What is a Puppy Mill ? (revised 12/31/13 :)

"Commercial Kennels" become "puppy mills" when animals are housed in inhumane and filthy conditions, offered little in the way of proper medical care and disposed of when they're no longer productive as breeding stock.

 Both are MASS PRODUCERS , operating as a business, with the primary goal of MAKING A PROFIT !!! 

The appeal of puppies as a retail item goes back at least as far as the old song "(How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?)" cruelty in the high-volume breeding operations that feed the pet trade has been documented for decades.

 

"The term “Puppy Mill” generally refers to a high-volume, sub-standard dog-breeding operation, which sells purebred or mixed breed dogs, directly or indirectly to unsuspecting buyers. Some of the characteristics common to puppy mills are:
(a) Sub-standard health and/or environmental issues;
(b) Sub-standard animal care, treatment and/or socialization;
(c) Sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders;
(d) Erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background.


They sell primarily to retail pet shops (usually via a broker), but occasionally sell directly to individual consumers. Dogs are bred solely for profit, with no concern for their physical health or psychological well-being - some are disease-ridden; all are there with the sole purpose of reproducing as frequently as possible.  .

While  many  operations  practice acceptable animal care that at minimum meets the standards of care provided for other commercial livestock, other breeding businesses care little for their animals. Even the "good" commercial breeders do not offer what behaviorists argue is essential for a temperamentally sound family pet: constant in-house exposure to normal family life and gentle socialization by all manner of people and children. Commercial kennels frequently (and legally !) house 50 or more breeding age animals with multiple litters being produced every week !  While  ALL animals deserve to be raised humanely,  A family companion is NOT the same as a steer that will ultimately become a family's dinner ! 

The United States Department of Agriculture licenses both large commercial kennels and other livestock producers with a set of standards and guidelines of housing and care required. However, there is  documented inconsistencies in the frequency and thoroughness of USDA inspections. While new legislation is being introduced in many states, the root problem is  the lack of funding and manpower to enforce the current laws and educating the public. PR blips and "feel good" /"sounds good on paper" legislation does not keep the focus on mass producers and will not in the long run do much to help the dogs in puppy mills !  Unfortunately, animal cruelty laws carry light penalties and are also often poorly enforced. ***Some Puppy Mills are NOT licensed or regulated at all ! ***

There's really no way to determine what misery may exist behind the puppy you're buying unless you investigate and do your homework.

Do not buy from a Pet Store.  Even a nice shop that cares for their puppies in stock cannot tell you what that puppy's experiences were before it arrived at their door! Most pet stores are supplied by brokers who buy entire litters as young as 5 weeks old! They have not had the opportunity to have the socialization or  natural puppy development provided by mom and littermates and you will probably be the 4th place they've lived already in their young life ! .   

Try to  buy from  a person who can show you either the Mother or the Father  and where the puppies are raised  in the house with plenty of love and care.  Also ask for a pedigree of your new puppy.   Any responsible breeder will be glad to show off their line that they have been developing over the years. Talk to your Breeder about care and grooming of  your puppy.  Don't be afraid to ask for a grooming demonstration.   Know what you are getting into before you purchase that cute little puppy.  Don't forget to discuss your puppies eating habits and the type of food they have been feeding the puppy.  Also do yourself a favor and ask for references before you write that check for that new puppy. 

 Educate yourself about the breed.   Ask lots of questions when you call or visit any breeder. Take your time in deciding what dog  is the right dog for you and your family.    Find out  how much exercise it will need, vet care and food expenses, will it be good with other pets or more likely to do well in a solo pet home, will it be good with kids, what health problems is the breed prone to? what is the breeds general temperament and attitude-- easy to housebreak? typically more of  a  guard dog or one that  loves everybody and everyone? How much grooming will it need as an adult ?  DO NOT IMPULSE BUY !!!!

While "designer breeds", adopted/rescued dogs, and mixed breeds can all be wonderful companions, take into consideration that  Crossbred dogs are prone to all of the genetic diseases of both breeds and you lose the advantage of a reputable breeder with several generations of dogs behind your new pup to give a good picture of what it is going to grow up into .

Doing your Homework will surely pay off in the long run and please do not be afraid to ask questions.  TOO Many dogs  have been cast aside because the person did not know what they were getting themselves into when the cute little puppy grew up or their living situation changed ! The right dog in the right Forever Family is a lifelong member of that family!