Puppy Farms

Do You Know Where Your Puppy Came From?

Do you know where your puppy came from?

Puppy farms are also commonly referred to as puppy mills. Puppy farms are commercial operations that are mass breeding pure bred puppies solely for profit. There are thousands of them across the country and they supply millions of puppies to the public each year.

Puppies are Big Business

These farms mass produce as many puppies as possible as cheaply as possible. Owning and operating a mill is not illegal in this country as long as basic care is provided for the dogs. Minimal food, water, shelter and veterinary care is what is required by law to mass produce puppies. It is legal for a dog to live his entire life in a tiny wire cage without human interaction or the ability to run. Because the requirements are very minimal, many would consider the conditions at the legal farms to be inhumane.

The truth is that most of the puppy mills do not operate within the legal guidelines and many are in constant violation of the very minimal requirements. Wire cages are stacked so that dogs on the upper levels are forced to eliminate on the dogs in the lower levels. Multiple dogs are shoved into cages too small for one. Food and water may be scarce. Veterinary care is many times overlooked completely.

The breeding stock dogs are bred over and over until they are no longer capable of producing litters. The moment they no longer produce, they are killed and their years of living in a tiny cage are finally over. Thousands of puppies can be produced each year by just one mill and there are thousands of these mills across the country. The puppies may only endure a brief stay in the horrific conditions, but the effects are numerous and long lasting. Many of the puppies are sick. Some are so sick that the unsuspecting new owners incur large vet bills trying to get the puppy healthy. Other puppies don’t survive the tough start in life. Many puppies die in transport to the pet shops or shortly after being purchased. The puppies that do survive, suffer from long term psychological problems and genetic health defects.

Puppies are big business and highly profitable. These farms continue to exist because the unsuspecting public continues to purchase these puppies and continues to contribute to the profits of these inhumane breeders. If people stopped buying these puppies, mills would cease to make a profit and would naturally go out of business.

Thousands of Puppies

ALL of the puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy farms. Most of the online classified ads are also ads from puppy farms. A responsible breeder that is breeding to enhance the breed would never sell their puppies in a pet store or agree to sell a puppy to the first person to show up with the cash. A responsible breeder will want to interview you and make sure that their puppy is going to a suitable home. They will want to stay in touch with you to make sure that the puppy is healthy and happy in your home.

black dog at Utah Humane Society click here for more information

Owners of these farms don't care where the puppies go and what happens to them when they leave. They care only about getting paid for the puppy. They are very good at posing as something they are not. They will post classified ads and create a website with pictures of rolling hills and kids playing with the well cared for puppies. They will tell you that the puppies are family raised. They are also more than happy to ship the puppies to you or bring the puppy to you. This is all done to prevent you from seeing how the puppy was truly raised.

Ending Puppy Mills

Puppy farms and puppy mills would quickly cease to exist if no one bought puppies from them. This is the key to putting them out of business and ending the abuse. Following are some ways that you can help put a stop to the madness.

1. Do not buy puppy farm puppies. If no one buys the puppies, they will go out of business. Do not buy a puppy mill dog with the thought that you are “rescuing” the dog. By purchasing one of these puppies, you have just put money in the pockets of the owner. You’ve made him a profit, and opened up space for another puppy. The cycle will continue.

2. Never purchase a puppy from a pet store. Don't buy pet supplies or other items from any store that sells puppies.

3. Do not purchase a puppy from a classified ad or Craig’s list posting.

4. Adopt a puppy or older dog from your local shelter.

5. If you want a papered pure breed puppy, do the research to find a quality breeder. When you get your puppy, make sure to visit the home that he was raised in. Meet the parents and get to know the breeder. Know how he was raised and what you are getting.

Additional Resources

There are several organizations and quality Web sites that provide in-depth coverage of puppy mills and how to help shut them down.

Stop Puppy Mills

Prisoners of Greed

United Against Puppy Mills

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