She didn’t buy it; she looked at it.
I played with a Collie puppy at a pet store shortly after my beloved German Shepherd died (Collies are my 2nd-fave and living all alone, I just indulged a bit of fantasy by petting 1 when I was in grief).
I don’t like to promote pet shops in any way, either - not buying anything there.
But then, I wonder why is it different really from “adopting” at a shelter? By providing an outlet (which isn’t “free” as you pay often big “fees”) for the prospective adoptees, in a way you promote the continuance of adult pets going to a shelter instead of being cared for properly in the 1st place. “Oh, it doesn’t matter, because they can always go to a no-kill shelter...”
You make some interesting points.
sorry to hear about your Shepherd.
the no kill shelters I think are good, I have always found my adoptees at shelters.
what I never could understand is someone “giving up’ their pet of years because’ we moved to a place that doesn’t accept pets.” HUHHHHH?
I would move into an old trailor to rent ...or a total dump if it meant my pupster, my very very very best friend, could come with me.