We had an adult dog get parvo. She survived. She was immunized. It happens. Two times in two years is not excessive to me. The flea market animals are a different story. Showing horses meant you had to be prepared to show proof of certain immunizations and a lack of specific diseases. It didnt prevent the spread of everything but it was at least a start. Why don’t we regulate the sales at the flea markets and require that the animals have vet checks.

We have a Golden Retriever we got through a local rescue (LA). He’s wonderful, he was with a foster mother who knew his behavior and his needs. At this point, I prefer this method of acquiring another dog.

Because of strays, I ended up giving kittens to pet stores that would sell them. I had them vet checked and initial innoculations administered. They were well-socialized which was apparent to any handler. Not all pet stores get their animals from puppy mills. AND Not all check them out thoroughly.

I think it is important to see how the animals are in their surroundings. Never buy an animal you are not sure about. But there are true reputable breeders in the area, who do this for the love of the breed, and not just for profit. But there are also some who make $40,000 a year at it, so I am told. I am not one of those, and do not want to be. Only you can decide whether you want a purebred (AKC) dog, or will be happy with a mix. Price, does not guarantee quality. A reputable breeder wants to make sure that the dog is a good match for the family also, which is why it is important to know where that dog comes from. A reputable breeder will answer any and all questions for you, or admit if they don’t know something. They know their animals, which you may not get from a third party.

There are alot of good points on this thread. I would like to make the point that not all breeders are terrible people, or “backyard” breeders or puppy mills. A reputable breeder WILL NOT sell to a pet store, puppy mill or wholesaler. Reputable breeders take pride in their animals and keep them clean, well fed and vet checked. I do occasionally breed my dogs, which are AKC, not CKC (good point on that one), and are always VET checked with a health record before leaving my home. They are also well socialized with my children and my other dogs. I have NEVER had any complaints on my dogs, and quite often, get people wanting another addition to their family and referrals from them as well as my vet’s office. I do not give my own shots, because of the fact they may not be good. I will pay the expense of the vet. I also would NEVER take my dog to the flea market or set up on the side of the road, because I want people to see the conditions the puppy is coming from. continued....

No matter where you adopt your puppy or adult dog from their are viruses and illness in which you cannot control. Just as you put your child in a day care and they come home with the flu or a virus you dont blame the day care. I feel the lady wasnt out any damages or a loss she should feel privileged to have been their for the puppy. We all lose sight as our roles in life and but blame where it should not be. Several years ago I found a dog wandering around an interstate hwy, when I got her to come to be I found she had been abused. We took her to our vet and discovered she had cancer thruoght her. He told us she wouldnt live long. With love and care she lived another 6 months,I feel blessed to have found her on that highway that day. Remember you are not the victim the animals are. S for all you who abuse, dont vaccinate and let your animals run freely without care this should be your wake up call not a replicable pet store owner who puts his heart in the animals who enters his li

Yes, the selling of animals at the flea market should be investigated and banned; and, if animals are being adopted from shelters that have parvo (or any other communicable or life threatening condition) they should be shut down until the “rules” are changed to require a health certificate prior to adoption.  I am not “picking on” Bark Avenue, they just happened to be the focus of this story.  The claim by srenoch1 that their suppliers “babies are personal pets” is ludicrous!  Why would you sell a personal pet?  The suppliers are in it for the money and the animals are commodities.

It does cost more to adopt from a rescue group than from the shelter, but the animals from rescue groups are vet checked, immunized, and alter prior to adoption.

I work for a local Vet and we are seeing a large number of puppies with parvo daily. Bark Avenue isn’t the only one with puppies exposed to the parvo virus. Most of the puppies bought at the flea market are exposed to parvo and are loaded with hookworms which are very dangerous to puppies. We also see lots of puppies adopted from the Mobile City Shelter with parvo. The virus is being spread to lots of dogs and pups at the shelter. Parvo can also attack adult dogs if they are not vaccinated. We had a 2 yr old dog to die this week with parvo. Also, reputable breeders do not sell to pet stores or at flea markets. These people are called backyard breeders. If the puppy is registared CKC that should be your first clue. Please do a report on parvo at the flea market and the Mobile City Shelter. Thanks for caring

My heart goes out to anyone that loses a pet in this matter.  What must be remembered however is Parvo is not a disease that is unique to unreputable breeders.  It can strike any time any where.  Yes it is true that is is more prevalent in puppy mill type situations, but when I was a child we got a mixed breed puppy that was born just down the road from us; she was the only one of a litter of 8 to survive parvo.  No matter where your dog comes from it needs protection from this terrible disease.

Why, Why would you rather buy puppies that have been inbred, removed from the mother before time, not protected with required shots, For $800.00
Why, would not go to the pound and get a healthy friend that need’s and will give you every ounce of love he/she has, no matter how you treat them.  And I Sincerely hope and pray that they deserve you.

It is a great disservice to this community where lies and misconceptions have been perpetuated about the truth of disease and diet for our four legged family members. Parvo is a harsh virus that can affect any puppy anywhere.  Parvo can live in soil for up to 3 yrs. this is why BAP’s goes to such great lengths to protect all the lil’ babies in our care! This would also include the warranty we stand behind to protect our customers. BAP’s has not seen a case of Parvo in over a yr. in a community where puppies are being sold at the Mobile Flea Market with Parvo among other communicable diseases EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR, but you never see a story on that!  We encourage ANYONE who is concerned about our program to feel free to stop by and see the extent we go through to make sure that we dont compromise anything in the care of our babies.

It is very true that a majority of the pet stores selling puppies to the public purchase thier puppies through brokers from very large breeders in the midwest and Texas and do not have any direct contact with the breeders themselves, haveing to rely on the reputation and word of the broker.
Bark Avenue Pets has been in business for 3 years and I have been in the pet industry for 7 years where I managed a large well known franchise who did advocate the purchase of puppies fom the nations largest brokerage of puppies and kittens. Through this experience I realized the incredible drawback of not having an intimate relationship with my network of breeders.  Bark Avenue Pets has developed a family type relationship with our core network of breeders whom are small and care a great deal about what they do.  All of thier babies are thier personal pets and they are treated as such.  The rest of the babies that come to Bark Avenue Pets are from some of our customers.