Unveiling the Tricks in the Pet Dog Market
Pet dogs have become a fashionable lifestyle for many families. However, it is difficult to purchase a satisfactory pet dog, and even more challenging to raise one. A trap may be waiting just around the corner if you're not careful. How many tricks are hidden in the pet dog market? After a pet dog falls ill, how can one identify genuine from fake clinics to protect their beloved "treasure"?
Three Attempts at Raising Dogs: Either Sick or Dead
“I’ve bought three dogs, all of which either died or fell sick. I don’t dare buy another dog anymore!” Ms. Hu from Hanyang complained during a friend gathering the other day.
Last December, Ms. Hu saw a "Pomeranian" at a pet store on Wusheng Road in Hankou. It was covered with fluffy fur, lively and seemed very clever. She spent 80 yuan to bring the puppy home. Unexpectedly, the next day, the puppy started having diarrhea. Ms. Hu quickly took the puppy to a pet clinic for treatment, but the puppy eventually passed away.
Having no experience in raising dogs, Ms. Hu thought she might have been doing something wrong. So, she went back to the same store and spent 150 yuan to buy a "Chihuahua," asking the owner about the necessary precautions for raising puppies. However, that night, the "Chihuahua" exhibited the same symptoms as the "Pomeranian," convulsing all over its body. It too passed away within a couple of days.
When Ms. Hu consulted a veterinarian, the vet told her that the symptoms displayed by both dogs indicated they had "canine distemper," a "terminal illness" for dogs that could spread among them. If one dog in a kennel contracted this disease, none of the others would survive. Hearing this, Ms. Hu became extremely angry: “The shopkeeper must have known the puppy was sick and deliberately concealed it.”
Despite being deceived twice, Ms. Hu's love for dogs remained unchanged. Earlier this year, she bought a cute little "Pekingese" for 130 yuan from a store in Wuhan Port’s flower and bird market. Only after bringing it home did she notice the puppy was coughing intermittently. She immediately rushed it to the pet hospital. The doctor said the puppy had "kennel cough." Ms. Hu spent over 1000 yuan on treatment, though the puppy recovered, it left some lingering effects. Now, whenever the weather changes, the little "Pekingese" coughs incessantly, making Ms. Hu feel both heartbroken and furious.
The Dignity of the "Dachshund" Vanishes Completely
In April this year, Mr. Li from Hankou spotted a small "Dachshund" at the Huangpu Road Flower and Bird Market. Dachshunds are a type of small hunting dog with a long, compact body, short legs, strong muscles, robust health, abundant energy, and an air of proud intelligence.
At the time, the store owner confidently claimed that this puppy had pure bloodlines and was absolutely of superior breed. Impressed by the owner’s introduction, Mr. Li handed over 300 yuan and brought the puppy home.
However, as time passed, the puppy began to change drastically, and it soon lost all traces of the "Dachshund" elegance. Mr. Li found this strange and consulted a friend who had previously raised "Dachshunds." After carefully examining Mr. Li’s "Dachshund," his friend assured him that the dog he had bought was actually a "mutt" (a term used for mixed-breed puppies).
Frustrated, Mr. Li gave the puppy to someone else. “Every time I see it, I’m reminded of my own deception, which makes me so annoyed!” Mr. Li stated that if he ever decides to buy a dog again, he will make sure to bring along someone knowledgeable to help choose it, “Otherwise, I’d get deceived without even knowing it!”
When the Puppy Gets Sick, the Owner Gets Exploited
Buying a dog involves numerous mysteries, but even more troublesome things happen afterward. Not long ago, Ms. Lu from Hankou noticed her "Shar Pei" catching a cold. She took the "Shar Pei" to a nearby pet clinic for treatment.
The veterinarian administered a potassium penicillin injection combined with analgesics. The cost of this medication, which should have been less than one yuan, amounted to 15 yuan. Later, when the young "Shar Pei" played with other dogs and got bitten, Ms. Lu took it to the same clinic for wound cleaning and stitching. When the veterinarian took out the needle and thread, Ms. Lu panicked upon seeing it: “This isn’t thread for stitching wounds—it’s regular blue sewing thread for clothes!” Ms. Lu requested the veterinarian use absorbable gut sutures, but the clinic claimed they didn't have any.
With no other options, Ms. Lu reluctantly agreed. “What happened next was even more absurd—he stitched the puppy without administering anesthesia, claiming they were out of it. Watching the puppy suffer was unbearable for me!” Finally, alcohol costing three yuan, sewing thread priced at 0.2 yuan, and a reused needle completed the procedure, for which the clinic charged Ms. Lu 100 yuan. Two weeks later, Ms. Lu returned to the same clinic and spent another 20 yuan removing the blue thread.
Many Markets, Chaotic Prices
Over several days, the reporter conducted investigations into the pet markets in Wuchang and Hankou. Most of these pet markets coexist with flower and bird markets, with pet stores scattered throughout them rather than forming a scale. At a Hankou pet store, the reporter spotted a "mixed-breed" Pekingese.
The owner immediately offered a "friendly price": 160 yuan.
“Is this price really high?” After saying this, the reporter turned to leave.
“Don’t rush off! If you really want to buy, we can negotiate the price.” The owner hurriedly pulled the reporter back.
“Then what’s your lowest price?”
“…Alright, since it’s my first sale today, if you really want it, 120 yuan will do—good luck to you.” The owner finished speaking with a look of loss on his face.
“120 yuan? Let me look around a bit more.” The reporter said.
“You don’t seem serious about buying—you lack sincerity.” The owner started using psychological tactics. “If I weren’t interested in buying, why would I bother negotiating prices with you?” The reporter countered. Eventually, after much haggling, the deal was struck at 80 yuan.
At several other pet stores, the reporter also encountered cases of inflated prices. In many pet stores, the reporter noticed a pervasive unpleasant smell. Regarding this, the owners explained that it was normal—pets naturally emit odors.
Could this affect hygiene conditions and lead to bacterial growth? The owners unanimously claimed that the store had been disinfected, so there wouldn’t be any bacteria. When asked about the origin of the pets, almost every pet store owner claimed to have breeding facilities or that their homes were kennels, and the pets were all bred through in-house breeding programs, with absolute reliability in breeds. When the reporter expressed interest in seeing the mother dog, multiple owners came up with various excuses like the distance being too far.
Insiders Reveal the Black Curtain
Mr. Chen (a pseudonym) is a boss within the circle in Wuchang. After repeated persuasion, he finally revealed some insider secrets.
Breeding Bases Are Unreliable
Mr. Chen told the reporter that the current pet market is not standardized and has many problems. Take the source of dogs, for example—almost every pet store claims to have breeding bases. This makes buyers think they are reliable, and the dogs’ breeds are relatively pure. However, in reality, there aren’t that many breeding bases. Many dogs come from household breeding, or from dog farms where poorly grown dogs are sold in bulk to dog dealers, or some are even bought from other places and resold.
Mixed Breeds Are Common
Reporter: I often hear people talk about "mutts." What does this mean?
Mr. Chen: "Mutts" is jargon for mixed-breed dogs. There are two reasons for this phenomenon: curiosity and profit-driven motives. Some dog dealers find crossbreeding interesting, similar to hybrid rice. They think they might accidentally create a rare breed, which ends up killing many dogs.
I personally witnessed a dog dealer trying to mate a small female dog with a large male dog. The female dog died due to complications during childbirth. Profit-driven motives are easy to understand. By mating dogs that resemble each other, the resulting puppies will likely look like one of the parents. Then, the dealer falsely claims they are purebred dogs, selling them at high prices. However, due to genetic mutations, the survival rate of mixed-breed puppies is low, and their lifespans are short.
Dog Makeovers Can Be Shocking
Reporter: I once received a complaint that a "Pomeranian" purchased changed its fur color significantly after some time. What could be the reason?
Mr. Chen: It's possible that the dog dealer dyed the puppy's fur.
In fact, dyeing and grooming puppies is quite common, mainly to sell them at higher prices. For instance, "Pomeranians" usually have darker fur as puppies, but most people don't know this—they believe "Pomeranians" should have red fur, the redder the better. Therefore, many dealers dye the "Pomeranian's" fur bright red to attract customers.
Additionally, purebred poodle dogs have curly fur, while mixed-breed poodles may not. In such cases, dealers use hair curlers to curl the dog's fur, passing them off as purebred poodles. Similarly, some dealers dye white dogs black spots to make them look like dalmatians. Within a week, the spots fade, leaving customers disappointed.
Dealers Misreport Dog Ages
Mr. Chen told the reporter that some dealers misrepresent the age of the puppies, selling 40-day-old puppies as two-month-olds. Buyers with no experience find it hard to keep these puppies alive. After the dogs die, the buyers go back to purchase more, reducing the dealer's breeding costs and increasing profits.
Regarding pricing issues, Mr. Chen also warned: "Generally, dealers arbitrarily set prices, especially for common breeds. They size up the buyer and set the price accordingly. If you look wealthy, they’ll charge exorbitant prices, trying to exploit you as much as possible. Prices can vary widely between cities, but only by a few hundred yuan."
Various Schemes Involved in Treating Dogs
An anonymous pet clinic owner stated that the skill levels of pet doctors vary greatly. Many veterinarians lack proper qualifications, and some have no related educational background at all. These "veterinarians" are essentially "reckless with dog lives."
Moreover, most pet doctors exaggerate the severity of a pet's condition. The sicker the pet, the longer the treatment required, and the more expensive the medication becomes. "The more famous the breed, the harsher the exploitation. Ordinary dogs are often neglected unless the owner insists on treatment, in which case the doctor will cite high costs to persuade the owner to opt for euthanasia."
Also, veterinary drug prices are not uniformly regulated, allowing hospitals to profit significantly. One could say that the money spent on treating a dog is no less "impressive" than the money spent on human medical care.
"Weekend Dogs" Often Injected with Serum
Reporter: I often hear about "weekend dogs." These dogs are lively when purchased but fall ill and die within days. Why is this happening?
Mr. Chen: "Weekend dogs" are typically dogs that have been injected with serum.
If a dealer acquires puppies with congenital diseases, they inject them with hormone-based stimulants. The puppies appear lively for a few days, but once the medication wears off, their untreated conditions worsen, leading to death within a few days.
Some dogs transported from other regions easily develop diseases like canine distemper due to environmental stress. To minimize losses, dealers inject the puppies with serum or immunoglobulin to suppress sudden outbreaks, keeping them alive for a few more days.
How to Avoid Buying a Sick Dog?
Professor Ding said that when buying a puppy, one must observe carefully. A healthy puppy has a dry nose and good spirits. If a puppy shows signs of runny nose, sneezing, unclean anus (indicating diarrhea), or rashes under the abdomen, it indicates problems. Buyers can also bring food like a sausage to test the puppy's appetite; healthy dogs generally have good appetites.
To identify whether it is a "weekend dog," patience is essential. Look for injection marks on the puppy's neck and legs. Since puppies have long back fur, part the fur carefully to check. Additionally, if the puppy develops diarrhea or convulsions after purchase, seek medical attention promptly. Avoid quickly returning to the same store to buy another dog, as canine diseases can spread, such as "canine distemper," a highly contagious acute viral disease currently without specific treatment.
Identifying Traps: Expert Advice
With many tricks in the pet market, how can pet enthusiasts select pets and avoid traps?
Professor Ding from Huazhong Agricultural University introduced:
Before buying a dog, carefully observe purebred dogs around you, memorizing details like color, shape, and weight. If possible, see the appearance of the puppy and consult relevant books, which often include photos of puppies.
Understanding these related knowledge points makes you appear knowledgeable, deterring dog dealers from deceiving you. Ideally, ask someone experienced to accompany you for selection. Some dogs have mixed colors due to impure breeds, and dealers handle this by dyeing the fur.
Buyers should note that dyed dogs may have paint residue on their skin or undyed roots near the skin. Part the fur to check or use a white damp tissue to see if there’s any color transfer.
Regulating the Pet Market: Urgent Need
As people's spiritual and cultural lives enrich, the pet market is burgeoning.
However, with the market's expansion, various issues arise. Data from the Wuhan Consumer Association shows that last year, the association received only nine complaints related to pets, but in the first half of this year, such complaints have reached 27, mostly concerning high drug prices at pet hospitals or poor treatment quality.
So, how to regulate the pet market? During the investigation, it was discovered that pet market regulation still has gaps. Regarding the widespread issue of inflated pet prices, the price department stated that pet prices are now fully open and follow market trends, leaving them powerless. Concerning the concentrated complaints about pet medical treatment, relevant personnel from the Wuhan Animal Epidemic Prevention and Quarantine Station mentioned that currently, only over 100 registered and licensed regular pet clinics exist in the city, making the management of numerous "black clinics" extremely difficult. Simultaneously, the industrial and commercial departments also find pet market management challenging.
"In the functional departments, there are too few officially registered regular pet shops, with most operating without licenses and many being mobile vendors, creating difficulties in supervision," an industrial and commercial person said. Experts believe that to standardize the pet market, relevant supporting laws and regulations need to be improved, a unified management department established, and responsibilities clarified to ensure the pet industry is managed systematically. It is reported that with support from multiple departments, Wuhan is currently establishing the Wuhan Pet Association.
This association will consist of numerous professionals and enthusiastic pet lovers, providing consultation and assistance to consumers. Furthermore, Professor Ding Mingxing believes that besides improving relevant supporting laws and regulations, adopting an industrialized path should be a trend. Once legitimate pet sellers adopt industrialization, they will inevitably reduce costs, gain advantages in pet quality, and establish their brands. With these advantages, those relying on cheap artificially beautified dogs will lose their market.