NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps

purchasing a pet in the city

The more I think about it, the more I want one. I may end up with a cute little bunny rabbit rather than a puppy, but if I were going to buy a dog in this town where would I go? I know that buying a dog from a small time breeder can not only be less expensive, it is also often more humane. Anyone have any suggestions?
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
Please please get a pet from a shelter! A lot of the animals that are admitted have ONE week before they are toast. And, they know you saved their life and they are the most grateful, loving pets. Trust me, I've had dogs from both a breeder and a shelter. My pound puppy follows me from room to room and is so easy going. . . just happy to be around.
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
Awwww.... like this guy? http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123675762
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
Was just going through the website for the Animal Care and Control of New York and there are a surprising amount - though how surprised should I really be? - of pit bulls and pit bull mixes, especially in Brooklyn.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
We got our cats from the ASPCA and Bide-a-Wee. I hate seeing any animal hurt in anyway, and will do what I can to prevent it.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
When I was a kid, we bought our family dog from a pet shop in midtown. The Maltese we chose was cute, cuddly, quiet, subdued - almost like a stuffed animal. When we brought him home he turned into a crazed, hyperactive lunatic! Turns out the pet shop had drugged him to make him docile...what a surprise (but a happy ending - we had eleven wonderful years with OUR crazed, hyperactive lunatic) - so be wary of NYC pet shops....they don't quite treat their animals too well
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Thanks for the tip about the pet shops, adjadedidealist. Something we all need to know about.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@ajadedidealist wow really? that's so mean..there is a pet shop on 77th/78th and Lexington which always has frisky little puppies in its window which are a major attraction hopefully the owners aren't drugging them.
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
Plus, pet shop animals end up getting all kinds of weird and crappy diseases. It's so sad. We need to do away with puppy mills
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Can anyone recommend a place to buy birds? Like, where you could hope they're treated halfway humanely and don't have strange diseases?
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
I love looking at that pet shop - the puppies are so cute! - but it saddens me knowing the conditions they are under!
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aukandortolan
aukandortolan 2yrs+
animal care and control has rabbits for adoption too.

but do some research first. they are expensive and very mischevious. they will chew through your wires and make a big mess. they are a lot of work. this is why so many bunnies end up in shelters - people have no idea what they are getting into
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
@ajadedidealist I can't believe pet shops drug puppies! Is that legal?

@aukandortolan I have a friend who loved her bunny, until one day it broke its own neck - which apparently is a really common way for them to die? I guess they are really fragile and don't have the longest life spans.
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
That's so sad! Poor little bunny. What a horrible thing to come home to.
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DBlack
DBlack 2yrs+
@NeverSleeps Wait, how did the bunny manage to break its own neck?
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@JenMac: I thought puppy mills were outlawed?

@ajadedidealist and @NeverSleeps: As for drugging animals, if it is for medical reasons it is legal, but if it is for pleasure, or show, it is illegal. If you know a pet shop is drugging the animals, you can report the store to the ASPCA and they'll do an investigation.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
I'm also not seeing how a bunny will break its own neck.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
That's horrible! Poor bunnies!
As for the dogs, we never knew for sure - but how else could a hyperactive, nutty, absolutely loveable but insane puppy be so calm, sweet, and docile for a couple of hours (which were never again repeated) other than with medical tampering?
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
There are still plenty of puppy mills around
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
@DBlack Not sure, I think it was excited about something. I think if you are holding a rabbit and it gets excited it can easily twist its own neck, and their bones are so brittle that they can break their own rather easily. I have no idea as to the details of my friend's bunny's last moments, but I have heard this is a really common thing.
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
This is from the Wikipedia page on the domestic rabbit: "A rabbit can kick so hard that it can break its own back, and if dropped (which is likely, as young children would find it hard to hold a larger rabbit properly) can cause serious damage to its spine and legs."
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@Neversleeps I really didn't realize that bunnies were such delicate creatures!
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
@uptowngirl I was surprised, too, and not shocked that no one believed me on this one. But, alas, it happened.
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