are late, dogs that are past their fertile age and early death in puppies. Therefore, the breeder usually holds a large pool of dogs for breeding in a limited space to increase the chances of puppy births, to minimize financial risks.
As a result, who would suffer from irresponsible breeders who aim to keep costs as low as possible? Your puppy’s birth parents, of course, but have you considered that you might be a victim as well?
How does it concern you?
Poor living standards, diets, and breeding with close relatives cause poor genetics in offspring are reasons for improper breed standards, poor immune systems, genetic problems, causing a myriad of medical problems for your beloved pet, a ton of vet bills, and heartaches for you.
“But my dog has a pedigree cert leh…”
I know some of you, even with much persuasion, would still want to get a puppy or a kitten. But a liar wouldn’t tell you he’s one would he? Firstly, the area where the pet is sold isn’t the place where the breeding stocks are kept, so even if the retail area is kept clean, it doesn’t mean that the rest of the area is kept the same.
Secondly, if the puppy has papers to show that it’s a pedigree or champion bloodline, even, to be honest, it says nothing about the living conditions. A pedigree is just a term for a certified purebred dog, that’s all.
As for champion bloodlines, breeders aren’t going to worship your puppy’s mommy and daddy high on a pedestal, isn’t it? Furthermore, many champions are also bought; even if they aren’t, many show dogs’ lives are only marginally better, being confined for long hours so that they’d look happy when they’re let out.
Finally, just because your pet is imported from Australia or any foreign country doesn’t mean that they are under the wings of an angel.
This is reality
I admit much news nowadays is sensationalized but ask if you were to ask animal rescuers, volunteers, adopters, honest vets, vet assistants, groomers, and pet shop staff, the photos you’ve seen are a common sight. They all looked like that when they were freshly rescued from pet farms.
I hope you will do more than take my word for it. How about spending a few moments just researching this topic? Add some of the organizations helping out farm animals in Singapore on Facebook. Let all your friends know because they might decide to buy a pet someday. Help your furry best friends; share this article.
Further reading:
Article in CNN Travel on puppy mills in Singapore
