AKC registration, however, does not guarantee proper breeding conditions, health, quality, or claims to lineage. The AKC derives a significant percentage of its revenue from the registration of puppy mill litters. It registers thousands of puppy mill puppies each year without questioning the horrendous conditions in which these puppies are raised. Pet shops frequently sell sick puppies. A number of genetic defects do not emerge for months or even years.
New owners can incur large veterinary bills.
Pet shop warranties, though, usually preclude reimbursement for veterinary expenses. The standard recourse for customers who have purchased a sick puppy is to return the puppy for credit towards another dog. Yet, most customers become emotionally attached to their puppies and will not return them. Gail and Max Sampson of Ft. Gail had to make the heart- wrenching decision to ask her veterinarian to put down her beloved dog.