Friday, 20 November 2015

The Top Dog Store: Shutting Down the Breeders

Hello everyone!

I know I haven't posted in a very long time (life will do that to you!) but I could not resist sharing a recent news story from here in Alberta.

On November 19th a rural, Southern Alberta breeder was shut down by the SPCA. They took in 40 dogs who were living in horrible conditions with severe matting, rotting teeth, eye infections, hernias, and more! Here is a picture that the Calgary Herald posted in their article:
Read the full story here: http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/spca-seizes-40-neglected-small-breed-dogs-from-southern-alberta-breeder

What does this mean for The Top Dog Store?

Out of Robert Church's 6 listed breeders, 4 of them are from southern Alberta. They include LD Kennels (Standard), WL Kennels (Pincher Creek), KV Kennels (Picture Butte), and most likely JVH Kennels (suppliers for Calgary and Lethbridge - 2 southern cities). Robert Church has a steady demand for puppies, as he requires a variety of puppies all the time. Without this mill, he will notice a  decline in the puppies available to him. This is excellent news! If all of his breeders were shut down, he would have nothing left.

That is all for now!
Cheers 

Sunday, 5 April 2015

The Top Dog Store: That Puppy in the Window

Hello Readers!

The other day, I was looking at The Top Dog Store's Facebook page and I noticed something... They had a picture of an adorable Corgi X Chihuahua. The problem with this is that NONE of the breeder inspection reports list corgis as a breed that they use. How can this be?

I decided to look a little bit closer at the puppies that they get in each week. I realized that the following dogs are not on any of the reports:

Brussels Griffon and Boston/PugXJapanese Chin 

English Bulldogs and French Bulldogs

Havanese and BostonXFrench Bulldog 
CorgiXChihuahua and HavaneseXPom
Silky TerrierXHavanese
So where do these little ones come from?
I wish I could tell you. Honestly. Someone had asked on their Facebook page but the comment got deleted:

This means that The Top Dog Store is hiding information from people. When they first started, they said they wanted an open, honest relationship with the customers and to provide as much information as they could without revealing who exactly the breeders are. We literally have no idea where these puppies came from. They could have been shipped from the States for all we know!

Here is some more food for thought: What if these puppies DID come from the 6 breeders we have been analyzing for the last few months? If the reports choose to "leave out" certain breeds to make it seem less like a mill, perhaps they are lying about other things too such as:
  • the actual number of dogs on the property. If that is the case, these mass producing facilitates could have 100 dogs instead of 50. What kind of socialization and care can that many dogs receive from the limited caregivers on the property?
  • how often the dogs are bred. We already know these breeders are expected to pump out a litter of puppies for the store every few weeks (since they bring in about 15 dogs every week from the breeders). 
  • having a reference letter from the vet. KC Kennels and LD Kennels, ones I have not exposed yet, already admit to not having reference letters. The rest claim that vets consider them to be of good standing. It is very easy to say "yes" when the real answer is "no" on the report.
  • records being available. If they can't even list these breeds on their reports, how can we be certain that proper records are being kept? Especially for the unlisted breeds. It is very sketchy. 
Just for fun, I want to point something else out to you. 
These are all of the breeds that the breeders claim to have. Notice that they say "including crosses." 
 
Here are some crosses that are not included:
Coton de Tulear/PomXPoodle and Shih-tzu/YorkieXMaltese
Three breeds?? I know "designer breeds" have become a thing which combine two specific breeds to create a hybrid, but this? Go to a shelter and you will find dogs with 3+ breeds if that is what you want. The difference is that you won't be spending $1000+ on the pup like you will at The Top Dog Store. These are mutts. Plain and simple. The breeding going into these dogs do not enhance the breed. It is breeding for profit OR an accidental, unintentional litter. If that is the case, how reputable is a breeder that allows accidents such as this? 

That is all I got! Please boycott The Top Dog Store for running and unethical business. The proof is indisputable. 

Cheers. 

Saturday, 28 March 2015

The Top Dog Store: Adopt or Shop?

Hello Readers!

"All Top Dog puppies come with a comprehensive one year health warranty, a complimentary vet visit with one of our veterinary partner clinics, a complimentary puppy parenting class with our Canine Behavioural & Education Specialist, up to date vaccinations and de-worming on their Health Record, their Birth Certificate, a free lifetime identification registration with PetLynx, plus 10% off everything you purchase at The Top Dog Store for the lifetime of your new family member." 

This is the phrase that the Top Dog Store uses whenever anyone asks about their puppies on their Facebook page. I would like to break down their guarantee to show exactly what buyers get. I'd also like you to judge whether or not a $1000+ dog is really worth it compared to a rescue dog (which I will compare after). 

The Terms
- comprehensive - inclusive, complete
- complimentary - free of charge
- canine behavioural and education specialist - a dog trainer

Some of those terms are self explanatory but there they are anyways! To be clear, by stating this frequently on Facebook, they are admitting to a health warranty that is inclusive of any health problems, as well as a free vet visit and free puppy class (singular).

The Top Dog Store
First: The Puppies
Cost for puppy: approx. $1300
Cost for spay/neuter: $200-500
Cost for additional vaccinations: $127.5
Cost for licensing: $37
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages/Animal-Services/Costs-owning-cat-dog.aspx

Second: The Benefits
Comprehensive One Year Health Warranty
I understand that breeders have to cap off their guarantee of a puppy's health. A year is fairly standard. However, they also have a 7 day guarantee which talks specifically about 4 common illnesses with puppies kept in a kennel facility. 
  1. Parvo Virus, a sickness that typically appears within 3-7 days. http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/animalhealth/page.php?id=1089
  2. Canine Distemper, a sickness that typically appears within 10-14 days - a little past 7 days eh? http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/animalhealth/page.php?id=1088
  3. Hepatitis, a sickness that can remain in the kidneys for a year and continues replication for 4-8 days.... http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/animalhealth/page.php?id=1086
  4. Kennel Cough, a sickness whose symptoms appear at varies times http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/animalhealth/page.php?id=1091 
In conclusion, their comprehensive warranty is not very inclusive considering 2 of these sicknesses will likely pass the 7 days, and 1 may or may not appear in time. They might as well cut this completely out of their warranty. 
This is just an image of the limited one year warranty. It covers anything congenital or hereditary. Research the breed of dog you want so you are aware of potential congenital issues that are common. Some issues such as Cherry Eye takes 6 months - 2 years to appear. It is actually advisable to not continue breeding dogs whose litter develop this condition. 
http://www.fidosavvy.com/dog-cherry-eye.html
http://www.canidae.com/blog/2010/06/what-causes-cherry-eye-in-dogs-and-how-to-correct-it.html


This is the final portion of the warranty. The big take-away from this is the fact that if, in 48 hours, you run into troubles and cannot keep the puppy for whatever reason, you can only be guaranteed UP TO 50% of the adoption fee. This means Robert can safely rely on impulse buyers, knowing that if they realize the labrador puppy they adopted is too much for them, he will still make a substantial amount of money off of the people. 
Value: Hard to judge considering they state it is, in no way, a form of pet insurance. Also, if your puppy does not get sick within the allotted time span, this becomes worthless. You can be the judge of this one. 

Complimentary Vet Visit with One of Our Veterinary Partner Clinics
The downfall to this offer is that if you already have a trusted vet that is not affiliated with The Top Dog Store, you cannot take your new pet there on the first visit. This is annoying because you set up a file at this one-time-only vet and will have to do so again with your actual vet. True, the vet and the store are businesses who recommend each other based on a mutual relationship, but let me remind you of something.... this vet SUPPORTS puppy mills because Dr. S. Wizniak is one of the inspectors of the breeders!! We have debunked one of the breeders as a mill because it uses a cow vaccination that is fatal to dogs. How can a licensed vet approve of this?
Value: approx. $50-75

Complimentary Puppy Parenting Class with Our Canine Behavioural & Education Specialist
This is honestly a lovely idea. I am serious, I think it is a great idea for people who have never trained a dog before or those who haven't done so in a long time. There are 2 problematic issues:
1. What if a person has a beautifully trained dog that will not benefit from this?
2. It is only a single class. A person and dog cannot learn all of the basic tricks and behavioural advice in an hour long session (I checked - that is how long they are). 
This is a money scheme because you know you'll need more than one session and then you pay for a course. 
Value: $149/course divided by 4 sessions = $37.25 for a single session

Up-To-Date Vaccinations and De-Worming
I give The Top Dog Store a bone for this one. Puppies get shots done in stages so in theory they are appropriately marked up until their current age point. Upon arriving to the store, each puppy should already have one set of vaccinations completed. In fact, depending if all the vaccinations were given at the 6-7 week mark, they may need a second dose at 9 weeks followed by 2 more. http://www.petmd.com/dog/puppycenter/health/evr_vaccines_and_your_puppy

As for deworming, I have read mixed messages about how often. Many sites claim that it should start as early as 2 weeks and continue every 2 weeks after that until 12 weeks. That means that your 8 week puppy should have 4 deworming vaccinations completed. 
http://www.medicanimal.com/Dogs/Flea,-Ticks-and-Wormers/Understanding-the-Worming-Regime-for-Newborn-Puppies-and-their-Mothers/a/ART111536
http://www.revivalanimal.com/articles/worming-schedule.html
http://www.valleyvet.com/library/worming-schedule-dogs-cats.html
Value: approx. $170 if you did not have to pay for any initial vaccination. Since you DO pay for 3 more doses, they have only covered 1/4 of the approx. amount. This leaves the value at $42.50
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages/Animal-Services/Costs-owning-cat-dog.aspx

Free Lifetime Identification Registration with PetLynx
Have you ever heard of PetLynx? It is a pretty nifty website which allows you to post an ad when your pet goes missing. There is a 7 day free trial where your ad is posted and you include medical concerns, contact information, tattoo#, etc. The Top Dog Store offers a $36.00 savings by paying for it for you. You get a dog tag with your PetLynx account number, which is essentially the equivalent of a dog tag with your phone number. Anyways, nice idea but it isn't justifiable for the $1000+ dog you just purchased. 
Value: $36
http://www.petlynx.net/PetLynx/jsp/ProductComparison.jsp

Third: The Value
This is all approximate but the grand savings is $165.75-190.75
The dog? The total with the spay/neuter, additional vaccinations, and licensing is $1964.50
Your puppy with EVERYTHING cost you anywhere between $1773.75-1798.75
What is amusing to note is that you paid nearly 2k on a half breed dog - something you would similarly find in a shelter. 

Calgary Humane Society
First: The Rescues
Cost for puppy - $479
Cost for mandatory puppy classes - $184
Cost for additional vaccinations - $127.50
http://www.calgaryhumane.ca/adopt/adoption-forms/
http://www.calgaryhumane.ca/what-we-do/animal-training/classes/

Second: The Benefits 
Complimentary Vet Exam at a Participating Vet Clinic
As I said before, being restricted by a specific vet kind of sucks, but the Calgary Humane Society is partnered with a lot more veterinary clinics than a small business such as Top Dog. 
Value: approx. $50-75

Complimentary Microchip and Tattoo
Here is something that The Top Dog does not offer! Instead of PetLynx, the Calgary Humane Society provides your pet with identification that will withstand the loss of a collar. 
Value: approx. $50

Complimentary Spay/Neuter
What a great reason to adopt for a shelter! Getting a dog fixed benefits the longevity of your dog. The cost of the dog is pretty much already covered by this surgery alone. Keep in mind, it is typically cheaper to get a male dog fixed (external surgery) than a female (internal surgery). 
Value: approx. $200-500

Complimentary Temporary (6-8 Week) Pet Insurance
This operates very similarly to the one year health warranty that The Top Dog offers. True, it is only for a couple of months, but the shelter is much more honest about any potential health concerns. Additionally, this covers accidents or unexpected allergies/testing that you discover in those first few months. This is something that The Top Dog will not cover.
Value: approx. $88
https://www.petsecure.com/Quote/Step1?sid=e7864b35-c7b5-44ce-b3ea-2484b593f67a&pid=df9bfd60-bb0a-453e-8720-50124ff5abaf

Complimentary Tools
"Information on how to care for your adopted dog" 
"Help with questions on the adopted animal through our behaviour helpline" 
I don't know if you can really place value on knowledge, but the helpline is a nice touch that The Top Dog does not offer. 
Value: FREE

Complimentary 6 month Short Term Dog License
Though it is only 6 months, this means you can recover a little bit after making such a large purchase.  It also means you can get it checked out by a vet right away because some will not see a dog that is not licensed by the city. 
Value: $37
*Note I did not divide this number in half because it is the initial standard fee
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages/Animal-Services/Costs-owning-cat-dog.aspx

Discounted Obedience Classes
Once again they one-up The Top Dog Store. Where the store offers a single 1 hour session, the shelter offers 5 sessions at 45 minutes long. This is great! Though you have to spend $184 to attend, it is discounted from the original $205 so you save. 
Value: $21

Up-To-Date Vaccinations
They do state that they only give the initial vaccinations for these puppies. That means it is up to you to cover the rest. 
Value: Same as The Top Dog at $42.50

Third: The Value
The approximate savings is anywhere between $488.50 -813.50
The dog? The total with the classes and additional vaccinations is $790.5
Your puppy with EVERYTHING will either be FREE with an extra $23 in savings (as if you got a free puppy and had to get everything vet related, classes, etc, taken care of yourself) or cost $302 (at the lowest savings)

Comparison
Non-purebred puppy from The Top Dog Store: $1773.75-1798.75 --> save $165.75-190.75
Non-purebred puppy from The Calgary Humane Society: $0-302 --> save $488.50 -813.50



The difference is crazy... The Top Dog Store claims to have this revolutionary adoption package that sets them a part from shelters but there is way more value in rescuing a puppy. 
If you are considering welcoming a new member to your family, please take a look at what the many animal shelters have to offer. It will save a life. 

Cheers.

Alberta Shelters:
ARF
Calgary Humane Society
Pet for Life Foundation
AARCS
Pawsitive Match
Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue

Friday, 6 March 2015

The Top Dog Store Breeder: WL Kennels

Hello Readers!

Guess what? I feel quite confident that I have unearthed another puppy mill which The Top Dog Store chooses to associate with. To refresh your memory, The Top Dog Store is an unethical business which  recently opened up in Calgary, Alberta. They are the only store in Calgary which chooses to sell puppies - and this has not been well received by fellow Calgarians. Since the store has made their breeder evaluations available to the public, I have been picking apart each one to prove that they truly are puppy mills.

The breeder for today has a lot to cover so let's begin!

Today we will be exposing WL Kennels. I urge you follow along with the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3zqpj3ziv7iwpun/WLKennels2014.pdf?dl=0 so that you can view the pictures as I discuss them.

Starting with the second page, these look like typical dog runs. There is little stimulation, as you can see. It is also difficult to know if all of the dog runs actually have a sheltered outdoor area. If not, then the outdoor runs already fail my own inspection.

The next page features a tool shed - but wait! This is where they keep some of their dogs! The walls in the top right picture do not look insulated, nor accessible to that little corner space. We also see some dogs in their pen but as usual, there are no toys or things to chew on. Chewing is a behavioural need - dogs MUST chew on something! If they can't, they will be destructive and chew on the fence or whatever stuff is stuck to the walls (insulation for that particular building?). This can cause damage to their teeth or worse if they ingest anything!

On page four, we see the whelping area. Once again, a lack of toys is made available to the little pups. You know what else seems suspicious? Later in this evaluation is becomes clear that inspections occur once a year. We have no idea if these breeders "behave" during the other 364 days of the year. With that knowledge, look at the mom in the tiny bed in the bottom right corner. She appears to be recently shaved considering her puppies are super fluff balls. I am curious to know if she was legitimately due for a groom or if her typical matting would be too much to pass the inspection... food for thought.

The following set of pictures is more of the same. The dogs live on gravel, no toys, lame life.

I want to press pause on this evaluation for a moment. You see, the rest of the report is incredibly vague. We learn that the breeder lives in Pincher Creek, their vet is from Pincher Creek, they claim to follow breeding protocols, etc. There is not a whole lot to pick at for the rest of the evaluation. Instead of simply criticizing pictures, I wanted to find out who these people actually are! After a lot of researching, these is what I found out:

WL stands for Wendy Lindfield (though it is sometimes spelled Linfield online). Her partner of sorts is Russel Presby. I know this because I found a pincher creek ad for a coton de tulear X puppy with a phone number and email (though future ads will exlude emails). I emailed the person and Russel's name appeared alongside the email address (yay for technology!!). After reverse-searching the phone number, I learned it belonged to a W. Lindfield - WL!! Unlike Homestead Kennels, these guys do not have a website. Instead, they choose to operate very stealthily. On all of their ads, they tell you to not text them. They don't want physical evidence that a conversation occurred between you two so that they cannot be held accountable. This is a major red flag people!! It is almost as bad as not letting you see the parents before adoption. Reputable breeders will be confident in texting or at least emailing.

Yes, this information is all fine and well, but it doesn't directly relate to the animals. No Puppy Mills Canada has set the following as characteristics of a puppy mill:
(a) sub-standard health and/or environmental issues
(b) sub-standard animal care, treatment and/or socialization
(c) sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders
(d) erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background
*Note: These conditions may also exist in small volume or single breed establishments

Thus far, their (a) environment is a rather poor. The rooms are not effective against Canadian winters (the evaluations claim they use space heaters but that is not as effective). The concrete is also hard on joints, especially when that is the primary surface for their adult dogs for 6-7 years. It is also recommended that each dog has a bed to lay on, or at least something large enough to accommodate several at a time - unlike the tiny one we see on page four. http://www.game-dog.com/showthread.php/15066-Concern-about-Concrete-floor-and-dog-health

Now to look at (b) socialization. Socialization is essential for newborn puppies. Humans can begin interaction as early as 2-3 weeks old. It makes a big impact on their ability to adapt to changes in people/environment and their ability to be around other animals. According to the evaluation, they have 30 dogs. Since this is a family owned business, it is unlikely that each dog gets individual attention, if any at all. Now, I want to present to you, in chronological order, some of their more recent ads that they have posted since October 2014:

Cocker X Cavalier, born October 9 - 8 puppies @ $600









http://www.canada-classifieds.com/dogs-puppies-for-sale-cocker-x-cavalier-puppies-offered-by-owner-pet-s-date-of-birth-09-oct-14-8-weeks-old-this-pet-should-not-be-rehomed-unt_141497-155.html

Coton de Tulear X Pomeranian, born October 14 - 2 puppies @ $400













http://pinchercreek.alladlistings.com/pets-leasure-time-hobbies/coton-de-tulear-x-pomeranian-puppies_1950315.html

Pomeranian X Maltese, born October 28 - 4 puppies @ $600










http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:K5kYb8NAPOYJ:www.kijiji.ca/b-alberta/maltese-girl/k0l9003+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=safari

Cocker X Pomeranian, born November 2 - 2 puppies @ $300











http://pinchercreek.alladlistings.com/pets-leasure-time-hobbies/cocker-x-pomeranian-puppies_1931721.html

Coton de Tulear X Pomeranian, born November 4 - 4 puppies @ $400












http://pinchercreek.alladlistings.com/pets-leasure-time-hobbies/coton-de-tulear-x-pomeranian-puppies_1941890.html

Toy Poodle, born November 6 - 4 puppies @ $700








http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Tph3RiCdjkYJ:www.canada-classifieds.com/dogs-puppies-for-sale-toy-poodle-puppies-offered-by-owner-pet-s-date-of-birth-06-nov-14-8-weeks-old_211324-155.html+&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=safari

Cocker Spaniels, born November 9 - 8 puppies @ $300


















Pomeranians, born November 10 - 3 puppies @ $400












Cocker X Pom, birth unknown - puppies unknown
- though the birth is unknown, the ad was posted on November 15 as cheaper than the Cocker X Poms who were born November 2. These would logically be different litters of the same breed



















Shih-tzu X Havenese, born November 22 - 5 puppies @ $550









http://www.canada-classifieds.com/dogs-puppies-for-sale-shihtzu-x-havanese-offered-by-owner-pet-s-date-of-birth-22-nov-14-7-weeks-old-this-pet-should-not-be-rehomed-until-17-j_235255-155.html

Havanese, born December 2 - 3 puppies @ $800









http://www.canada-classifieds.com/dogs-puppies-for-sale-havanese-puppies-offered-by-owner-pet-s-date-of-birth-02-dec-14-7-weeks-old-this-pet-should-not-be-rehomed-until-27-ja_273560-155.html

What all of these ads tell us is that in the span of 8 weeks, before the puppies can even be considered for adoption, this facility has 43 PUPPIES, not counting the mystery litter that does not specify. That is more than the facility claims to ordinarily have on the evaluation. Is there really any possible way in which these animals get the proper socialization? What about a simple examination for good health? The vet bill must be out of this world! This conflicts with both (b) animal care and (c) responsible breeding. 43 puppies.... and look at the price tag on each. To sell each puppy for the asking price, they would make approximately $21,750. I dare you to tell me they are not breeding for profit. There is no way in hell they are breeding for pleasure with 43 puppies to care for on top of their 30. 

If you still are not convinced, take a look at this ad: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:pIdJTMTrnEMJ:www.muamat.com/classifieds/328/posts/8_Pets_Animals/90_Dogs_Puppies/8963122_Dos_preciosa_cachorros_de_Pomerania_listo_para_un_nuevo_casa_.html+&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=safari
What you see before you is an ad for two pomeranian puppies with the same cell phone number that WL uses. Where are they reaching out to? Madrid Spain. This is an advertisement to ship their puppies over seas. Is that not sketchy?? Their ad roughly translates to:

  • Two beautiful Pomeranian puppies ready for a new home - Madrid A male and a female Pomeranian puppies for you and your family. They are vet checked and have all the documents to date. They also have all their shots . These puppies and train well and very pretty and playful. If you think your home is the right place for any of the puppies then

This is not okay!!!

Here is the concluding scores:

(a) sub-standard health/environmental issues: 1/1 
(b) sub-standard animal care: 1/1
(c) sub-standard breeding practices: 1/1
(d) erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees, and/or genetic background: n/a
*Note condition may exist in small volume: 1/1 --> really high volume!!

Conclusion: 4/5 it IS a puppy mill!

So now what? Report, report, report! The more people complain about these atrocities, the sooner these vile places will be shut down.

Cheers,


~I frequently hear people say "I rescued my dog from a puppy mill." Unfortunately, you did a disservice unless you reported the circumstance to the authorities. You still paid for the dog and the mill still made a profit. The dogs that were left behind will continue to suffer. What you CAN do to prevent suffering is call your provincial SPCA.~

Alberta: 1-800-455-9003
Saskatchewan: 1-877-382-7722

Monday, 16 February 2015

The Top Dog Store: A Quick Recap

Hello Readers,

I just wanted to recap some of the things we have learned about the Top Dog Store - a review, if you will. 

The Top Dog Store is a recently opened dog specialty store which is the only store in Calgary, AB to sell puppies. It is owned by Robert and Marion Church who once privately owned a Petland franchise located in Market Mall (hence why they continued selling puppies after Petland corporately chose not to). Personally I was very proud of Calgary to choose to no longer sell puppies and now this store is leaving a black stain. 

The thing is, I wouldn't have a problem with the store if they actually made honest, ethical decisions. How are they unethical? Simple:

  • The care they give their puppies are not the best. http://puppymillsexposed.blogspot.ca/2015/01/the-beginning-of-top-dog-store-series.html
    • For starters, they said they would not sell "sled dogs, herding dogs, flushing or pointing dogs, or any sort of bear repelling dogs." That sums up a lot of bigger size dogs - and they are right, they should not sell those types of dogs because their care as impressionable puppies is different than a small breed. The size of kennels that the store has is not accommodating enough for large breeds. What do they do? Sell chocolate labradors.... That is not an ethical decision. 
    • Apparently only having rope toys is acceptable. I understand that some dogs have favourites but as puppies, they literally crave different textures. Secondly, where is the food? Some people choose to schedule feed, but if a meal is missed, those little guys can go into hypoglycaemic shock which is caused by low blood sugar. It should especially be available if they just had a play session. 

  • They technically sell their dogs online - they advertise on kijiji and then sell the dogs to you. Now, kijiji has set up ground rules for EVERY animal seller to adhere to when using their site. One of these rules is that the buyer must be able to see how the puppy was raised and is cared for now. We have seen how the puppies from KV Kennels has raised their puppies in little boxes (see below) - that is not ethical or even plain nice. Additionally, by not revealing the location of their breeders, we, the buyers, cannot physically go and see for ourselves. Wouldn't it be simpler for these breeders to sign a contract saying they will not sell to anyone other than The Top Dog Store and then provide facility showings a few times a year? Would that be so bad? http://puppymillsexposed.blogspot.ca/2015/02/the-top-dog-store-selling-puppies-online.html
  • They make themselves sound like a viable option when adopting a puppy because they can offer perks that you can't find anywhere else. http://puppymillsexposed.blogspot.ca/2015/01/the-top-dog-store-and-their-sweet.html According to their FAQ:
    • they are a superior option because you can play with puppies (like you can't do that at a reputable breeder's or a rescue?)
    • you can talk to a knowledgeable staff member to find the right breed for you (right, because rescues just hand out any dog to any person, there is no process or screening or conversations to ensure that the dog in question is suitable for your household *sarcasm* - or for that matter, reputable breeders screen buyers as well and brag about the breed that they so lovingly raise)
    • they have an outstanding warranty for each puppy (okay, any reputable breeder has a guarantee on the health of the puppy - just take a look at the crappy warranty their own breeder has below under JO Kennels) 
  • THEY.USE.PUPPY.MILLS. Those who do not believe that fact really cannot deny the facts. The public has access to their breeder evaluations and I have been picking them a part and explaining what each detail really means. 
    • Exhibit A: JO Kennels. http://puppymillsexposed.blogspot.ca/2015/01/top-dog-store-breeder-jo-kennels.html
      • They have over 50 dogs and 11 different breeds that are cared for by 3 people. Each person person has to care for 17 dogs - feeding, cleaning, playing, walking, etc. Many rescue facilities in Calgary have around 15 dogs total (unless a crisis occurs in which case they find fosters) and they are cared for by a TEAM of people. 
      • From the pictures, there is zero enrichment. No toys, or grass. They are dumped into their bare kennels and that is all they ever know. 
      • I tracked down their website and they cannot guarantee the health of their own puppies unless it directly leads to death. This means that any illness that is contracted in their facility is not covered OR any birth defects that are not life threatening. Good luck if your dog needs surgery because he has a deformed knee cap or if he develops Giardia. 
      • This breeder also does not, under any circumstances, allow potential dog buyers to actually SEE the living conditions or parents of the puppies. They are shipped, packaged goods. This is the biggest red flag for puppy mills. 
    • Exhibit B: KV Kennels. http://puppymillsexposed.blogspot.ca/2015/01/top-dog-store-breeders-kv-kennels.html
      • Once again, zero enrichment in these pictures - not even beds! Where are all the toys that 50+ dogs should have? I realize that they would go through a lot of toys to cater to each dog but if you want to be a reputable breeder, you MUST supply this basic need. 
      • Since these are breeders, let's critique their breeding practices, shall we? They keep their newborns in a tiny box with no light aside from a red heat lamp. They live on shavings which can be damaging on their lungs, cause respiratory problems, and/or cause impaction in their digestive track. Knowledgable, well researched breeders would know this, even if breeding methods were different 20 years ago. 
      • Their vet is EXCLUSIVE TO COWS. These vets are not trained to handle dog cases. In fact, the brand of medicine they prescribe to adult dogs for killing fleas can be FATAL to dogs. How many dogs have died because of this? The vet might not even be 100% aware of the death rate because the breeder administers it. (They would have to - good luck taking 50 dogs to the vet.) 

Robert Church tries to sound like he runs a righteous, wholesome business with genuine best interests in the animals. The truth is, he doesn't give a crap about the animals and where they came from. They are packaged goods waiting to be purchased for a frightening price (over $1000!!!). Considering you can get a fixed dog for a few hundred dollars at a rescue, he truly is a highway robber. BOYCOTT the Top Dog Store. Don't give him the money that he craves. He is all about quantity, not quality. Disgusting. 

Cheers.



Tuesday, 10 February 2015

The Top Dog Store: Selling Puppies Online

Hello Readers!

What does it mean to sell puppies online? Selling online includes various forms of transactions. It can mean the entire transaction occurs online through bank transfers or paypal, or it can mean advertising online and meeting up in person to do the exchange. You can find all sorts of things online from cars, to furniture, jewellery to clothes, or even pets. Yes, buying and selling pets online has become a norm, a fact that I am sure you are all aware of.

Kijiji has taken great strides in reducing the capabilities that puppy mills have with the site. They offer a "shelter pets online" feature so that adoption agencies can promote rescues on the site as well. Additionally, they charge a fee when posting to sell animals so that backyard breeders are less inclined to sell on this particular site - but there are still other sites out there.

So here is the thing, with this new form of finding homes for animals, many people are using to as an easy way to become backyard breeders. To be clear, backyard breeders are essentially universal with puppy mills. They both breed irresponsibly for profit. You have to be so careful that the puppy you are about to buy is coming from a good home because you want it to be mentally and physically healthy.

Now here is the catch, we all know that buying dogs on kijiji is not a could idea unless you are confident in determining who is and is not a reputable breeder, but guess who is advertising on kijiji? You guessed it, The Top Dog Store, Calgary AB.
Why is this a problem?

Kijiji has a Pet Code of Conduct which outlines what every seller has to adhere to when posting an ad to sell animals on their site. http://help.kijiji.ca/helpdesk/policies/pets-code-of-conduct
There are a couple of codes that I want to address:
1. Visit the pet seller's home or business and see how they raise and care for their animals. If the seller is a breeder and will not make the parents of a puppy or kitten animal available for inspection, there may be a problem. Ask for as much information as possible about the animal's history in terms of source, health records, and behaviour information.

  • Yes, you can go and see how they care for their animals at the store. However, is it not the equivalent of going to a person's house and not seeing the parents? You don't get the full picture because you have no idea what their life was like for those first 8 weeks - 8 critical weeks for socializing and nourishment. 
  • The parents of these puppies are not available. Sure, they will show you the evaluations but they will not reveal who the actual breeder is so you cannot do your own inspection. This blog has exposed a couple of these breeders as puppy mills already so clearly the parents are not living fulfilled lives. 

2. Get references, including other customers, and the seller's veterinarian. Check them out and be vigilant to ensure that the pet is in good health

  • I would be curious to hear what the veterinarian of the Top Dog Store would say about their puppies. How often do they have to go to get medicine because a puppy is sick? Can they attest to the overall health of the puppy considering they are from puppy mills? 
Granted what we have learned from previous blog posts, The Top Dog Store is not accurately meeting these codes, especially the first one. Not to mention they are mixing their ads with non-reputable breeders on an online site. The Top Dog Store claims to not support the puppy mill business and wants to be ethical and yet they are acting just like one of them - in it for the money and not for the wellbeing of the pets. 

One final question: Why are we, fellow citizens of Calgary, allowing this unethical store to continue? It is such a stain on our wonderful city. By returning to the puppy-in-the-window days, we are being retracted from being progressive within the community both big and small. There is only one answer that is clear: boycott this store for supporting puppy mills, lying to the public, and being unethical. 

Cheers.


    Tuesday, 27 January 2015

    The Top Dog Store Breeder: KV Kennels

    Hello readers!

    I believe I have uncovered another puppy mill which the Top Dog Store uses to source their dogs. The Top Dog Store is a pet store that recently opened up and is the single location in Calgary which sells puppies. We have already exposed one of their breeders, JO Kennels, as a mill in one of my other posts and today, we will do it again! Unfortunately I could not track down their website but luckily there is enough information in their evaluation to expose them. The link for KV Kennels is here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ebc75dprq55a02c/KVKennels-2014.pdf?dl=0

    Before we really get into what makes this breeder a puppy mill, I just want to remind all of you what a mill is according to No Puppy Mills Canada: http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/mill.htm
    (a) Sub-standard health and/or environmental issues;
    (b) Sub-standard animal care, treatment and/or socialization; 
    (c) Sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders;
    (d) Erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background.
    Note: These conditions may also exist in small volume or single breed establishments." 

    I am going to take each of these traits and discuss how KV Kennels meets each one. 

    (a) Sub-standard health and/or environmental issues
    There are a lot of environmental issues that are evident with this breeder. True, the large kennels look spacious and not over crowded, but I question some of the decisions that have been made regarding their living space.

    The first thing I notice about the pens on pages 3 and 4 is the lack of ANYTHING. There are no beds, no toys, no bones, nothing. These dogs live their lives with very little stimulation. Scrolling down to pages 6 and 7, you see the same thing. They have caged lives with no access to grass or the luxury of running and playing to their heart's content.

    The next notable point is on page 5. These are the feed bins for each individual dog, though the pictures make it hard to understand how these function. In this close up picture, you can see how filthy the food bins are and how impractical they are for cleaning and sanitization purposes.

    Alright, now we get more into the nitty gritty. We have reached the whelping and nursery barn on page 10-14. Let these pictures sink in. There are 3 problems with the pictures on these pages...
    • Cleanliness: Look at how dirty they are on the inside when this is suppose to be a sterile location for birth. The material, as claimed in the report, is plastic so it should be easy to clean. 
    • Bedding: The bedding that they use for these poor newborns is shavings. The problem with this material is that it can cause respiratory infections in the pups who already have a weak immune system. Additionally, their noses and mouths are so close to the stuff that they can easily ingest it. There are many sources that support this claim: http://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/can-use-pine-bedding-newborn-puppy-4190.htmlhttp://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2098&aid=1099http://www.afrma.org/pineproblem.htm. 
    • Incubators: Looking at them, they are incredibly sinister, daunting, and ridiculous. The purpose of an incubator is to keep newborns warm if the mother is unable to do so (due to abandonment, death, too many puppies, etc.) and is therefore not required for regular whelping purposes. http://www.ehow.com/how_5989200_directions-build-puppy-incubator.htmlhttp://thepuppysaver.homestead.com/The-Puppy-Saver1.html 
      • What makes this situation so sad is the fact that, according to this evaluation, they are kept in this light-less box for their first 3-4 weeks of life. They will have no human interaction and no natural light. All they get is a heat lamp, shavings to cause respiratory ailments, and ultimate seclusion. What a life. 
      • For any breeders who are reading this post, many would argue the necessity of a whelping box. The purpose of a whelping box is to keep the mom in a space that is sterile, comfortable, and secure for the birth of the puppies. It should have walls that are high enough to keep the puppies inside, but accessible enough for the breeder to assist in the birthing process if it is required - also, lose the roof! Allow for air circulation! As you can see from these pictures, these little incubators are definitely not large enough if the breeder had to help. Here is a link to what a whelping box looks like: http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Whelping_Box

    (b) Sub-standard animal care, treatment, and/or socialization
    Alright, so let's start with animal care. As discussed earlier, these pens are void of any stimulation which leads to a very dreary life. They need something to keep busy or else they will get destructive or aggressive.

    As for treatment, I want to draw your attention to the first page of the "Inspection Report." The vet that they use is PB Veterinary Services. PB stands for Picture Butte, a small town that is 30 minutes north of Lethbridge. I looked at their web page and noticed that they are an exclusive CATTLE vet. They do not handle pet cases unless you simply need a vaccination. However, they are not trained to treat dogs. I searched for other vets in the area and this breeder has the choice of any vet in Lethbridge (many to choose from!) or one in Coalhurst, another small town that is just west of Picture Butte. When brought to the Top Dog Store, these puppies are not being examined by an appropriate veterinarian so you won't know with certainty that they are clear of dog-related illness or problems.

    With this knowledge, I wanted to search what kinds of vaccinations were being administered to these dogs. Dectomax spray (to treat mites and flies) caught my eye and, after checking several sites, I discovered that this specific brand can be FATAL TO DOGS. http://www.drugs.com/vet/dectomax-pour-on.html
    • For more information on the chemical compound that is used in the drug, you can read this site: http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2450&Itemid=2718
      • This site admits that some brands can be used for dogs (only select breeds) but the brand will carefully state whether it can be used for pets or not. Dectomax spray, specifically, is exclusive to livestock such as cows, swine, and sheep. 
      • Additionally, this site warns that dosages of this chemical, regardless of brand, has to be very carefully made for dogs because of the high risks. Who administers this intensive drug? Look on Inspection Report Page 3 and you will find that the breeder themselves administers it. Interesting indeed. I know many people who give medications to their pets but the thing is, 54 dogs have to receive this medication twice a year. A simple slip up can be detrimental. If the risk was that high, would an uncertified breeder not have a professional do it?

    Finally, the socialization of these animals are questionable. Though we do not know how many people care for these dogs, 54 is still a large number for proper attention. They are kept for the purpose of breeding, all other interaction is minimized. Remember those puppies in the box? Puppies can be handled more regularly at 2 weeks (for short periods) which begins the socialization for a well tempered, happy pet. The incubators simply do not allow this to happen until they are at least 4 weeks old, if not older. When you get your puppy from them, they will only have had human interaction for approximately 2-4 weeks. That is not long at all.  https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/newborn-puppy-care

    (c) Sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders
    I will admit that I cannot extract enough evidence from this evaluation to suggest that KV Kennels is bad at preventing genetic defects or hereditary disorders. That being said, there is not enough evidence to suggest that they are good either. Given the results of the past two points, I wouldn't buy from them anyways.

    (d) Erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees, and/or genetic background
    Again, there is very little information about this stuff on the evaluation. An interesting point, though, is that they claim to have a wait list formulated for people who want a retired dog. I have tried for the past week and a half to find the website and if I can't find it, I doubt that one is even made (entirely possible!) My question is: how does this wait list form without contact information? Does this list even exist? Though this is unrelated to the dogs, I still want to count this as false information.

    *Note: These conditions may also exist in small volume or single breed establishments
    They have 10 different breeds and 54 dogs. They would need an extensive team of employees to tend to each one. Consider how many volunteers are required to operate a dog shelter. To point it in perspective, as of January 27, 2015, the Calgary Humane Society has 11 dogs, the ARF foundation has 16, Pets for Life has 15, and they have a team of people who care for them! I also question if the infamous Inspection Team actually checks every single individual dog or if they give it the ol' glance-over and assume they are all fine. That would be a very consuming day to check each one.

    Conclusion: With a score of 4/5, KV Kennels, one of the "Reputable Breeders" of the Top Dog Store, is a puppy mill. True, we don't know if they overbreed their dogs, but we know how these animals are treated and the lifestyle that they are forced to live. That is an essential part of being a mill. Do you really think that after coming from a place like this, these puppies are healthy with good temperaments? Keep in mind that, even after "23 years" of breeding, their research of animal care is miniscule.

    There are two things that we can do about this
    • Boycott the Top Dog Store for sourcing puppy mill puppies and trying to mask them as reputable, healthy dogs. With no demand, the supply will drop. This WILL save lives of animals. 
    • Contact your provincial SPCA. In fact, if enough of us contact the Alberta SPCA, perhaps we can have this facility shut down! Toll free number: 1-800-455-9003
    Cheers

    ~I frequently hear people say "I rescued my dog from a puppy mill." Unfortunately, you did a disservice unless you reported the circumstance to the authorities. You still paid for the dog and the mill still made a profit. The dogs that were left behind will continue to suffer. What you CAN do to prevent suffering is call your provincial SPCA.~

    Alberta: 1-800-455-9003
    Saskatchewan: 1-877-382-7722