Puppy Mills - Don't Shop, Adopt!

Many people are actually concerned about where the pups come from and will ask the store clerks if the puppies come from Puppy Mills. The TRAINED salesperson will say something to the effect, "no, our puppies come from private breeders", or "no, our puppies come from local breeders", or "no, our puppies come from USDA inspected kennels". Most people are satisfied with either of those answers.

Well we aren't!

Many pet shops get their puppies from a middleman...a puppy broker. The puppy broker buys the puppy from the puppy miller and the broker then sells to pet stores. A well known puppy broker is the Hunte Corporation. Maybe pet stores feel that since they didn't buy the puppy DIRECTLY from the breeder than they can "honestly" say they do not get their puppies from puppy mills. Also, there is no official definition of puppy mills so they can also avoid answering the question honestly since technically the pups come from Commercial Kennels.

PRIVATE BREEDERS
First of all what defines a private breeder? Nothing. If there are private breeders, who are the public breeders? There's NO such thing! So when that sales kid tells you that the pup is from a private breeder he could be talking about ANY breeder in the country.

LOCAL BREEDERS
When a salesperson says they get their pups from local breeders it could either be what they were trained to say or it could mean they actually do get their puppies from local commercial kennels. "Local" doesn't mean that they aren't from a puppy mill. Our local pet store has "local" puppies too...straight from the local puppymill!

USDA LICENSED & INSPECTED KENNELS
This also doesn't mean that the pups come from a good place. I have seen dogs from USDA Licensed & Inspected Kennels with rotting mouths, open wounds, skin diseases, and many other health problems. Rabbit cages and hutches are acceptable houses for dogs (according to the USDA!). If the puppy millers do not want to exercise the dogs (meaning the dogs live in a cage 24/7 for their WHOLE lives) all they have to do is double the size of their cage.

Dogs are wonderful, faithful companions. Can you imagine your dog living in a cage where she stands on wire her WHOLE life? Can you imagine her never getting out of the cage to roll around in the grass or play in the snow? Maybe your dog is afraid of thunderstorms. Imagine how she'd feel living in a rabbit hutch with no other protection from the elements. No where to escape from the cracking thunder, pounding rain, and fierce winds. Could you imagine your dog living 10-16 years (or more) in a cage, never knowing a gentle touch, pumping out litter after litter, not being able to get away from the puppies when she needs a break? Could you imagine her in so much pain from an abcess in her mouth but not being able to get medical care or relief for the pain. Her teeth are rotting away, her bottom jaw doesn't exist because the bone has rotted away, can you imagine how badly it hurts her to eat?

Could you imagine doing any of that to your dog? NO! Of course not! And why is that? Because it is cruel - that's why!

USDA Licensed & Inspected kennels get away with that and a lot more and thousands of dogs are suffering. Even if the dogs are cared for medically, their psychological needs are not being met.

Many kennels aren't even licensed with the USDA, so they don't have ANY standards to meet. As long as they sell to the puppy buyers themselves, they do not need a license. They advertise in newspapers, online, sell at flea markets, parking lots, etc.

If you don't care how the puppy's parents are kept (how could you not?) at least think about the potential health issues your puppy could have. The parents in commercial kennels have not been through appropriate health tests or screenings and you could end up with a puppy who seems healthy but with congenital defects that show up later in life - many of which are extremely costly to you, the puppy buyer. Other people end up with puppies who are sick right off the bat and have to spend hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars to make their new puppy well. Sadly, some puppies don't even make it and it is utterly heartbreaking for their families.

So please, don't shop at pet stores! Adopt from your local shelter, www.petfinder.com, or find a reputable breeder. If you need more help or advice about finding a reputable breeder, send us a message or visit www.nopuppymills.com.

Yes, the puppies are cute and you may think you are saving just that one. But as soon as you leave that store, they will be ordering a new puppy to fill that cage....which means you just contributed to and supported this nasty business. As long as the demand is there, there will be the supply. The only way we can help stop this horrid industry is to not buy their puppies and educate others to do the same.

If you have already purchased a pet store puppy and would like to know more about its origins visit www.petshoppuppies.com for a free puppy report.

Remember Puppy Millers also sell their puppies online and in newspaper ads. Stay away from breeders that breed more than one or two breeds. A reputable breeder would not sell to just anyone online. Some reputable breeders will have websites, but they will want to know a lot about you and the home you will provide for their puppy before even thinking about accepting a deposit. A online pet store that will sell and ship you a puppy, no questions asked is not someone who cares about their pups!