The Truth About Riley

Meet Riley. Our two year old Yorkshire Terrier. He's equal parts frustrating and adorable. There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't make me want to rip my hair out and snuggle him up all at the same time. He is the definition of 'Little Dog Complex' and feels the need to bark at the slightest sound. He's loyal to a fault and has his own special place in our heart.

Riley has taught us a lot, like most dogs do, but if there is one thing he has taught us the most, it is the truth about pet store puppies.

We hear it day in and day out, adopt don't shop. There are so many animals living life in shelters that need a loving home. But there's another side to the saying that we often times don't think about. Another reason why you really need to think twice before taking home that adorable puppy in the pet store.

Let me explain...

Riley is a pet store puppy. I had absolutely no intentions of taking him home, but he quickly weaseled his way into my heart and I couldn't stand to put him back in the dirty kennel he probably spent most of his life in. So, what turned into a trip to play with puppies ended up as a trip home with the cutest little nugget.

It wasn't even a week later that I noticed Riley had kennel cough. Kennel cough is extremely contagious in animals, but if treated, not a big deal. Unfortunately, Riley had contracted kennel cough long before I brought him home and had gone untreated for too long, and quickly turned into pneumonia. Pneumonia is a three pound dog is pretty serious. I spent the first month and a half of his life home with me taking him to the vet twice a week, every week. I had to give him three different types of medication every day and even turned my bathroom into a sauna to help ease his breathing. 

Thankfully, Riley made it through and I thought we were on our way to live a healthy little life together.

Unfortunately, while Riley is a fighter, he has quite a few health problems. He has hypoglycemia, which is not all together uncommon in small breeds, but Riley experiences the attacks much more frequently than he should. He has also has had a few stomach issues which, to save you the nasty details, has resulted in us investing in a carpet cleaning machine and some not-so-cheap medication. Just last week, his stomach issues got so bad, I was afraid he wasn't going to pull through. Thankfully, the vet prescribed some serious medication that worked quickly and he's currently on the mend!

While Riley is clearly a surviver and a fighter, it is clear that he is not a healthy dog, just like all dogs who are born at puppy mills. Unhealthy dogs do not only require a lot of time and attention, but their care is expensive. 

Do I regret purchasing a pet store puppy? Absolutely not. (Justin, on the other hand, may have a different answer!) I truly believe that those little furballs living in pet stores need a loving home just as much as any animal does. But I do wish I would have known a little bit more about what type of commitment I was getting myself into. 

Don't let the idea of a cute, perfect little furball cloud your judgment when it comes to taking on the responsibility of caring for an animal. 

I hate to think about what might have happened to Riley had I not taken him home and given him the medical attention he needed. I think about his kennel-mate often, the cutest little pug. Chances are he was just as sick as Riley was since they shared such a small space. Hopefully he found a family to take care of him.

Despite the fact that Riley is more high maintenance than our daughter, I'm glad he's part of our little family. I write this, simply, to shed light on the truth about pet store puppies.