The Horrors Of Puppy Mills
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Every Time You Purchase A Puppy From A Pet Store You Allow This To Continue
If you see an Ad or Ads by Google on this Lense selling puppies the likelihood is the puppies came from puppy mills and their mothers could be subjected to the same fate as all the dogs you see on this lense. I suggest you refrain from purchasing a dog from pet shops and/or online sellers of puppies. Instead, if you want an AKC puppy find a reputable breeder in your area. Another good idea is to adopt a dog from your local animal shelter.
As most of you already know we have a serious problem in this country with homeless and abused animals. One of the biggest culprets of this problem are the thousands of Puppy Mills that produce millions of sick, unhealthy, and abused animals every year. I have found some great organitions and information that I will share with you. After reading this lens I can only pray that you will never purchase a pet from a Pet Store again, and will help support these great organization so we can put an end to these horrific places and the scum of the earth that run them.
Table of Contents
- What Is A Puppy Mill
- The Terrible Truth Of Puppy Mills
- This Is How It Works
- 10 Reasons Not To Buy A Puppy From A Pet Store
- What Did Maxine Do To Deserve This?
- Puppy Mill Horrors
- Responsible Breeder or Puppy Mill Dog
- Missouri Official Defends Puppy Mills and Dog Auctions
- Treated Humanely? You Be The Judge!
- Poll Module
- Please Help Save These Animals
- Reader Feedback
- My Lenses
What Is A Puppy Mill
A puppy mill is defined as 'a place where puppies are bred for profit,' but it's much more than that. It's the place where puppies that are sold in pet stores, thru beautiful internet sites and newspaper ads come from, and the place where hundreds, and sometimes even thousands of dogs are kept in small wire cages solely for breeding purposes. These places are all about making money with little regard for the welfare of the animals.A puppy mill is not a warm and comfortable place for any animal to live in or have babies in. It's a cruel environment where dogs are kept in small wire cages, they are considered livestock and receive little human companionship or comfort. Unfortunately, it's the harsh beginning for many puppies, and the harsh reality for life for the breeding dogs pumping out the puppies litter after litter.
Facts and figuresThere are an estimated 10,000 registered and unregistered puppy mills in the United States.
The registered mills are all USDA-licensed commercial dog breeding facilities. This is nothing to boast about. The USDA only requires minimun standards be met when caring for the animals.
The unregistered mills are not USDA-licensed, they operate without inspections and are allowed to sell directly to the public thru internet sites and newspaper ads. These are very scary places!
It's estimated that 4 million dogs are born in puppy mills each year.
The same number of dogs that die in shelters each year.
Puppy mills are prisons for breeding dogs. The conditions are inhumane, and the dogs are bred over and over again until they die or are killed. The puppy mill operators do not take care of the breeding dogs, they are neglected in every way. They are treated and live like livestock - and are only alive because they can make money(puppies) for the puppy mill.
No veterinary care.
Inadequate food and water.
Debarking dogs in order to keep them quite, by pushing a metal rod down the dog's throat.
Docking, or cutting off dogs' tails in order to have easier access for breeding.
Performing cesarean sections and delivering puppies without anesthesia.
Unlicensed ,non-veterinarian operators perform surgeries.
Taking puppies from their mothers far before the recommended minimum of 8 weeks.
Using toxic chemicals such as pesticides directly on dogs.
Killing dogs using guns, poison, or drowning.
This Is How It Works
Puppy mill - Broker - Pet store - FamilyPuppies are born at a puppy mill, and as early as four weeks after they are born they are sold to a puppy broker who sells and ships them to pet stores around the country where people can buy them by age six weeks.
Many puppies born in puppy mills are sick because of the harsh conditions and disregard of genetics during breeding. Some do not make it to the store and die during trucking. These puppies have been taken away from their mothers at a early age so they have no doggie social skills. Some puppies are sick at the time of sale. Pet stores may try to sell the sick puppies without disclosing the illness. If a customer returns the dog to the store, the store will either try to resell the puppy, let it die or maybe return it to the puppy mill. Once back at the mill, they may stay as breeding dogs for their entire lives, or they may be sold at an auction to the highest bidder which will most likely be another puppy mill, animal research company, or worse death.
Before being sold in pet stores, puppies are bathed so that they appear to have come from loving family breeders where they were well cared for, but the truth is that they have been poorly bred and come from horrible conditions. Currently, pet stores do not have to disclose the breeder information until you hand over the money.
Puppy brokers ship puppies in trucks without proper food or water for long distances, as mentioned above, many puppies do not survive the trip and arrive at the pet stores already dead.
10 Reasons Not To Buy A Puppy From A Pet Store
Dogster.com
There are some pet stores that buy their puppies from commercial kennels regulated by the Department of Agriculture. However, even these pups tend to be unhealthy and unsocialized. This is partly due to the fact that commercial kennels tend to breed many different breeds in one facility and they breed for quantity, not quality. Therefore, their interest does not lie in the healthy promotion of a certain breed but rather in how many sales they can get. So, before you buy that cute puppy in the window, consider the downsides of pet store pups:
10 Reasons Not to Buy From a Pet Store
1. Bad Health: Because so many pet store pups come from puppy mills, they are not the result of careful breeding and they are usually not well cared for before coming to the store. Some common illnesses and conditions are neurological problems, eye problems, hip dysplasia, blood disorders and Canine Parvovirus.
2. Behavioral Problems: Because breeding is indiscriminate, behavioral problems are not weeded out generationally. You'll also find that a pet store's staff is not likely to have any training in dealing with behavior issues so the puppies continue to do the wrong things, which become habit.
3. No Socialization: Pet stores pups are often pulled away from their litter at far too young an age, often at only four or five weeks. The earliest a puppy should be separated from his pack is eight weeks and most reputable breeders will say at least 10 weeks. This lack of time socializing with his siblings means that puppy will not develop important canine skills. Likewise, a puppy who has not been handled by people from about three weeks will not naturally socialize well with them.
4. The Downfall of the Standard: In a broad sense, purchasing a puppy from a pet store and then breeding her means you are ruining the standard of that breed because the previous breeders were not concerned with it.
5. Lack of Information: A member of a pet store staff is not an expert on a breed and often not on dogs in general. Purchasing a puppy from a store means you will not get the lowdown on that breed or likely help with any behavioral or other questions.
6. Return at Your Puppy's Peril: Most pet stores do offer a warranty of sorts where you can bring the puppy back if he has problems. They don't tend to tell customers that the puppy's fate, once returned, is usually euthanization.
7. Housebreaking is a Chore: Pet store puppies have spent all their short lives in cages. They do not have the opportunity to develop the natural canine instinct of eliminating away from their food and bed. This causes problems when you try to housebreak them.
8. What You See Isn't Necessarily What You Get: If you see what looks like a Maltese in the window, you may find, as she grows, that there's a little Maltese in there somewhere but mostly she looks like a Terrier. There is no guarantee you will get a purebred dog if that's what you're after.
9. Poor Value: A puppy from a pet store generally costs between $400 and $2,000. This is often more than you'd pay at a reputable breeder who can ensure you get a healthy puppy and provide support afterward.
10. Questionable Pedigree: You're paying for a pedigree, or AKC papers, when you buy a puppy from a pet store but it's very likely that it's not genuine. If the papers are genuine, it still doesn't mean the puppy is a good example of its breed - you need a reputable breeder to prove that.
What are our options other than pet store puppies? Reputable breeders are always a good choice. They are very knowledgeable about the breed they represent and can help with behavioral and physical issues that might come up later. These breeders socialize their puppies early on, breed in good traits and breed out bad ones and they can show you your puppies' parents and give you their history.
Another great option is adopting a puppy. Human Societies, local animal shelters and breed rescues are all good places to look. True, you don't have the benefit of meeting you pup's parents but rescued puppies are thoroughly examined for any illness or condition, are socialized by staff and trained early on. Also, if you adopt a mixed puppy you will likely find he is very healthy as mutts are often healthier than purebreds.
So the next time you see that adorable puppy in the window, pause and think about the downsides of pet store pups. Buying from such a store is, in essence, supporting them and the horrible practice of puppy mills. It is also almost a sure bet that you'll have a bad experience.
For more Articles on Puppy Mills and other useful dog information, visit Dogster.Com
What Did Maxine Do To Deserve This?
Warning, this story is a sad but true story that happens to thousands of female dogs!
Dead Dog A Sorry End To A Sad Life.
Maxine is fictional. However, her story is based on the true stories of thousands, perhaps tens of thousand of female dogs who are born and live their entire lives at places known as puppy mills. There, unscrupulous breeders use them up in the name of profit. The puppies are sold by places that advertise online and in pet stores.
Bad Treatment Is Well Documented!
The basic facts about the treatment of these poor dogs is well documented on nationwide articles, on TV, and specifically in documentaries such as the one produced by Oprah Winfrey, and by the efforts of organizations such as Puppy Mill Project. (Oprah's video is available below this Article)
Anyone who cares about animals should not stand by while puppy mills continue.
This is about more than the mistreatment of animals. It is about the conscience of a society that allows places such as puppy mills and the pet shops that sell puppy mill products to continue.
Maxine's Fate Is To Be A Puppy Producer!
Maxine's life began in a small cage much like the ones shown to the right. There she is kept with her mother and litter-mates for about five or six weeks. Then, her brothers and sisters are separated, the feces and urine is washed from their puppy fur and they are shipped to pet stores like the one that probably has an AD by Google in this lens.
At their destinations Maxine's litter-mates arrive in not-so-adorable condition. However, a little shampoo and a grooming transforms even the most sickly puppies into seemingly healthy and adorable cuties waiting to be purchased by unsuspecting buyers.
Meanwhile, Maxine is to suffer the same fate as her mother. She is kept as a puppy machine. Her fate is to produce puppies to supply stores like the one that may be in your neighborhood or has an Ad by Google.
Maxine's mother and father are purebred dogs and registered with the American Kennel Club. Maxine is also registered. The first time she comes into heat, and every time after she is in heat she is mated with another dog of her breed that is also registered with the American Kennel Club.
Sometimes the dog is bred with is her father or a brother which can create genetic problems in her puppies and potential problems and high vet bills for their owners. However, that does not't matter in the puppy mill trade. The fact that Maxine's puppies are AKC registered means they can be sold for $1,000 or even $2,000 each at pet stores no matter how inbred they are.
Without the AKC registration papers it is unlikely pet stores such as the ones advertising in this lens could ever charge more than $1000. Without the papers it is unlikely they could charge more than $100. If that were the case there certainly would little incentive to sell their puppy mill puppies at such a low price because there will be no profit.
Meanwhile the pet store owners will make claims that the AKC registration means something more than it does, or the fact that puppy mills are supposed to be inspected by the USDA and means the dogs are healthy.
Despite the fact that reputable breeders never breed their female dogs more than once a year, poor Maxine is bred two or more times a year. Each time she is bred Maxine has a litter of on the average 7 puppies.
Finally, when Maxine is in her seventh year she has a litter of only three sickly puppies. It is obvious the constant breeding had been a strain on her. By this time Maxine has produced 14 litters totaling 84 dogs whose average retail price is $1200 each at the pet stores. That means her puppies produced over $100,000 in revenue. As reward for being such a money maker Maxine is kept in a small cage all her life. The cage is not much longer or wider than she is long. The cage has a wire bottom so her urine and feces can drop on the ground under her cage. There is another cage stacked on top of her cage and the waste from that cage's tenant is dropped on her. Poor Maxine has never walked on the ground, been petted, groomed, or loved. She has only received minimal vet care, and her hair is matted and filthy. Her body is worn out from producing so many offspring.
The day she has the three sickly puppies the puppy mill owner makes a decision to stop breeding Maxine. He takes her three sickly puppies and throws them in the garbage and rewards Maxine for being such a money maker by shooting her in the head. No more of Maxine's puppies will be sent to stores like the one that operates near you.
As with countless other brood dogs like her, Maxine is treated like a machine and when she can no longer produce her body is thrown in a landfill like rubbish.
The moral of the story? When you look into the window of a pet store that sells puppies, remember Maxine. The mother of that cute little puppy you see is likely to face a similar fate.
The writer suggests you refrain from purchasing a dog from pet shops and/or online sellers of puppies. Instead, if you want an AKC puppy find a reputable breeder in your area. Another good idea is to adopt a dog from your local animal shelter.
Author: Keith Sanderson
Learn more about puppy mills and the puppy store connection at The Puppy Mill Project and other similar organizations.
The Puppy Mill Project
Please Donate and Help Put An End To Puppy Mills
The Puppy Mill Project is here to reveal the truth about puppy mills and dogs sold in pet stores. You need to know that pet stores are lying when they say their puppies were born in loving homes. The truth is that they were born in a commercial breeding facility a.k.a. 'puppy mill' where dogs by the hundreds, of all breeds, are bred over and over again.
If you would like to help this cause by donating, just click on the picture and it will take you to The Puppy Mill Project home page.
Puppy Mill Horrors
Responsible Breeder or Puppy Mill Dog
How Do I Tell The Difference?
How can I tell the difference between a responsible breeder and a puppy mill? Responsible breeders don't sell their puppies to the first person who shows up with cash in hand. Too often, unsuspecting people buy puppies from puppy mills, thru pet stores, internet sites and newspaper ads. The results are puppies that are in poor health or with temperament problems that may not be discovered right away.A responsible breeder's primary concern is the health, safety and well-being of his/her dogs. Responsible breeders invite you into their homes and have nothing to hide. They take pride in their dogs.They sell their dogs personally (never in a store, online or thru newspaper ads) from the same location in which the dogs are born and raised - not requiring USDA licensing, they invite you to their homes and let you see where the dogs live.
They specialize in one or two breeds, and have very few dogs for sale at one time.
They only breed their female dogs one to three times in her lifetime.
They keep their puppies with their mother a minimum of 10 to 12 weeks to ensure they are strong, well-adjusted and properly socialized.
They require references, and an in-person meeting with anyone wanting a dog. This will ensure that the best care and lifestyle will be provided to their puppies. They care about their puppies!
Responsible breeders encourage consumers to meet a puppy's parents in order to understand the breed and temperament. They want you to know and understand the breed you are interested in.
Responsible breeders screen for genetic defects, as well as behavioral and temperament variances, in order to ensure the quality of the breed and health of their dogs. They breed to improve their lines.
A puppy mill's primary concern is making money, money and money! They sell dogs via stores, internet sites and newspaper ads (rarely from where the dogs are born), and often times they are eager to ship dogs directly to you the consumer or are willing to meet you in parking lots of hotels or businesses.
Puppy mills and backyard breeders usually have many, even hundreds of breeds. They always have many puppies for their customers to choose from.
Puppy mills breeds dogs as often as possible/every time they come into heat. Whether they are sick, blind or three legged. The health of the mother does not matter. This is all about money and puppies.
They only keep puppies with their mother's for 5 weeks, removing them before they are properly weaned and socialized. They are then shipped in trucks at 5 weeks so they arrive in stores or your home by six weeks. Six weeks happens to be the legal age they are allowed to sell puppies in pet stores.
They do not require any references, or want an in-person meeting. They do not ask you to spay or neuter their puppies, they don't care about the bloodlines.
Puppy mills do not allow consumers to meet a puppy's parents, or they will bring the parents to you from another location, not allowing you to see where they live and breed.
They never screen for genetic or health defects. They may say they have been breeding their lines for 20 years and their lines are free of problems. If they are not associated with a breed club and a rescue for that breed BE AWARE! Remember this is about money!
Missouri Official Defends Puppy Mills and Dog Auctions
Thanks to KansasCity.com for this enlightening article.
Dog auctions in Missouri incite passions for and against
By STEVE ROCK
The Kansas City Star
JACKSONVILLE, Mo. | The wire fox terrier trembled as she stood at the front of the room.
A woman steadied the dog, stood the animal on her hind legs and awkwardly showed the dog's belly to the crowd. The dog was pregnant, due at any moment, and wore a collar that identified her as No. 145.
"This dog is going to have pups right away," the auctioneer said. "Ain't nothin' but money in the bank."
Thus began a recent dog auction about 50 miles north of Columbia.
More than 250 dogs were bought and sold to breeders from throughout Missouri. Some went for as little as $12.50, while others fetched hundreds of dollars. Still others went unsold despite the auctioneer pleading, "Anybody want that dog for a $10 bill?"
No state has more dog auctions than Missouri, according to the Humane Society of the United States. And those auctions, the society says, are cruel because dogs are housed in metal cages for hours and sometimes denied food and water.
"The animals are literally sold like cars in used auto auctions," said Stephanie Shain, the society's director of outreach for companion animals. "Cars are probably treated better than these dogs."
Supporters counter that the auctions, while perhaps jarring to the frightened animals, are not abusive and are closely regulated by state and federal inspectors.
"We try our very best to make it humane for the dogs," said Betty Dwiggins, who with her husband put on the Jacksonville auction.
Besides, Dwiggins said, the auctions serve reputable breeders from Missouri and elsewhere and are simply the byproduct of a market that Joe Public supports every time he buys a purebred dog.
"Without these auctions the dogs would all be mongrels," she said.
Not true, said Shain and others. They said that the auctions, while legal, are problematic because they serve not reputable breeders but puppy mills, or large commercial facilities where dogs are bred to produce as many puppies as possible in conditions ranging from unsanitary to inhumane.
Puppy mills then sell those puppies to pet stores, to brokers or directly to families.
"The public has no idea," Shain said.
A growing trend
The number of dog auctions in Missouri is exploding, according to the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation.
According to the organization's data, there were 10 auctions in 1995. That jumped to 28 in 2000 and 67 in 2005. This year the number promises to grow, and the number of dogs changing hands is likely to exceed 18,000.
"Missouri is the dog auction capital of the world," said John Coffman, the alliance's legislative director.
Why? It's simple, Coffman and others say.
Missouri has more commercial breeders licensed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture than any other state, and many of them utilize dog auctions.
Shain said that reputable breeders avoid auctions, dealing instead with other reputable breeders to buy and sell dogs. She said that dogs purchased at auctions might not be true purebreds, typically don't have complete medical records and could have genetic diseases, skin conditions or other problems.
Linda Kalmar, a veterinarian at Parkway Animal Hospital in Lenexa, said that some dogs coming out of puppy mills and auctions aren't house-trained, socialized or used to people, and don't make for good pets. And the spread of disease or other problems, like fleas, can be an issue because the dogs are kept for hours close to one another.
Treated Humanely? You Be The Judge!
Poll Module
What Will You Do?
This Lens was one of the most difficult lenses I have made. I did a lot of research and crying to find the information that I presented here. What I did present is only the tip of the iceberg. I only hope that I accomplished my goal which is to inform people of these Puppy Mill horrors, so together we can put an end to abuse these precious animals go through day after day.
(If you decide to Adopt your new pet, just click on the picture and you will find a website to assist you.)
Please Help Save These Animals
You Can Donate To The Following Organizations
- The Puppy Mill Project
- The Puppy Mill Project
100% of All donations will be used to help raise awareness - Last Chance for Animals
- Last Chance for Animals (LCA) recognizes that animals have the ability to experience pain, and as such they deserve certain basic rights protecting them from pain caused by humans. LCA believes that non-human animals should not be subjected to suffering and exploitation by humans because alternatives exist for nearly every traditional "usage" of animals.
- ASPCA
- Visit the ASPCA website to learn how to fight animal cruelty, read expert pet care advice, and view dogs and cats available for adoption.
- Humane Society of Missouri
- Many of these Puppy Mills are located in Missouri. The HSMO is doing their best to save as many dogs as possible, but they need are help. Please help by adopting one of these poor animals or making a donation.
Reader Feedback
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SylviaRolfe
Mar 28, 2011 @ 5:43 pm | delete
- Animal cruelty is NOT okay. We need to stop these people. Here is the one I am fighting for right now... http://www.squidoo.com/shut-down-guzoo
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BustersMama Mar 29, 2011 @ 7:00 am | delete
- Thank you Sylvia. I have shared your lens on Facebook and Twitter. I also Lensrolled to 2 of my lenses.
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SquidooFanatic
Sep 16, 2010 @ 8:34 am | delete
- I found it very hard to read your lens. Any form of animal cruelty makes my blood boil! Thank - you for bringing awareness on such a horrific topic.
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BustersMama Sep 16, 2010 @ 9:03 am | delete
- I know this is not pleasant to read, however people must be made aware of what is really happening. I thank you for reading this Lens and please help me spread the word. Hopefully the more awareness we generate, the more people will be willing to fight against these horrible places.
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SquidooFanatic
Sep 16, 2010 @ 8:34 am | delete
- I found it very hard to read your lens. Any form of animal cruelty makes my blood boil! Thank - you for bringing awareness on such a horrific topic.
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VickiSims
Aug 27, 2010 @ 12:11 pm | delete
- Thank you for drawing attention to this disgusting industry. I hope many will read it and choose to obtain a dog from a shelter, rescue or reputable breeder. Lensrolled to my lenses about my dogs.
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- Thank you for the support. This is such a horrific topic (if was one of the hardest lenses I have researched), but people must be told what is going on in these terrible places. As a fellow animal lover, I would appreciate your help it spreading the word. These poor animals need our help! Thanks for taking the time to read this and comment.
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I am a wife, mother, and grandmother. About 1 1/2 years ago I found myself in the same economic mess as thousands of other people when I lost my job.... more »
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