Puppy Mills

 What You Should Know Before Buying a Puppy at a Pet Store

That cute little puppy in the pet store window is tempting and adorable. But before you give in to the temptation and buy that furry bundle of joy, there are some things you should know...

For one, that cute little puppy most likely came from a large-scale, substandard commercial breeding operation, commonly known as a puppy mill. Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and often unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. The breeding stocks at puppy mills (possibly your new puppy’s mom and dad) are bred as often as possible in order to increase profits. Unlike your lucky puppy, the mom and dad will probably never make it out of the mill.

Harsh Realities
The result? By buying a pet shop puppy, not only are you likely perpetuating and supporting a cruel industry, you—the consumer—run the risk of taking home a sick puppy! Dogs from puppy mills have been reportedly diagnosed with ailments such as respiratory infections and pneumonia, as well as hereditary defects like hip dysplasia. They may also be poorly socialized to people and other animals. Also, your new “purebred” puppy might not really be a purebred. Dogs at puppy mills are often bred indiscriminately, and lineage records are sometimes falsified to misrepresent that the dog is a purebred, when in fact, the animal is a mixed breed. Responsible breeders do not sell their dogs through pet stores.

How You Can Help
If you’re looking to make a puppy part of your family, check your local shelters and rescue groups first. There are so many amazing dogs who need homes. If your heart is set on a specific breed, keep in mind that one in four shelter dogs is a purebred. Additionally, you can do an Internet search for breed-specific rescue organizations.

Puppy Mill Cruelty

Also, many of these Puppy Mill facilities are exempt from the minimum standards of care required by current federal law. Most states don't inspect these operations either. The Pet Animal Welfare Statute, PAWS (H.R. 2669/S. 1139), addresses this growing problem. Without PAWS, many puppy mills will continue to escape inspections, and the dogs will continue to suffer.

You can help by contacting your legislators and urging them to pass the PAWS resolution:
Contacts


To learn more about ways you can help end the cruelty of Puppy Mills, go to NoPuppyMills