It is sad to know that puppy mills still exist because people continue to buy their puppies from pet stores. Many states are making new legislation that only rescue dogs can be sold in pet stores.
This is a sponsored guest post, and Golden Woofs received compensation, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.
Patience is a virtue when it comes to choosing a dog. The overriding excitement and emotion of bringing an animal into your life can lead to rash decisions being made.
One of the worst examples of this is choosing to purchase a dog from a puppy mill.
Here’s a quick guide you need to know about this cruel trade and few tips to help you avoid buying from puppy mill sellers:
What is a Puppy Mill?
A puppy mill is a dog breeding facility that prioritizes profit over an animal’s well-being.
Puppy mills are usually large-scale operations where the animals are kept in overcrowded and sometimes unsanitary pens. Often without proper nutrition or care.
Puppies are often separated from their mother and siblings at a young age to be sold, leading to behavioral problems that can be difficult for owners to overcome in the future.
In some extreme cases, female dogs are bred on a continual basis, with very little recovery time between pregnancies. Once they reach the age of which they can no longer produce, they are euthanized.
The American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals (ASPCA) estimates that there are around 10,000 puppy mills operating in the United States alone.
Why Shouldn’t You Buy From a Puppy Mill?
From a dog owner’s point of view, it’s important to realize that dogs from puppy mills are rarely bred with genetic quality in mind.
As a result, it’s not uncommon for puppy mill puppies to develop hereditary conditions. Particularly as the same female dog is often used for breeding.
Other things to take into consideration such as the increased likelihood of the animal suffering from a congenital condition or disease due to their poor living conditions.
Buying from a puppy mill or an associate, such as a pet store, encourages these breeding methods and contributes to the suffering of more dogs.
What Are Obvious Signs A Dog Is From A Puppy Mill?
No Parents
Always ask to meet the parents of the puppy you’re about to buy. You can then be confident that they’re unlikely to suffer from any hereditary health conditions.
The Breeder Asks to Meet Somewhere
There isn’t a valid reason as to why you shouldn’t be allowed to see the place in which your potential new pet has been brought up.
If the breeder asks to meet you somewhere, such as a parking lot, alarm bells should be ringing.
The Breeder Has Several Different Breeds For Sale
Reputable breeders tend to specialize in one breed. Puppy mills take a quantity over quality approach.
The Breeder Has Multiple Litters Available
A reputable breeder only allows a female to give birth to a litter once a year. This is why waiting lists often develop. A puppy mill will often have large litters continually available throughout the year.
What Alternatives Do I Have?
The internet has a wide range of options available to us, but be sure to do your research and check for signs of puppy mill dogs there too.
Arrange visits with reputable independent breeders, committed to proper animal welfare. Get real assurances over the quality of a litter’s upbringing.
Alternatively, try a rescue shelter. You get to enjoy the gratification of making a real difference to the quality of a dog’s life.
great post!!! we once bought a puppy mill dog… and it was a little like a deja-vue… we met the guy in a parking lot far away from his house… we learnt our lesson, but sadly there was no internet that time and no information about such cruelty breeders, so we stumbeld bule eyed in this adventure…
Thanks for the Information
I agree with most of these except this one:
The Breeder Asks to Meet Somewhere
There isn’t a valid reason as to why you shouldn’t be allowed to see the place in which your potential new pet has been brought up.
I prefer not to have potential buyers come to my house. I have heard horror stories. People pretending to be buyers, and then coming back later and stealing the puppies. People bringing in germs and viruses, because they are visiting multiple breeders on the same day. The list goes on…
I have the potential buyers meet me at a family members house, and I bring the dam with me so they can meet her. I make them take off their shoes before stepping inside the pen. And often we ask them to purell their hands. I am so emotionally invested in my puppies I would be devastated if something happened.
I would also add, potential buyers should contact the National breed club. They can recommend reputable breeders, who have to follow a code of ethics.
We’ve recently noticed a supposed kennel–brokers, really, who buy up litters of puppies and then sell them on as if they are the breeders. You really have to do research.
Great post on some potential red flags….
I can’t remember seeing a pet store that sells puppies in a long time. The puppy mills I’ve discovered are backyard breeders trying to impersonate a reputable one.
This is a great post, thanks for sharing these tips. It’s amazing but SO many people are still very unaware that puppy mill puppies are in so many pet stores and also online. It’s great to reduce the ability to impulse buy a puppy from a pet or puppy store but I fear the millers will simply do more business online. I love the tip that you should be able to see the place the puppy was born in and be able to see the parents.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
This is such a great post! I can’t imagine not being able to decipher the difference between a puppy mill and a reputable breeder, however, they wouldn’t exist without buyers. Education is the key, so thank you for this valuable information!