Stop Puppy Mills - Don't buy a dog from a pet store or over the Internet

Some of the fastest momentum to the movement against puppy mills happened when Oprah did a show on puppy mills. It is wonderful that a high profile star took this cause on. Like so much related to dogs, it came out of the heart. Oprah's beloved cocker spaniel Sophie died on March 10, 2008. "Sophie gave me 13 years of pure unconditional love," Oprah says. "She was a true love in my life. In fact, she's been one of the greatest reasons for me to be a kinder, gentler person."

A concerned (and clever) dog advocate placed a billboard just off the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago that read, "Oprah: Do a show on puppy mills. The dogs need you." This was done around the time of Sophie's death.

Bingo! On Friday, April 04, 2008 Oprah ran a show on puppy mills. Part of her expose included behind the scenes investigation in Pennsylvania puppy mills.

Puppy Mill Awareness day is now held every September - September 19th this year. Much centers on shining the light on puppy mills throughout the Midwest - including the Amish Lancaster County.





Oprah Winfrey



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Many dogs from puppy mills are impulse buys, and end up being relinquished at the Humane Society. Add to the strong possibility that a puppy mill dog might have undesirable characteristics and you have a set-up for adding more dogs to the crowded pound.

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I was surprised that the majority of the Squidoo readers who have taken the poll said that it is okay to buy a purebred puppy if you know that it is not from a puppy mill. There just are a lot of breed affectionados around.

You need to realize that if you do purchase a dog from a pet store or over the Internet sight unseen, there is a very great chance that you are purchasing a dog from a puppy mill. It is almost impossible to ensure what kind of dogs are purchased over the Internet. Because pet stores do not usually purchase directly, they cannot guarantee that they do not purchase dogs from puppy mills.

The dogs that come from puppy mills, or even just less scrupulous "backyard" breeders are prone to the alarming characteristics that over-bred dogs tend to exhibit. If you want a dog that is prone to nervousness and other temperament flaws, poor hips and knees or many other physical problems buy a dog from a pet store or over the Internet. This is especially prone for the extremely small dogs that are trendy. If you purchase a dog from a pet store or the Net, the chances are much higher that you will be providing a dog to eventually be euthanized at a shelter.

Of course you know none of this when you purchase a dog from a pet store or over the Internet. Instead you will walk away with a certificate of authenticity of the breed, and an assurance that you have made a good decision. But it not true -the "papers" that you will be presented with when you buy a dog from a store are more useful for paper training than proving that you are getting a worthwhile dog.

But you deserve much more for your money than that. If you love a certain breed, and want to spend your hard-earned money - purebred dogs can range from $500 to $1,500 a piece- do yourself and dogs a favor by looking for a reputable breeder. The process will take longer, and the breeder who will be into raising dogs for the love rather than the money will be checking you out as well. Visit the breeder in their home, and I would expect that there would be no more than one litter a year. If the dog breed is known for traits such as hunting, expect to see examples of this traits in the sire and dam, not just a cute puppy physically. The process takes longer - but the breeder who will be into raising dogs for the love rather than the money. They will be checking you out as well! It can be a bit frustrating, but the process will be completely worth it.

One of the most horrifying realizations that you will find as you enter the world of puppy mills is that there is a huge proliferation of them in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, home of the Mennonite and Amish people - generally considered some of the gentlest people in the world. They are known for avoiding most of modern life: they use horse and buggies, they live as a community and are known for their pacifism. There are 600 licensed breeders in Lancaster County, with many more that are hidden, according to an ABC investigative report. The same story is here: dogs that never touch the ground, female dogs bred until they can do it no more and then they are SHOT , in other words and dogs bred with quantity not quality in mind, and many, many diseased puppies as a result. Puppy mills are the ugly underbelly of Pennsylvania, and they affect all areas of agriculture there. For instance, as unbelievable as it seems, puppies and dog feces can be spread on the grounds and used as fertilizer - which truly makes you wonder how safe the produce is.

I have no problem with the Amish - I admire their gentle approach to most of life, and their courage in sticking to their pacifist ways. But the truth of the matter is that in the last twenty or thirty years the Amish have discovered that puppy breeding is a hugely lucrative cash crop, and sometimes greed corrupts. I believe that the Amish have gone away from the spirit of their religion by running puppy mills, and I hope they get back on track.

A local pet store is closing down soon. Every weekend they would hire people to dance around in puppy costumes so they could sell puppies. that would make my blood boil and I would think "I really should organize a protest." But there was always the excuses of the time it would take to organize a protest, and the physical involvement. In the meanwhile I just never shopped there.
Finally it occurred to me that I could have just sent a letter of protest. Maybe just the effort of writing and sending the letter, the stamp it took to mail it and the reaction of the person who opened it would have been enough to let them why they had lost my business.
But it is kind of sad that a local business closed..................
We don't know what we can do if we don't do it. Next time - I will not think the cannon is the only weapon I have, I will put out the olive branch in a respectful protest letter.




Thoughtful Woman...

George Marks

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But just be sure that you have the time, energy and patience to take on a new little being that is as labor intensive as a puppy. Are you really ready to deal with puppy piddles and poop everywhere until your puppy gets trained? Can you afford veterinary care that will come up?

If you can answer "yes" to these questions and to many others that come up about puppy care, then carefully look for a puppy. Get to know the breeder if you are going with a purebred dog, ask many questions if you are adopting a puppy from a shelter.

Once you have your puppy, take care of it, train it, love it and enjoy it.




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