--- title: Pet Shop - SODO Veterinary Hospital description: "Discover the dark side of pet stores: how they acquire, care for, and sell animals in overcrowded, diseased settings, and the impulse purchase dilemma." image: https://sodovet.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pet-shop.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://sodovet.com/blog/pet-shop#main-content) We are approaching September's Dental Month!! (20$ off entire cleaning - including extractions) Call to book your appointment today! (407-841-3407) [![SODO Vet](https://sodovet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SODO-Veterinary-Hospital-Logo-1.png?width=600&height=190&name=SODO-Veterinary-Hospital-Logo-1.png "SODO Vet")](https://sodovet.com/) - [Pet Boarding](https://sodovet.com/pet-boarding-services) - [Health Maintenance](https://sodovet.com/veterinary-health-maintenance-services) - [Surgery](https://sodovet.com/veterinary-surgery) - [Our Story](https://sodovet.com/about-us) - [Contact Us](https://sodovet.com/sodo-veterinary-hospital-contact-us) - [Shop](https://sodovet.vetsfirstchoice.com/) [Book Now](https://app.petdesk.com/request-appointment/sodo-veterinary-hospital?placeGuid=bf2ef567-9375-49ce-8b06-5b34b77b452a&referralCode=1929) # The Problem with Pet Shops A pet shop is a place where dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, reptiles, rodents, fish, and other animals not born and raised on those premises are kept for the purpose of sale to the public. While many people are very satisfied with the pets they acquire from pet stores, critics of pet stores argue that there are numerous problems with the way most stores acquire, care for, and sell animals. Many stores acquire most or all of their stock from large-scale commercial breeding operations that may also supply animals to industries that pet store patrons could find morally objectionable (such as cosmetics testing). Though not all of these facilities breed dogs, most are essentially the equivalent of puppy mills for other species. Overcrowded cages and long, stressful journeys via air or truck can cause the spread of disease, resulting in sick animals arriving in the store. Critics of pet stores argue that there are numerous problems with the way most stores acquire, care for, and sell animals. Large pet store chains frequently house sick animals in plain view with their other stock. Store employees are sometimes inappropriately educated in the handling of animals; picking up fancy rats by their tails, for example, is a common pet shop practice even though it is known to be painful to the animal. Due to the nature of the store environment, animals are not usually properly socialized by the time they are sold to their new owner. This can result in frustration for the owner and even the eventual abandonment of the pet. Some pet stores have a screening system and attempt to counsel or interview potential pet owners. Reputable stores may refuse to sell a pet to someone who appears irresponsible or otherwise unable to care for the pet they wish to buy. However, most stores do not abide by this policy, and even reputable stores may mistakenly sell pets into homes where they will be abused or abandoned. Many animals are purchased on impulse (especially as pets for children); these animals suffer when the novelty of the new pet wears off. [Dogs](https://sodovet.com/blog/tag/dogs), [Cats](https://sodovet.com/blog/tag/cats), [Feline](https://sodovet.com/blog/tag/feline), [Health Topics](https://sodovet.com/blog/tag/health-topics), [Choosing Your Pet](https://sodovet.com/blog/tag/choosing-your-pet), [Pet Owner Education](https://sodovet.com/blog/tag/pet-owner-education) Share On: [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.twitter.com) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com) ## Read More [View All Posts](https://sodovet.com/blog) ## [![Creating the Purr-fect Indoor Environment for your Cat](https://sodovet.com/hubfs/Tips%20for%20Indoor%20Cat%20Owners.png) Creating the Purr-fect Indoor Environment for your Cat](https://sodovet.com/blog/creating-the-purr-fect-indoor-environment-for-your-cat) ## [![Hydration Tips for Dogs in Central Florida](https://sodovet.com/hubfs/Hydration%20Tips%20for%20Dogs.png) Hydration Tips for Dogs in Central Florida](https://sodovet.com/blog/hydration-tips-for-dogs-in-central-florida) [![SODO logo full white](https://sodovet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SODO%20logo%20full%20white.png?width=200&height=67&name=SODO%20logo%20full%20white.png "SODO logo full white")](https://sodovet.com) (407) 841-3407 (407) 644-4449 1751 S ORANGE AVENUE ORLANDO FL 32806 [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sodovethospital/) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/sodovethospital/) ****SERVICES**** --- [Boarding](https://7746606.hs-sites.com/pet-boarding-services) [Pet Maintenance](https://7746606.hs-sites.com/veterinary-health-maintenance-services) [Surgery](https://7746606.hs-sites.com/veterinary-surgery)  ****Shop**** --- [Dog](https://sodovet.vetsfirstchoice.com/Dog/c/300) [Cat](https://sodovet.vetsfirstchoice.com/Cat/c/100) [Food](https://sodovet.vetsfirstchoice.com/Pet-Food/c/400) [Deals](https://sodovet.vetsfirstchoice.com/Deals/Best-Sellers/c/901?q=%3Abest-seller%3AspecialOffers%3AAutoShip%3AspecialOffers%3ASale%3AspecialOffers%3ARebate)   ****About**** --- [Blog](https://sodovet.com/blog) [Our Story](https://7746606.hs-sites.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://7746606.hs-sites.com/sodo-veterinary-hospital-contact-us) ### OPEN HOURS  Monday :  7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday : 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday : 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday : 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Friday : 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday : 8:00 AM - Noon CLOSED  SUNDAY   © 2026 SODO Veterinary Hospital | All Rights Reserved | [Privacy Policy](https://7746606.hs-sites.com/sodo-veterinary-hospital-privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "SODO Vet", "url" : "https://sodovet.com/blog/author/sodo-vet" }, "dateModified" : "2023-08-17T16:29:51.750Z", "datePublished" : "2023-08-17T16:29:51.000Z", "headline" : "Pet Shop - SODO Veterinary Hospital", "image" : [ "https://sodovet.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pet-shop.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://sodovet.com/blog/pet-shop", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://sodovet.com/hubfs/SODO-Veterinary-Hospital-Logo-1.png" }, "name" : "SODO Veterinary Hospital" } } ```