AceShowbiz -

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA doesn't applaud Justin Bieber's decision to buy a dog. Despite showing his love to animal, the Canadian pop star is criticized for failing to set a good example to his fans by purchasing a puppy from a pet store instead of adopting one from a shelter.

Daphna Nachminovitch, PETA's Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations, tells Wenn, "Whether or not reports are true that Justin Bieber purchased a puppy from a pet store for $600, PETA wants to remind everyone that when you buy a dog or cat from a pet store or breeder, you sentence an animal in a shelter to death."

She adds, "Six to eight million homeless animals enter shelters every year, and half of them must be euthanised for lack of a good home, so there is no excuse for buying an animal, no matter who you are."

Bieber was spotted visiting a pet store, Ruffin's Pet Centre, in Stratford, Ontario on December 26 with his family. He reportedly paid $600 for a 7-week-old American bulldog puppy. An employee at the pet store said, "Justin comes in all the time when he's home," adding, "The puppies came in yesterday morning."

The pet store owner also shared, "He came in just before closing with his bodyguard and friends. He walked around the store, saw it, held it and liked it. She's got a little splash of brown on her eye." He went on revealing, "Whenever he comes in he buys something. He's an ethical person when it comes to animals."

Bieber's father Jeremy has posted a picture of himself with the cute little dog, writing, "Newest Bieber." He additionally tweeted, "So were gona (sic) let one lucky belieber (fan) name @justinbieber's new puppy.... Follow and find out how it can be you."

The 19-year-old singer previously owned a hamster which he gave away to a fan and it later died. He also abandoned his capuchin monkey, Mally, in Germany when he failed to obtain the proper permits to enter the country.