It's amazing, isn't it, that a pet store puppy often costs just as much if not more than a well-bred puppy from health-tested parents?
Is it true that all "store" puppies are from puppy mills?
No - in fact most pet store puppies are not from puppy mills at all, since in most states it's illegal for pet stores to purchase puppies from mills. Most pet store puppies are from USDA-licensed commercial breeding operations (especially chain stores), which are certainly not the best sources for happy, healthy, stable, long-lived puppies, but the pups are generally much better cared-for than those from puppy mills and often even than those from the careless breeder down the street.
There has to be a better way to sell puppies, besides from breeders.
Why "besides from breeders"?
We would have far fewer issues with dogs in shelters, dogs with severe health problems, dangerous or vicious dogs, etc., if the only place people bought puppies was from conscientious, responsible home breeders.
Of course, with the anti-breeder legislation that is sweeping the country those breeders may soon become few and far between - then owning a purebred dog really will be something only the very wealthy can afford....