| Soon it will be time for the jingle of bells, the little | | | | with breeders and not puppy mills. However, in plain |
| man in the funny red suit and thoughts will be turned | | | | English, anyone who has puppies for sale can be |
| to what shall I buy for the loved ones on my list. In | | | | considered a breeder. Responsible breeders want to |
| many homes the thought of a puppy crosses the | | | | know whom their puppies are going to, they want to |
| mind of a parent, especially if, throughout the year, | | | | meet you and would not consider selling to a pet |
| there has been whining and begging for a puppy. | | | | store. |
| Puppies are great gifts and can become a treasured | | | | Pet stores will also say that their puppies come from |
| part of a child's life, but only if you the parent realize | | | | USDA-inspected facilities - there are hundreds of so |
| the responsibility a puppy brings. Do not think that | | | | called licensed puppy mills with violation lists as long as |
| getting your child a puppy will teach total | | | | your arm that are USDA-inspected at one time or |
| responsibility, no matter what the child tells you it will | | | | another, selling to pet stores. |
| do in order to get what it wants. | | | | If your pet store says they only deal with breeders |
| You, the parent, have to be ready and willing to take | | | | they know - ask for documentation, you will generally |
| over the responsibility if your child fails to live up to | | | | see the puppies come from out of state locations |
| its word. That said, it is time to look into where to | | | | and not from your area. |
| look for that precious gift and what to be on the | | | | One of the best sales pitches they give is "our |
| lookout for. | | | | puppies come with a health certificate," this truly |
| Pet stores are a great source of pedigreed puppies, | | | | proves nothing. The certificate means the puppy was |
| yes/no? Pet stores for the most part (not all, mind | | | | seen by a veterinarian for a quick overall check up, |
| you) deal knowingly or unknowingly with puppy mills. | | | | but did not include any testing or checking for any |
| What are puppy mills? | | | | genetic diseases or problems. |
| Puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce | | | | The health guarantee which is another sales strong |
| purebred puppies in large numbers for profit. A puppy | | | | point, is designed full of loop holes that protect the |
| mill has little or no interest in the health of the puppy | | | | store's interest and not yours. More than likely you |
| or its parents. As long as the pair can produce what | | | | will have to return the puppy in order to get a refund |
| appears to be a healthy puppy, they are only kept | | | | on your money or you will accept the problems the |
| for breeding purposes. | | | | puppy brings and pay all the bills yourself. It is a case |
| Puppy mills do not do health checks to rid a particular | | | | where you are doomed if you do and doomed if you |
| breed of certain health problems nor do they spend | | | | don't because by the time the puppy's illness or |
| the money to have their breeding pairs checked to | | | | problem shows up, you heart is already entwined |
| remove their own particular health problems. | | | | around the little one and you cannot give it up. |
| How is a puppy mill run? | | | | Having a set of registration papers does not prove |
| Most dogs in a puppy mill do not see the light of day | | | | the puppy is from a reputable breeder, it is only a |
| or ever feel the cool green grass under their feet. | | | | record of the puppy's parents and possibly other |
| They are kept in small cages one on top of the | | | | earlier generations. These papers do not ensure that |
| other for as long as they can be bred. The dogs are | | | | your puppy is a healthy one or that it is free from |
| filthy, usually not in the best of health and the | | | | any genetic defects. Registration papers do not show |
| females are bred every single time they come into | | | | if the puppy and its parents were raised in a human |
| heat. | | | | environment, socialized and fed proper food, |
| Puppies and/or their parents are never socialized, | | | | Puppy mills keep their breeding dogs in cages, they |
| handled with love and care or even have proper | | | | are never allowed to play and be cuddled, most |
| veterinary care. | | | | never see the light of day and when they can no |
| Puppy mills have little regard for bloodlines and will | | | | longer breed successfully, they are discarded. |
| breed a sister and a brother together just to get the | | | | If you are in the market for a puppy consider these |
| litter. | | | | alternatives and do not buy a puppy from a pet |
| The puppies and the parents are generally fed low | | | | store or even think of buying one, sight unseen from |
| quality food. Puppies are generally taken early from | | | | the Internet. |
| their mothers and are shipped in trucks to various | | | | Adopting a dog from a no kill shelter, Humane |
| pet stores. Some die on the way and those that do | | | | Society or the ASPCA is one of the best ways to |
| not, you can be assured will have problems, once you | | | | put the puppy mills out of business, plus you are |
| are the owner. | | | | saving a life. Many purebreds can be found at any of |
| Puppy mills have no regard for such conditions as hip | | | | these places. Mixed breed dogs make fabulous pets, |
| dysplasia, eye problems, behavioral problems, | | | | remember your children want a dog, not a label or a |
| psychological problems or other genetic disorders. | | | | status symbol |
| Their sole goal is providing a warm body and to let | | | | If you are determined to buy from a breeder, do |
| you worry about the condition and health of it after | | | | your research and then visit the breeder. True |
| the sale. | | | | breeders will be happy to show you where your |
| How did puppy mills come about? | | | | puppy lives, introduce you to the parents and allow |
| You can blame our government. The concept began | | | | you time to spend with several puppies, so that you |
| in the 1960's when the government suggested that | | | | get the one just right for you. |
| "cash strapped" farmers begin to breed dogs for | | | | Do not be swayed by pet store ads or a website |
| profit in order to supplement their income. | | | | that is promoting a wonderful sale. Nine chances out |
| That suggestion took flight and literally there are | | | | of ten, the puppies are from a puppy mill and you |
| thousands of such breeding places currently found | | | | are playing Russian roulette in regards to the puppy's |
| within the United States. The Midwestern states such | | | | health issues and your own happiness. |
| as Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, and Pennsylvania having the | | | | Another bit of advice is "put aside your good |
| largest number of puppy mills. | | | | intentions" and do not rescue a puppy from a puppy |
| The onset of television and the showing of a "cute | | | | mill, buying that puppy makes room for one more |
| puppy" will make the demand for that particular | | | | and gives the puppy mill and the pet store more |
| breed skyrocket and thus grows another puppy mill. | | | | incentive to keep filling the cages. |
| The government instituted USDA-Inspections of | | | | Last, but not least, when buying a puppy from a |
| facilities that breed puppies, some states even | | | | breeder, keep in mind the breeder should be asking |
| require state kennel licenses and inspection, but that | | | | you as many questions as you are asking them. They |
| does not mean they are not puppy mills. The USDA | | | | should be interested in how you are going to take |
| rarely if ever revoke a breeder's license or even fine | | | | care of their puppy and if your relationship with the |
| a breeder for repeated violations. Some states | | | | puppy will be life long. A reputable breeder will take |
| require licenses, but do not have enough inspectors | | | | back a puppy, no matter how old, if you are unable |
| to go around or the budget to carry out the | | | | to take care of it for any reason. |
| inspections properly. Just because a breeder can say | | | | If you are ready to get a puppy, do your |
| that they are USDA licensed is not a guarantee that | | | | homework, research breeds to see which dog is right |
| the business is not a puppy mill. A driver's license | | | | for you, even if you are looking for a mixed breed |
| does not make a person a good driver, does it? | | | | (mutt) check out the breeds you see in the dog, to |
| Pet stores and the Internet are prime sources for | | | | make certain it fits your lifestyle. Do not expect a |
| these puppy mills to sell their dogs to. Many of the | | | | greyhound to be happy in a small one-room |
| dogs sold in the pet stores end up with medical | | | | apartment with no yard to run and play in. |
| problems that if they do not show up within a few | | | | Having a pet should be a commitment; a pet is a |
| months will rear their ugly heads within the first year | | | | living creature and should not be considered as a |
| or two. | | | | one-night stand, a status symbol for the moment or |
| How are Pets Stores handling these allegations? | | | | as a disposable object. |
| Pet stores are happy to tell you that they only deal | | | | |