The true price of pet shop puppies ...

Do you know that song "how much is that doggy in the window?" My grandpa used to sing it to me. But I could never have imagined the real cost of pet shop window puppies ... the hidden suffering that goes on behind closed doors.

A new investigation has revealed the secret ties between one of Australia's biggest puppy factories based in Victoria, and a number of popular pet stores. If you love dogs, this will shock you:

This is the true cost of many pet shop puppies — a life of misery for the dogs left behind. Not just in Victoria either... Puppy factories are still legal across Australia, and the RSPCA estimates that most dogs sold in pet shops come from puppy factories.

I'm not surprised that some of the pet shops in this investigation were caught misleading customers when they were asked where their dogs came from. Who would want to own up to supporting a puppy factory?

The dogs who are used for breeding in these places will never get to chase a ball, run along the beach or get a belly rub. They will never feel the love of a family. Most of them are forced to have puppies over and over again until they can't any longer. Then they're killed.

As someone who has always had dogs in my family, this breaks my heart. It's sadly ironic, don't you think, that the animals in these places have been bred to be "man's best friend" but they are deprived of any human love :(

But there's some good news! It's easy to make sure that you never ever ever ever EVER support puppy factories. Simply make the choice to always adopt your furry family members from an animal shelter.

Animal shelters are overflowing with dogs and cats who desperately need loving homes. Be a lifesaver and make the pledge to always adopt today.

You might even give an animal the love of a family that they've never known! Unleashed's very own Nellie was adopted from a shelter and she had spent the first five years of her life as a breeding dog in a puppy factory. But I'll let her tell you the story herself ;)

Have you ever adopted an animal from a shelter? I'd love to hear your story in the comments.

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