Thinking About Getting That Cute Puppy in the Pet Store Window?
THINK AGAIN!
About 99% of puppies you see in pet stores have a dark, disgusting and twisted past. Though the puppy may look cute, fluffy and very tempting to take home if you’re looking for a new member to add to your family; please think twice before purchasing from a pet store. Most of those puppies come from places called “Puppy Mills”, “Puppy Farms”, or “Back Yard Breeders”.
What is a Puppy Mill/Puppy Farm?
A Puppy Mill (PM) or Farm is a place where not just hundreds, but thousands of puppies are “pumped” out each year purely for profit. These dogs live in cramped, wire cages that are often exposed to all elements, living in their own filth with little water and poor quality food. These dogs do not get adequate vet care that is needed, they do not get walked or played with, they do not get trained, and they live their lives without any love or real affection. Most often they don’t even have names! They are filthy, diseased, infected, covered in mats and sores and are living in such unsanitary conditions. They’re only purpose to the people who own them is to reproduce and bring in the money. They are often referred to as “cash crops”.
The real victims of puppy mills aren’t exactly the puppies you see for sale in pet stores but instead are their parents that are condemned to live their whole lives in these filthy, horrible conditions were they are bred at every heat cycle. Although the puppies being sold are often sick and inbred with genetic health problems that can end up causing you an expensive vet bill and a lot of heartache.
Not all pet stores buy from Puppy Mills but the majority do. When looking for a puppy, if you decide to go to a pet store on this search ask them about where they get their dogs from. Most stores probably won’t be honest with you so you’ll have to do some research and use some common sense. Unless these dogs are coming from a shelter or rescue they are most likely coming from a PM. If you are told the puppies come from a breeder and not a PM they are probably lying. Think about it; would a good, reputable breeder actually sell their puppies to a pet store? No. Good breeders do in home checks, ask a lot of questions, have a contract with their clients, and will not sell a puppy to someone they’ve never met.
What is a Back Yard Breeder?
Unlike Puppy Millers, Back Yard Breeders (BYB) may have a number of reasons for breeding and one of which could be plain, simple ignorance. They are not always in it for the profit but this does not make what they are doing right. Someone who is breeding for money, does not do health checks on the bitch and dog, does not do in home checks, and does not have a contract are often signs of a BYBer. If they are breeding for just pet quality puppies that qualifies them as a BYBer. Though a BYBer may take excellent care of their dogs when it comes to shelter, love, food, attention and training this does not make them a qualified and reputable breeder. A good breeder will breed for the better of the breed itself, not just to make money or supply the public with puppies.
If you are considering starting a breeding program please first do your research and spend a day or even an hour at your local shelter/humane society. There are thousands and thousands of dogs being put to sleep (euthanized) every year because they do not have a home. The pet over population problem in not only this country but across the globe is a huge problem that most people don’t understand to the grand scheme. There are so many dogs and puppies in dire need of a loving, caring home that there is absolutely no need to bring anymore puppies into this over crowded world.
Most people also don’t understand the true financial costs that come with breeding. If you’re doing it the right way you aren’t actually making any real money, and if you’re doing it the wrong way which causes you to actually make a profit you are part of the problem because you are producing poor-quality dogs that the world doesn’t need. Breeding costs money for the health tests involved with the bitch and dog, the vet exams required during a bitches pregnancy, the stud fees if you don’t own the dog yourself, the good quality food required for both mother and puppies, the proper kenneling/fencing required during a bitches pregnancy as well as during her heat when you do not want her to get impregnated by any dog including your neighbors un-neutered male, the amount of time required to look after mother and pups, the vet costs required after the puppies are born and the cost of the shots required for the puppies. There is also the costs of showing your. The actual fees of entering a show and the travel expenses. Only dogs that meet the breed requirements and are proven to be a good specimen of the breed should be bred.
Back Yard Breeders do not spend the time and money needed as specified above. Cutting corners on costs for breeding means cutting corners on the quality of the dogs produced.
What is a Good, Reputable Breeder?
A good, reputable breeder is someone who does all the things mentioned above when talking about costs. They take excellent care of their dogs whether they are pet quality or show quality. They do not breed during every heat cycle, in fact a lot of good breeders don’t even breed every year!
A good breeder will want to meet not just you, but all members of the household and they will most likely insist on some type of fencing and will want to actually see the home one of their puppies will be living in. They will have a contract designed for either show or pet quality. If pet quality, the contract will specify that the puppy must be spayed or neutered. A good breeder will also want to stay in contact with you and have a return policy no matter what the dog’s age is. If you have to give up the dog for whatever reason they will want to take the dog back! This return policy can’t be seen from either Puppy Mills or Back Yard Breeders.
Going through a reputable breeder may cost more money, time, and may be a lot more difficult to get the puppy you are looking for but is extremely worth it in the end. If anything, the simple satisfaction of knowing you are not supporting such a distasteful and cruel practice as a Puppy Mill should be well worth the time, money and effort it takes to go through a reputable breeder.
Where to Look First When Searching For A Puppy:
The first place you should look when searching for a new addition to your family is a shelter or rescue organization. Even if you’re looking for a purebred dog you can still find one through a shelter. About 50% of dogs found in shelters and rescues are actually purebred. If the breed you are looking for is not at your local shelter or rescue you can also try looking into breed-specific rescues in your area.
Adopting through a shelter or rescue is less expensive than going through a good breeder and far more rewarding. Unless you are looking for a purebred for a specific reason (such as showing or entering other purebred dog competitions), there is no reason not to go through a shelter or rescue. You are not only saving the life of the dog you adopt, but you are also saving the life of a dog who would otherwise not been able to enter the shelter due to crowd control. For each dog that is adopted out of a shelter it opens up space for another dog that desperately needs a home. You are also helping the over-pet population every time you adopt by giving a home to a dog that otherwise wouldn’t have one, and you’re also giving Puppy Millers and BYBers one more reason not to breed due to lack of consumerism.
Both of my dogs are rescues (though one didn’t come specifically from a rescue organization) and I can say from experience it is extremely rewarding knowing you’ve helped save a dogs life. It is also my experience that those dogs who have been rescued know it. They often seem more loving and grateful because of it. Though I do plan on going through a reputable breeder some day in the distant future, for now I can tell you I wouldn’t want to go anywhere except a shelter or rescue to find a new member for my family.
What Can You Do To Help This Problem?
There are many things you can do to help the pet over population problem and to cut down on Puppy Mill productions.
1. Support your local shelter or rescue organization. Donate, volunteer, or adopt are three very important things you can do to help with the pet over population.
2. Educate Others. Spread the word about Puppy Mills and Back Yard Breeders to as many people as you can. If you know someone who is thinking of breeding their pet dog for whatever reason, try to gently persuade them not to and educate them about the problems we have already today with over population and Puppy Mills.
3. Buy from Reputable Breeders Only! If you must have your papers, purebred puppy; please do your research and find a reputable breeder to purchase a puppy from. I can guarantee it will be well worth it in the end!
4. Use the Internet as the Powerful Tool it Is. You can use the internet to help spread the word about Puppy Mills and Back Yard Breeders. The World Wide Web is, really, the greatest Information Highway we have and you should take full advantage of it to support rescue groups, and educate others about the pet over-population problem and poor treatment going on around us!
5.Report Suspected Abuse in Your Area. While, technically, operating a Puppy Mill isn’t against the law; abusing animals is. Dogs kept in unsanitary conditions, without proper shelter, food and veterinary care, like most dogs are kept in Puppy Mills is considered as Animal Abuse and can be reported and prosecuted. Find out about the laws on Animal Abuse in your local area to know what can be reported and what is considered as Animal Abuse. Remember, the more educated you are the more you educate others, the more power you will have in fighting this awful battle!
Links of Interest:
Bellow is a list of Links I think are appropriate for this subject and are well worth a look. Some are to rescue organizations if you would like to help by donating, volunteering and/or supporting the wonderful work these dedicated people do.
Stop Puppy Mlls - HSUS
Puppy Mill Facts
WonderPuppy - Breeder/Breeding Information
Prisoners of Greed - Puppy Mills Breed Misery
1AtATime Rescue - British Columbia
Hug A Bull! - British Columbia Bully Breed Rescue
4 Legged Love - Toronto, Ontario Rescue
HUmane Society of Canada
Humane Society of the United States
Please check back for a DGG Approved Breeders List. I would like to compile such a list to help you find a good, reputable breeder but this list will take a lot of time and effort so please be patient!
