More on Internet puppy-sellers … warning, warning!
By Gina Spadafori
May 22, 2008
Or, more on why Google ads make me want to scream …
I have Gmail. I love it. But since nearly all our Pet Connection e-mail is about pets, so, too are almost all the Google ads on display.
Just a few minutes ago, an ad for Bernese Mountain Dog puppies popped up on my Gmail account. Ah, what the heck, I’m procrastinating for a few minutes, so I clicked. Cute, cute puppies, for sale now. Credit cards accepted. Paypal, too. Pics of the mom and the dad (Clue No. 1 that you’re dealing with the clueless or careless breeder: The best match for any particular female is often — but not always — owned by someone else.)
More cute pics, of past litters. But nowhere, not anywhere on the site: a single even cursory mention of the fact that Bernese Mountain Dogs are one of the worst breeds to be hit by cancer at an exceptionally young ages. Malignant Histiocytosis, and Berners are the poster children for it. Deadly, heartbreaking stuff, and well I know it since it strikes Flat-Coated Retrievers commonly, too. (My sweet Ben died of it, age 11.) And yet, no mention of the problem. Just cute puppies, buy now!
Nothing, not one word on hip or elbow certifications (these problems are also common in the breed), nor on any other testing for congenital defects, such a Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
Nothing on all the health problems in the breed at all. Not. One. Word. Since they’re not seeing fit to educate their buyers, it’s a pretty good guess they’re not doing anything to help with the breed’s considerable health problems. They would appear to be, to take a term from the Terrierman, Hump and Dump breeders.
Shame.
Don’t support people like these. They are destroying the dogs they say they love, just for the sake of selling puppies.
Educating people against breeders like this — not a puppy mill, but not much better than one, really — is one of the things that keeps me writing, along with the love I have for pets and the people who really care for and about them.
There are good, responsible, ethical breeders out there if you want a particular breed of dog. Take the time to find them. It’ll save you some serious heartbreak (and major dough), and may help save the breed you admire.
Stories like this makes me sick. Thank you Gina for highligting the ugliness of purchasing a pet online.
Comment by Jason — May 22, 2008 @ 10:35 am
Don’t ever click on one of those Google ads if you don’t approve of the business. They get paid for every click - that’s why they’re there - that’s how the money gets made.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdSense
If you see one you’re curious about, write down the URL and type it in manually. That way you can look at the site, but no one is making a profit directly off of your click.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 22, 2008 @ 10:50 am
What I don’t get is that I can get a registered, genetically tested (parents) dog form a reputable breeder that comes with life time support and possibly a life time guarantee. The price is less than buying form a pet store or some internet people .I would rather wait for a sound puppy and pay a little more, than have the heartache of a puppy who could have any number of genetic problems.
Its wonderful that you are highlighting this issue. Unfortunately, the people who buy these puppies don’t read this blog and don’t care where the puppy comes from.
Comment by Kate — May 22, 2008 @ 10:54 am
I’m a dinosaur. I have never purchased anything over the internet. I use it for a fair amount of research before I make a purchase, but I go to brick and mortar shops and flesh and blood people to make major purchases. I might pay a little more, but I know I can return to the store and see the person who sold me the item if I have difficulties with the product. That’s too important of a thing for me to give up to save a buck. I can’t even imagine buying a dog over the internet. The first time I saw a puppy website, I couldn’t believe it!
Comment by C.L.H — May 22, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
Yeah, I know that, Pat. My bad. I’ll resist in the future.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 22, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
How much does it cost to advertise on Google? Can’t be cheap.
Comment by slt — May 22, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Not that expensive; an organization I belong to did it for a major event we held a few years ago. You pay per click.
Which means that if you click the link, Google gets money for carrying these sleazy ads, but it costs the sleazy advertiser money.
Decisions, decisions.
Comment by Lis — May 22, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 22, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
“Yeah, I know that, Pat. My bad. I’ll resist in the future.”
Sorry - didn’t mean to make it sound like I was chastising you! I’ve just found that there are an awful lot of people out there who don’t realize that those little ads are little money makers, so the less clicks the better!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 22, 2008 @ 4:55 pm
You say the people aren’t millers - I wouldn’t be too certain of that.
There are internet dog sellers up here that run mills - have pictures of the pups in nice baskets in the kitchen, etc. That’s just for the suckers, of course. Anybody who knows dogs can see the pups are way too young and don’t look so hot. The ones in Quebec (our version of Missouri/Ohio/PA, take your pick) have trucks that pick up the pups and drop them off along the way at their new homes.
It’s pretty easy to get a pup. Just go to the SPCA or if you want a purebred, visit a good breeder, preferably one you’ve heard of via word of mouth. Good breeders don’t advertise much, if at all. You should have to wait for a pup but can often get an older dog sooner. The breeder should show, judge, or work their dogs in some way. You will always see the mother and actually, unless it’s a pretty big hobby kennel, seeing the father is a red flag. So is being able to use credit cards. So is their not grilling you intensely about how you plan to maintain the dog. There are other things to watch for but those are the basics.
Also, don’t be fooled by an AKC or CKC registration - the registries don’t certify their members or do any kinds of inspections of their member breeders.
Comment by Caveat — May 22, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
Those ads drive me insane. I’ll be sitting there, sorting through the nine hundred emails a day I get from people who have a sick/undersized/parasite ridden/can’t get papers puppy, and there’s an ad for the very place they got it from, sitting on the side of the screen.
I TRY to be philosophical about it, but time and time again when I ask “Why? Why did you get their puppy there, or from the pet store, when there’s so much info on how to get a good pup from a GOOD breeder”, I get the answer “I was in a hurry and wanted one now”. Or “Breeders ask all those questions”. Never is it for a cheaper dog - these are smart people, with decent incomes, who you’d assume would know better.
I despair that those sites and sites like Puppy Find (forking sign of evil eye) will be around as long as people are lazy and not willing to wait. They want to buy dogs like sweaters, and to throw them away just as disposably when they tire of them.
There, that’s enough bitterness.
Comment by Carol — May 22, 2008 @ 7:23 pm
I figure I cost the puppy peddlers about $0.75 every time I click on that link at the top of my Gmail (so the money isn’t going to any site owner- and I don’t mind giving Google their money. :)
Comment by Cait — May 23, 2008 @ 5:32 am
This is the first I’ve ever seen a Berner’s beautiful image being abused for ad revenue. It certainly stuck a core when I read your post (not that any other dog wouldn’t have) but since I have a Berner it’s just a real soft spot. We work so hard to keep the line healthy! Idiots.
Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about ads, I keep my site clean of ads. But you can be damn sure I will spread the word on GoogleAds. :)
Comment by WolfGirl — May 24, 2008 @ 1:00 am