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And more than four in 10 in the Associated Press-Petside.com poll say they believe store pets could have hidden medical or psychological problems. That's significantly more than those who expressed the same concerns about pets from animal shelters or breeders.
Fifty-four percent of those polled said they would probably get their next pet from a shelter, while 23 percent went for a breeder.
More than half of those polled said their present dogs or cats came from places other than shelters, breeders or stores. They might have been strays, gifts from friends or favors for neighbors.
Many people say shelters have enough adoptable pets in need of a loving home.
