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Abby's Let's Pet Puppies
Rating Details »
Category: Pet Stores [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lakeview3404 N Ashland Ave
(at Roscoe St)
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-2050
- Nearest Transit:
-
Paulina (Brown)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
74 reviews for Abby's Let's Pet Puppies
They use to have paper covering the windows, which I was just like, whoa, shady. You can't even peek in to see the condition of the place. But now the windows are open with the dogs in cages stacked on top of each other... Holy Unsafe Batman! They could broil in the heat and then their grilled tushies and paws could get stuck in other crates right next to them!
Seriously people?! Are you foolish enough to go to a pet store to get your puppy? (Have you ever heard of puppy mills? Take my word on it, you're contributing to the euthanasia to other dogs by not rescuing them or supporting businesses around the world where dogs and cats are treated like livestock at best.)
What about the over 19,000 pets that had to be euthanized last year in Chicago alone because of consumers and stores like you?!
Go to http://petfinder.com and you can search specifically for the breed you want, and gender, and age if you're selfish enough that it absolutely has to be a puppy, and I'll bet you money you can find what you're looking for at a rescue within a 50 mile range. Seriously, $50.
Saving a life, or costing a life, the choice is yours.
After losing my collie after 15 years, I missed having a pet so much. I decided on a pomeranian and couldn't find one anywhere in my home state of MN. Little poms here weren't due for months and when one I was supposed to get fell through I searched out of state and found Let's Pet Puppies. They had a little girl ready to go and I flew in the next day to get her (they held her for me). They told me she would be a larger pom and I said that was fine. I took Nikki to 2 puppy class series, she became very socialized and she is the friendliest, happiest, dance-happy little dog. Very friendly, intelligent, warm and loving pet, who wants to go everywhere with me. Meets and greets people of all ages well and well I couldn't ask for a better pet. I flew in from MPLS for the day, took the train to get her and a cab back and it was worth every penny.
Thank you for Nikki..it's been 2 years, and she's a beloved pet, Let's Pet. Thank you, Thank, you. Sincerely, Colleen Hitchcock
I have to update my review because I just lost my beloved 2 yo Boxer yesterday to a terrible congenital heart condition. This place is dispicable for breeding these horribly ill dogs. Despite thousands of dollars in the latest medical treatments (his heart was not his only problem) my dog lost his life to congestive heart failure and I can't imagine how many more of his littermates are suffered or have already passed.
This is a terrible disease to pass along to generation after generation of these wonderful dogs and this review is only the first of my many efforts in getting this hell-hole shut down.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/5/2007
It's been almost one year since I visited this horrid place and since my dog has survived his first… Read more »
I vowed I would never do business with this place. I warned people against it. People I love. But they didn't listen, and now I was left to pick up the pieces.
A family member made the mistake of taking a child in here to look at puppies to determine which breed of dog the child wanted as a pet. Needless to say, you can't take a child window shopping for puppies. She wanted a black lab so we told the little girl we had to do some homework before we could take the puppy home. Meanwhile we called a few breeders and located some gorgeous black labs for about the same price as the puppy mill puppies here. However, the breeder puppy wouldn't be ready for a few more weeks. Tell that to a kid and see what happens.
So out of sheer desperation, a puppy, Zora was purchased here against my very cautionary warning and advice. I personally went over the dog's history and the care taking/health history of the dog with these people. They lied to my face, on paper and every which way possible. How do I know this? Because three weeks later, the dog became disoriented and incontinent and began walking sideways. Zora had a serious infection and died from kidney and liver failure less then a month after she was rescued from these shills. Have your dog checked by a vet prior to purchasing and I bet you no puppy leaves this store again.
The emergency vet visit when the signs first surfaced was $400.00 The euthanasia a few days later, does it matter? Try telling a kid that the dog they insisted on "because she loved" her needs to be put to sleep a few weeks after you bring it home. Its not fun.
I can't even begin to name all the things that are wrong with this place. First of all, they list themselves as being the "best boxer breeder in Chicago" all over the internet. We went in there looking for a puppy and we got to meet the stud... Oh lord. I've never seen such an ill-behaved brute in my life. I would NEVER buy from a place that can't even take the time to train their #1 stud. If they won't take the time for him, what about the hundreds of puppies that are in there?!?! This is the perfect example of a puppy mill trying to pass itself off as a reputable place of business.
Another HUGE problem that I have with this place is their complete and utter disregard for the well-being of the animals. I have a friend who actually purchased a puppy from there (without my knowledge) and when I found out she mentioned that they made no effort to find out if she gave a damn for the animal, but rather they just wanted to make sure that she wouldn't return it. Really?? They'd rather have their puppies that they spend SO much time and care breeding and caring for go to a home that doesn't want them and can't take care of them rather than return it?!?! That's entirely irresponsible if I've ever heard of it.
The last part has to deal with their customer service. I was in there helping a friend try to figure out what kind of dog she wanted so that she could track down a REPUTABLE breeder and we overheard an entire conversation that they had with an unhappy customer. They had purchased a puppy there a few months earlier and when the antibiotics they pump in them finally wore off, the puppy was constantly at the vet for one ailment after another. Any animal lover would be concerned about what caused the issues, what they could do to help the puppy, and how they could make sure it never happened again. Instead, they just told the people that they didn't want to see the vet bills, all they cared about was if they were going to 1) want to return the sick puppy, 2) want to get another puppy instead and/or 3) file a claim with the dept of ag against them. THEY ONLY ASKED THOSE 3 QUESTIONS!!
Don't EVER purchase an animal from here. Any animal lover should be appalled at the fact that this place continues to operate and should be furious that they continue to pass themselves off as a reputable breeder on the internet. Shame, shame, shame.
Horrifying! Absolutely the most inhumane place I've ever stepped into.
The puppies (so obviously from puppy mills) sit in filth, stacked in wire cages, sometimes 5 to 6 puppies per cage! Most of them are still too young to have been taken from their mother, yet here they sit, waiting to be rescued.
I walked out, absolutely heartbroken by what I saw here.
Please call 311 and report this place!
The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars instead of one is because of the fantastical $50 puppy I got here (about 15 years ago). She did have some freakish attitude problems and it probably had to do with the bad experiences she had here as a puppy.
Otherwise, I give this place 1 star. It is so horrifying to walk in that place and see how these dogs live. I just want to scoop all of them up in my arms and take them home. I wish the best of luck for all the little pups in there.
If you want to get a dog- go to the shelters first.
If I could give this place negative stars, I would.....
My daughter and I scoured the shelters in the area last winter in the hopes of "rescuing" a dog.....
I was still undecided and getting worn down by my daughter's persistence when she dragged me (literally) into this place.....oh, i had heard the rumors around the 'hood about this god-awful place...but to take it all in, in-person....let me tell ya.....I will never be the same....
to say it smelled....would be the understatement of the century.....
the two women who run this place were very "rough" with the puppies...almost like a day-care teacher is who is burnt out from years of exposure to bratty, screaming kids.....(you moms out there who have experienced this sort of display should know what I'm talking about...)
as my daughter walked from cage to cage and I stood in the middle of the front room, taking it all in, barely able to keep my tears to myself....i spotted a very tiny, very quiet, very sad jack russell puppy..sitting in a cage all by herself towards the back of the store.....i couldn't help myself....i had to take her out of there and at least give her a few moments of affection...a few moments of respite from her disgusting surroundings.....
it was almost like she immediately "clung" to me.......i could feel her heart settle down as she pressed her shaking little body against my chest.....her muscles relaxed as she let her head drop down to find my shoulder.....
trust me.....as i'm standing there...i am trying to rationalize the situation....
a. I am TOTALLY opposed to pet shops of any sort
b. I know there are thousands of dogs in local shelters who need a home
c. paying hundreds of dollars for a dog isn't in my realm of reality
then it happens......one of the "ladies" walks past me....and this little pup who was just SO relaxed in arms.....immediately tightens up....starts shaking again.....looks up at me and whimpers.....almost as if she was saying "please, please, please...don't leave me here..."
please keep in mind, i am not a "dog nut"...i never had a dog as a pet growing up....in fact, i have always considered myself a cat person.....but there was no freakin way I was about to put her back....and so....I didn't.....
with tears in my eyes.....i handed over a credit card.......and the rest is history...
i have been blessed with a wonderful little dog....who I would jump in front of a bus for.....who (knock on wood) has had no health problems or behavioral glitches.......but I will NEVER set foot back in that place ever again.....and the only reason I would recommend anyone going there....is to rescue another animal from the hell that is "Abby's"......
DO NOT BUY FROM A DOG FROM A PET SHOP. It's not like buying a pair of shoes. You will have a dog for 15 years, so do your research!
They win the award for: UGLIEST, MOST INCORRECT, WORST BRED BOXERS I'VE EVER SEEN.
What a nasty, vile place. A "puppy mill" is a commercial breeder who breeds on a LARGE SCALE for $$$, with no regard for quality of dogs, ethics, or healthy conditions, that fits Let's Pet perfectly. But IDIOTS keep them in business. No matter how genetically screwed up and unhealthy their dogs are, fools still give them money. Genetics= temperament and personality. So when you get a dog that is attacking people and has screws loose in the head, don't say I didn't tell ya so. A puppy store doesn't care if the mother and father dog were horrible, as long as they can make money off pups.
You walk up to home-made signs, puppy prices scrawled onto sheets of paper in marker. Some breeds are "on sale." The inside is what it is, it's a puppy store. They have many puppies for sale, I saw lots of them, in cages throughout the store, more than I thought, they are on grates mostly, and they did have food. All sorts of breeds, including mixed breeds, Chihuahuas, Heelers, Boxers, Westies, and Border Collies, they were all OVERPRICED. The owner did not say much to me and did not appear friendly. When she did talk, her raspy words were just salesmanship. Please don't buy a puppy from a pet store. You are buying a potential money pit, a genetically inferior dog that may have all types of health issues. Their dogs are not going to be healthy or look right. I checked out he BOXERS there, they really were bad, sure pups are cute but they are not good-looking Boxers, they have bad conformation, incorrect faces, some had legs that looked crooked, and they do not have necessary health clearances like hip x-rays on parents or any eye or heart testing. Did you know Boxers are prone to cardiomyopathy? In fact, they have NO health checks, but they do come with a WWKC puppy mill registry "papers", that are worth about as much as a sheet of newspaper, might as well use the "papers" to wipe your ass. I really can't say enough about it, just don't buy from a pet shop. Keep in mind a dog is something you will have for 15 years!!! Sometimes dogs live even longer than 15 years. Don't buy it like it's a pair of shoes, do some research.
When you buy from a pet shop, you are NOT RESCUING or SAVING the puppy, you are simply making room for a new one to take its place, and giving money to a business that has no ethics. I did not like this place, it can be sad to see all the pups in cages just so they can make a buck, and I don't see any reason to come here. If you already bought a pup here, love your puppy, but learn a lesson, and don't support this type of business again.
It really gets my goat that people are posting giving good reviews because you bought a puppy from here. I don't care if it's the best puppy in the world, you should be ashamed of yourself for supporting this type of unethical business!
IN OUR CITY, CHICAGO ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL HAS ENOUGH DOGS TO EUTHANIZE EVERY DAY, thousands per year, there is an overpopulation and some of those dogs were probably from pet shops originally. WE DON'T NEED A PLACE LIKE "LET'S PET" IN OUR CITY.
I am embarassed to say I actually went in here with a friend who needed a playmate for her rambunctious dog.
Yup. Me the proud owner of a rescued rottweiller pup, trained by my dad, who is a cop.
Fortunately, the sullen, grossly obese woman behind the counter was so completely unpleasant "You can't touch the puppies!" and profoundly unhelpful (wouldn't directly answer questions regarding shots, ANYTHING except price) that this negative review was well-earned!
We walked out, so should you!
P.S. http://www.yelp.com/to...
or here: http://www.yelp.com/to...
here too: http://www.yelp.com/to...
and finally: http://www.yelp.com/to...
Go ahead illiterate owner. Try and send me negative messages. Please. I'm Italian. That's your first and final warning.
Don't go here. My roommate bought his puppy here. Almost immediately the puppy got violently ill (vomiting blood and such) and almost died. $700 of medical bills later and the puppy survived... but beware of this place.
If you really do want a designer dog go to a breeder - not here. Or, even better, adopt a homeless dog at one of the many Chicago shelters!
EDIT: The owner also responded to me with a wonderful note...also by a person with one review - giving 5 stars to Abbys.
The note:
Ever think the dog got into something? Idiot probably wasn't watching it. "I don't believe in cages" Just shows how stupid you people are. Makes me LMAO.
If you're going to write a plethora of fake reviews for your own business ... You should probably leave out the same three dots between every sentence (that are also used as punctuation on your website) ... and at least change your writing style because ... it's very obvious that these are all fake reviews ... If you spent half the time improving your business instead of creating fake Yelp profiles ... You might actually get decent reviews on here ... and not have to resort to such pathetic measures to try and get people to come into your store ...
*Ahem*
...That said, I wasn't going to post a review of this place until I saw all the pathetic fake reviews, but a while back I poked in to this place out of curiosity and had the distinct urge to go all Animal Liberation Front and start freeing those poor, sad looking puppies from their cages.
Avoid this place at all costs.
I have a ranch. I have horses, cows, and chickens. It's a big ranch, but I have a barn.
My barn doesn't smell this bad. One review states "animals piss and shit". Yeah, so do I. So does every creature on this planet. That doesn't mean you have to live in it!
Buy your animals from a certified breeder. There you will see how a loving pet owner, successful business owner, and friendly individual keeps a smell free, safe and welcoming business.
Real reviews run the gambit of stars. It's obvious the owners and friends of the owners put up the five stars to balance out the one stars.
This place is a puppy mill, and should be closed.
*Mature individuals don't PM threats and use vulgar language, but I'll post, soon-to-come threating emails for all to see.
Though I didn't get a puppy, I have to say, this place had a bad feel to it. Why would anyone pay $500 for a dog when there are so many in shelters? I think the most plausible explanation is to get them away from this pet store.
The puppies did not look happy. The cages without beds or anything non-metal to lay on looked fairly uncomfortable, but I was most disturbed by the water situation (rabbit feeders hanging from the sides of the cages) and the "toys" (empty Gatorade bottles that had not even been washed out).
Also, some of the puppies were clearly misrepresented as purebreds. I held a "Beagle" that was definitely at least 25% Basset Hound if not more (Beagle ears aren't as long as this puppy's were). I think that explains why this puppy was $198 and all of the others were around $500, but that seems kind of dishonest to me.
Maybe I got lucky but I didn't have the same experience at Let's Pet as everyone else.
My boyfriend and I bought a pug there in November and there was nothing out of the ordinary there. It smelled like any other pet store does - I mean there are puppies going to the bathroom - it makes sense this place doesn't smell like roses. We didn't notice more than 3 dogs to a cage (our pug was the only dog in his cage and for the most part there were 2 dogs to a cage). There was also a makeshift cage for some jack russels who had grown too big for their cages.
We saw the emplyees cleaning up after the dogs and attending to the customer. They were very helpful and friendly.
The only bad thing I could say was that our pug had "dirty ears" (as our vet told us later) which was a result of the employees not drying their ears after washing them properly.
We were referred to this store by another pug owner so maybe we got lucky but we would try this store again
As a rule, I avoid pet stores - with all of the animals being put to sleep every day, they just make me sad. That being said, I went in here once a few years ago with a friend who had just moved into the neighborhood. She needed dog food, so we came over here to see if they carried her brand.
We left in tears and without making a purchase - the animals were kept in filthy, horrible conditions and did not seem to be well cared for at all. My family bred AKC registered dogs when I was a kid (it was the 70's, we only adopt from shelters now), so I'm pretty familiar with what a healthy puppy ought to look/act like and these were not healthy animals. The staff didn't seem to care when we pointed out the condition of the cages & animals. I reported them to several agencies, but to no avail apparently. I can't even drive by this place without getting upset thinking about the conditions of the dogs in this place .
Frankly, I can't believe they are still in business. If you want a healthy pet, avoid this place like the herpes.
****EDIT*** As other reviewers have noted, not only are there a suspicious number of 5 star reviews from people who have reviewed nothing else (gee, could the owner be stacking the deck with fake reviews?), if you put up a negative review of this store, you will more than likely get a nasty PM as I did telling me off for my negative review. Way to promote your "business" Abby's.
If it's ok to write a fake positive review, it must be ok to write a fake negative review, right?
Except my review isn't fake. You go into this store and it smells like crap. Pure, unadulterated crap. The fake reviews that the owner puts up are part of the crap. And the fact that the owner supports an industry which has no problem putting profit over cruelty is part of the smell. Ask her what she does with the puppies she doesn't sell. I bet you'll appreciate the answer, and how it also contributes to the smell. Puppy mills are great!
The owner must be really, really desperate for business if she's willing to stoop to the level of writing 20 fake five star reviews. It almost makes me sad that she's that desperate for business - until I remember that she profits off of suffering. And then I don't feel bad at all.
And, as an update to my review - you want more proof that this place is a front for a puppy mill? http://www.aspca.org/s... is a link to the ASPCA's list of measures reputable breeders take. And the first item listed is Never sells puppies to a dealer or pet shop.
Here are 2 other points:
-Makes sure pet-quality animals are sold on a limited registration (dogs only), spay/neuter contract, or are altered before placement.
- Will take back any animal of their breeding, at any time and for any reason.
Does this store do either of these things? Hell no. Once they have your money, you're on your own.
So, buyer beware. Would you want to get an animal from someone who doesn't have the animals' best interests at heart?
I bought the a quiet puppy who turned into a 3 year old wild animal with 1000000 personality. Would I get another puppy from here. In a heart beat. The store looks like a place that sells dogs....
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/8/2008
We bought a beautiful Maltese puppy from Let's Pet. The owners are absolutely wonderful and have… Read more »
Was only in this "store" once. It was 7 years ago before the blackout paper went up on the windows. At the time it looked less sketchy than it does now.
I walked in and immediately was put off by the smell. The poor dogs in the cages were going nuts, jumping and barking and wanting attention. I put my hand near one of the cages where an adorable black lab puppy was licking the bars furiously when a woman came running out of the back hollering "DO NOT PUT YOUR HANDS IN ANY CAGE AT ANY TIME!!!!!" She then lectured me on communicable diseases and said if I wanted to buy a dog THEN I could touch it. Gee, thanks, am I allowed to pet it once out of the store?
I felt those poor animals were just being tortured, wanting contact so desperately and being so cruelly refused.
There are too many shelter animals in the world that are needlessly being put to death. This place DOES NOT need to be in business AT ALL. BAD BAD BAD
And, um, to all the people that went into this place and bought a dog in order to "save" it - dont you think that with reviews this bad, this is exactly what these owners are banking on? That you will hand over your hard-earned cash for a damaged dog out of pity? THIS IS KEEPING THEM IN BUSINESS. STOP! I know its tragic, I know its awful, but please, they will continue to operate until people STOP GIVING THEM MONEY FOR ANIMALS! Honestly - you would think this would be a fairly self-evident assumption!
Please, if you want a pet, go to your nearest rescue shelter or http://www.petfinder.com
Horrible place.
of course the puppies are cute: they are puppies.
The most depressing pet store I've ever been in.
Real Rating = Negative
This is honestly the worst pet store I have ever been too. It is probably one of the worst stores in general in the State of Illinois. I guess I cant even begin to stress how far you need to stay away from this store. I was very repulsed.
The dogs were all caged up in small restrictive cages and look like they rarely get cleaned. I agree with everyone who says the dogs look lethargic and sick. I just wanted to scream and call the city to check this place out but my friend was insisting on looking at the pets. There is immense amounts of cruelty going on here...Its not that hard to see...The smell is also atrocious...
Avoid this place at all costs....Don't go and get attached to the small poor puppies....It's NOT saving the dogs...It's really just producing MORE and killing more dogs...
This place made me want to cry. Or perhaps that was the ammonia smell from all the pee and poop. I understand that puppies are messy and sometimes smelly, but c'mon. I've never seen a pet shop this dirty.
The puppies are so sad. They beg for attention, but you can't pet them. Also a few of them don't look all that well.
If you're looking for a puppy, go to the ASPCA. I got a kitten from them once and he was awesome. Never had any medical issues with him, and they spay/neuter for super-cheap.
First of all, it DOES smell in there - what do you expect when you cram dozens of puppies together in a small space? & when I say that, I mean several puppies in an extremely small cage. Stacked upon each other.
Secondly, we were looking for a boxer puppy & (not knowing better) went here. I was disgusted. One puppy I saw had to play with its food dish as a toy. Correction: EMPTY food dish. They were stuffed 4-5 puppies in a single tiny cage. (although, admittedly, the dog playing in the dish was adorably adorable ... poor little runt ... but then again, he was a puppy. Puppies are cute by definition, no?)
The boxers weren't any better. Thrown in the back in little cubes (with a sign that says something like "we don't support puppy mills" - yeah right, & I'm still a virgin), they were sad & rolling around in their own urine & feces. Correction: STALE urine& feces.
Recently, boxer owners & vets told us point blank, "Whatever you do, do NOT get a puppy from Let's Pet." These people also claim that the boxers are bred in the backroom of the storefront. Now I can't say that for sure; it's just speculation, but there's a little truth behind every rumor, in my experience.
I've owned quite a few dogs in my time & never - NEVER - have I seen them treated as badly as I have here. Most were from a shelter, our boxer is from a reputable AKC breeder. I do know how to take care of a puppy & this is just not right. Just NOT right.
$800 for a boxer puppy when a reputable, AKC breeder will only charge $300-500 for one? Ridiculous.
Tell me AGAIN that this place isn't shady...?
Oh & PS: I m.? I quote, "Get with it.. Yuppie assholes.. SORRY BUT I AM NOT THE OWNER ...ONLY SOMEONE WHO HAS BOUGHT SEVERAL PETS .. WHEN I GO UP NORTH.. AND SEE HOW LAME THE PEOPLE ARE... LOL.. SILLY CRAMPED CITY RATS.. BY A HOUSE.. GET SOME LAND,, BE FREE.. SMELL THE FRESH AIR// BY SOME PETS ..OWN SOME HORSES.. LIVE LIFE.. LOL.."
What a dumbass. Why don't you "BY" a dictionary? & furthermore ... Yes ... we're all lame, us "CITY RATS." We sure are, with our ACTUALLY RESPECTING THE LIFE OF AN ANIMAL & NOT WANTING TO "BY" ONE BRED BY A MISCREANT. But yeah ... we're the ones who are lame.
PPS: Informative link about puppy mills: http://stoppuppymills.org/ & from Pam (thanks Pam!): If any of the people who posted about buying sick dogs from this store happen to read through this thread....please check this out http://files.hsus.org/ - It's a complaint form for the Humane Society of the US, and it's the only way the HSUS can track data and have accurate information to help the dogs.
We got our Beagle, Jake here 8 years ago. I have to agree with most of the other posters... The place was pretty foul - stinky, messy, pink insulation in the window which is STILL there 8 years later! We, too, noticed tons of cages crammed in the store, with tons of puppies crammed into each one of them. We had been looking all over for a Beagle puppy (searched shelters for over 6 months and even tried a few rescue groups) but had no luck. My husband often works in that neighborhood, so one weekend we stopped in.
Most of the dogs seemed lethargic - just laying in their cages (some laying in poop) and either looked drugged up or sickly. I told my husband I wanted an energetic dog and boy did we find him! Jake (the name we later gave him) was playing in a back room, in a top cage, chewing the head of a Mini Mouse doll. He was pretty damn cute. We told the brute looking woman we wanted him and while she acknowledged us, she acted as if we were interrupting her lunch. Gee, sorry!
So, she gets Jake out of the cage. We hold him for literally 30 seconds and then she was all like "Well, do you want him or not?" At that point I felt more like I NEEDED to rescue this poor dog before God knows what happens to him. She rather roughly grabbed him and shoved him under her arm and gave him some sort of shot with a syringe she pulled out from under the counter. Nothing sanitary or even remotely clean or kind about the way she did it. I somehow got up the nerve to ask if she was supposed to be doing that or if a vet should be the one giving shots. The glare I got from her nearly froze me. She then said something about her cousin being a vet and he has approved her giving the shots. Whatever...
She did give us some kind of "coupon" to get Jake neutered at a later time, as well as a ONE WEEK guarantee of his health. Needless to say, the very next day I took him to MY vet (who also happens to be my uncle - owns Bensenville Animal Hospital if any of you need a referral) who checked him out. Luckily, aside from a cold and ear mites he seemed ok.
We have 2 other dogs who are both rescues from shelters. I will NEVER EVER get a dog from a store again, and am 99% sure I will never get one from a breeder. Not the best place to pick up your next best furry friend.
I've always wondered how I should interpret the phrase "Let's Pet Puppies". Is it "Let's go pet some puppies"? Or maybe "Let's Pet" is the name of the store and they sell puppies.
Well, I for one love petting puppies, even strange puppies (and I know you're not supposed to do that).
BUT, Let's Pet smells funny and it doesn't make much sense to go there when you can get a perfectly good (or reasonably good) dog for free all over the place.
So, let's pet puppies somewhere else.
While I hear you, I hear you. We spent months searching for a Chihuahua to join our family last summer. We finally happened across Abby's and found the most adorable 6 month old guy named Harry. He was the happiest nicest Chihuahua I had ever met!
I tried to talk myself out of it but I loved him at first sight. I just knew I would have nightmares about leaving him there. I decided to check out the Mexican restaurant down a few doors and have lunch and a margarita before dropping the $600. But one trip back after lunch and Harry's adorable little face, I was hooked. The woman practically cried when I told her I wanted to buy him. Apparently she had been taken him home over the past 6 months. She even called my cell phone shortly after to check up on him.
He is the best dog! He loves our Sheltie Sammy and the two couldn't be better friends.
As I feel for those who have had problems, I had to tell my happy story. Dogs to me our part of my family and I couldn't bare leaving Harry - now Fredo - there. No matter what, the dogs still need a happy healthy home.
So I'm sitting here reading the reviews on this place and the part that is just killing me is that most of you have never even bought a dog from this place! Now trust me when I tell you I understand about the whole puppy mill thing and I do believe it is wrong but I also feel it is wrong for people to assume things. For example why is every acting like the dogs from the shelter are SOOOOO much better than dogs from a pet store???
Yes i bought a puppy from here. She is now 3.5 months. I have had no problems with her. My vet stated he had heard of Let's Pet before and he had no unkind things to say. As far as the smell? It's a puppy store people! Have you ever smelled a shelter? what about a kennel? Doggy daycare anyone???? Come on people. Every time I've been in there the animals are clean and not living in filth as some of you say. Also why would they put a variety of hand sanitizer right in the front of the store? They explain to you that diseases can be passed so it's important to sanitize your hands when handling the puppies!
When I purchased her I was given a HUGE bag of puppy food (that they made sure wasn't one of the tainted types - remember that whole thing?), a leash, collar, and medicine. The medicine was to be given to her "in case" she had parasites which she did not. However, I appreciated the precautionary measure. I was also given information for a Skokie veterinary clinic that I could take her to for a free check up. People who don't care about their animals would not do these things.
Also, when I was in there (I went 3 times before I actually bought my puppy) I heard one of the workers trying to discourage this woman from getting a puggle for her mother who was in a nursing home. The worker went on and on explaining to this woman that it would not be suitable for this dog to be in a nursing home. Once again, people who don't care about their animals would not do these things.
So this was my experience with this place. I'm not saying that it's perfect but it's definitely not fair to assume. I love my puppy and she is healthy and fun. I don't think that she's any less because she's not from a shelter. Which by the way when is the last time you've seen any dog under 10 pound in a shelter. If I wanted a lab I would head straight to the shelter but smaller breeds are almost never in a shelter unless they're older in age.
I registered on yelp just to write this review. I have never left a place in tears, but this place really broke my heart, I will never step foot in this place again. I wish I could give them negative stars. They are infested with cockroaches. Mistreat their dogs(ie not walking them, small cages, the place smells terrible, etc), which are obviously from puppy mills. The last time I was there(and final) I called 311 to talk to animal cruelty and report them. They are sadly still open, but I hope one day in the near future they are shut down.
ummm yeah...so pretty much all the 5 star reviews are written by yelpers with no friends and just the single review. Well i wouldnt be friends with a yelper who would buy a puppy mill puppy -- so i can see why
i went into this place years ago and just wanted to look around....I love dogs but at that time wasnt able to take care of one financially or time wise. Despite what the sign says YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PET THE PUPPIES....Why the F would you name your store "Lets Pet Puppes" if you wont let people pet the puppies...asshats
Then i realized that these dogs were not well taken care of either--- the store dosnt smell like "pet store" it smells like "dirty dump full of sick animals'.
Adopting from a shelter is always a good idea people (but then again you knew that) The reason they make you go thru so many hoops at the shelters is because they want to find the right dog for the right person...that's how i got my pittbull coco
I just recently got a puppy from this establishment. The previous reviews that I have read are making this place out to be worse than what it is. I have been to Let's Pet several different times in the time I have moved to the Lakeview area, and I would have to say the place was a bit dodgy at first. After visiting a couple more times (and also seeing other establishments) it was not so bad. They did a lot of cleaning while I was in there and although the staff was not as excited to be answering my questions, they did answer them and they were helpful. Each crate had a couple of dogs (of the same breed) in them and each dog looked healthy. They had places to sleep, like a dog bed or blanket. I do love the fact that they aren't overpricing their dogs. The last establishment I went to offered mixed breeds at ridiculously high prices, so Let's Pet definitely is better in this way. Let's Pet was clean and smelled nice (except when a dog had to do it's business). The dogs all seemed well tempered and use to human contact. I am a certified dog behaviorist so if they were being abused the dog would have showed temperament issues.
The breed I got is an adorable Australian Sheperd/Heeler mixed. She was priced moderately and immediately chose my boyfriend and I as her "shepherds". We held onto her until closing because we could not get her that day and we didn't want anyone else to get her first. The one lady who was helping us said she would hold onto her until we could put a deposit down or purchase her the next day. My boyfriend went back the next day and was able to put a portion of the price down and get her that day. The lady said we could come back and even out the balance at another date, which was really nice of her because we wanted her so bad! I would have to say the only thing wrong with...her name is Emerald...is that she will not go potty outside. I know that keeping dogs in crates will have this effect and they learn the behavior of going "inside". We are slowing weening her from this habit and hopefully will have her fully trained by the weekend.
Overall, I had a great experience with Let's Pet Puppies. My dog has a great temperment and is healthy. She has not shown any signs of kennel cough or any other issues, which definitely is a change from other puppy stores.
For the record: I have been in here to see how it was:
From all of my experience in rescue work it seems to me to be an outlet for Back Yard Breeders (a BYB is a small 'family' version of a mill) hungry for a buck to rob you of your money and give you a poor genetically defective dog with parasites. I feel HORRIBLE for these puppies and wish the store would go out of business so these people stop making money.
This like every other puppy "store" needs to be put out of business.
If you do not know what a puppy mill is please visit http://www.prisonersof.../ and educate yourself...and FYI this happens with most (I am not allowed to say all) animals you would buy in a "pet" store.
OK I am going to be honest I didn't read all the other reviews. I read most and then skim-ed
1- It's 7am and I'm going back to bed
2-My brother got a Rott/Boxer mix there for 250.00 she hasn't had any irregular health problems and she is now 7 ish.
3-I have been in that store and it is heartbreaking. I haven't been back.
4- I too as Erika got my dog from PAWS. She is a a Lab-pit-bull mix and is the biggest, sweetest, lovable. loyal companion.
5-I will go back and read all of the reviews later today, but I actually want to go back to sleep now and I'm sure I wouldn't be able to if I do read them all now.
6-and finally my brother has been lucky with his dog. But I don't agree with buying a dog when so many need rescuing, but than I again he did get a puppy out of that store.
Back to bed now.
PS don't get me started on Pit-Bulls, it's the owner not the dogs fault for being raised to be aggressive. See my Cesar Millan review.
I think the first reviewer is mistaken, this place does not have fish.
It does, however, have all sorts of puppies. I agree with the 2nd reviewer, that is may be a front for puppy mills. LOTS of puppies crammed into tiny little cages in a dirty little store. Staff seems to be disinterested in animal care and I highly doubt any of the puppies is adequately cared-for.
In addition, the prices are outrageous. One puppy was $2000!
Don't go into Let's Pet Puppies unless you want your heart to break :(
Even though I think this place might be a front for some creepy puppy mill (I've never been inside), the "Let's Pet Puppies" sign out in front is about my favorite thing in the entire world. It's inspired me to hopefully open my own store named "I Like Money" some day.
***(Okay, after reading everyone else's reviews about what a shit hole this is, I've dropped my star count. Like I said, I've never even been inside. I just like the sign. Maybe if this place ever gets closed down I can have it?)***
I am not a fan of puppy buying myself, but I will say I got a dog from this shop 9 years ago, he was from a litter that was just brought in, not a 'breed' dog. It was something like $70, similar to an adoption fee. They told me the mommy was a dachsund, as for the rest I was on my own. I thought it was nice that they didn't just deal in breeds but also were willing to handle everyday puppies that owners couldn't deal with adopting out, etc. The employees were professional, but not particularly best friend material. They gave me the same advice a shelter would, and I think I got some sort of coupon for a Skokie animal hospital. I felt good about getting the dog there, since I needed to get a puppy (two small children involved) and Anti Cruelty and ACC were puppyless on the weekend I went puppy-crazy.
I heart my dog. He's awesome, and has never had any health problems associated with a bad environment. That was, again, 9 years ago - so if the quality has gone down, that's too bad. Most of the time when I'm driving down Ashland, I just see the paper in the windows.
While I didn't choose this place to buy my puppy- I went many times and the staff were ALWAYS friendly to me.
The puppie are so cute- and seem happy.
This is not the only shop in town but has been in business a long time so it is doing something VERY right!
Boycotting this store doesn't make you an animal lover if you cared about the animals you would encourage people to shop here - these pets need homes just like the shelters.
I will be honest my friends have been treated very badly by shelter staff too
Absolutely NEVER go here. These people are malicious puppy millers who are neglecting and abusing the pups that they have. The puppies are malnourished and dehydrated, locked in steel and metal cages all day. Help do your part to put a stop to puppy mills by NOT BUYING from them. It just keeps the cycle going.
I can only say that I got my dog from this store 3 years ago. I just couldn't leave him alone. He's AMAZING. Great cockapoo. Great personality -- total sweetheart - and I'm told this by everyone who meets him.
I had looked for a dog to rescue for 3 years but wanted a puppy and wanted a nonshedding.
I would have never gone in the store had it not been for the fact that I was going to adopt a dog but the owner changed her mind - and that puppy was bought from this store.
I try not to believe this is a puppy mill. It's supposed to be owned by a family and the dogs are supposed to be bred on a farm ... but due to the number of dogs there ... I just don't believe it.
I just have to tell myself that I "rescued" Sammy from this place.
Hey guys, I bought my dog Olive here. I feel like you could do way worse than this place. I found the people fairly helpful and the dog behaved as described (rottie). I think I'd give 2.5 stars if I could. I've had Olive for 7 years and never any real problems with her. I think places like this are open to much criticism. I looked at a bunch of places including breeders and had no problems or worries buying my dog from Let's Pet.
Oh yeah, those fake five star reviews are pretty obvi.
Sorry that I never updated, it's been about a year.. my dog did not require surgery. He's grown bigger and stronger, he's as healthy as a horse! I love the big guy and I can't imagine life without him. I'm grateful that everything turned out fine in the end.
Since this ordeal, we've ADOPTED another dog but have visited other pet shops just to compare the conditions these puppies have to endure. Let's Pet seems a lot cleaner than when we bought our first puppy. The cages aren't packed with dogs anymore--they're spread out. Maybe it's the bad economy or maybe they're being slightly more humane, who knows? I just know that I've seen some filthy, smelly places and so I've bumped this up by one star. They may not be the kind of place animal activists want to see but some people don't want to adopt from a shelter because they don't want a dog who someone else has left scared, hungry and depressed. Most shelters can't afford to buy the dogs food and the dogs just live off the random things people bring in. They can't properly care for the dogs and so you have a dog riddled with diseases like my other one was. Yes, shelters are cheaper but it's a lot harder to adopt a dog than buy. They make you jump through hoops just to give you a dog that they've abandoned in a cage for months, that they've malnourished, and that they've exposed to a number of illnesses (and you're the one that has to prove you can take care of a dog??). And it's a lot harder to raise shelter dogs too because they have so much baggage. Some people want a happy puppy who just left its mother and for those people, this is a better place to go than the God forsaken places I've seen in and around Chicago where dogs are smothered in poo and throw up (and I'm including shelters in that statement, they're the worst because they don't even try to hide the smell and they don't clean most dogs until they're purchased (my 2nd dog came to me with poop and all, they didn't even clean him fully for his neutering!)---City of Chicago Animal Control, Anti-Cruelty Society, PAWS Chicago, Animal Welfare Society--I've smelled them all!). It's a Catch 22 no matter which way you go. Some people will shun you for 'supporting puppy mills' and purchasing a dog from a puppy store.. and others will shake their heads at your shelter puppy that pees whenever someone looks at it. Do what's best for you and don't worry about the world. If you have a good home and a big heart to love and care for a dog for the rest of its life.. it shouldn't matter where it came from.
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1/28/2008
I bought my puppy from here in the summer. When I took him home, he had a runny nose and would… Read more »
