www.pommiebabies.com/puppiemills.html

Warning: the above site is very graphic.

Puppy Mills

What are puppy mills?
Breeding bitches
What about the puppies?
What about health care?
Where do the puppies go?
What can you do?

A puppy mill is a commercial breeding facility that mass-produces puppies for sale usually in overcrowded, dirty and inhumane conditions. The objective is to produce as many puppies as possible with minimal cost or effort, rather like cash crops. With little or no attention to selective breeding, genetic disorders and other problems are common.

The breeding females, called bitches, are generally bred on every heat until their production rate declines and then they are killed, usually at 6-7 years of age. During this miserable time, they are usually kept in cages with little or no opportunity for exercise, comfort or social interaction with people or other dogs except their puppies. Frequently the cages are stacked on top of each other with excrement from the upper levels falling through the wire mesh on to the animals below.

At least the puppies have a chance at a better life than their mothers when they are sold into the pet trade. Some, unfortunately, must first endure long journeys across North America in trucks crowded with many other puppies on their way to a pet store. At only a few months old and sometimes without any vaccinations, many puppies are sick by the time they reach their destination.

In addition to the high incidence of physical problems, many of these puppies lack any social or psychological stability. Living in a cage for the first eight weeks of their lives, with little human contact can cause severe behavioural problems. They may be fearful, aggressive and depressed. A puppy that has lived only in a wire cage may be afraid and unable to walk on a solid floor.

The early stages of a puppy's life are crucial in laying the foundation for his future interactions with people and with other dogs. Some puppies never fully recover from the fear and stress of the cage environment, the travelling and the lack of human companionship.

Because the puppy mill operators want to keep their costs as low as possible, the dogs often receive insufficient food of poor quality, sometimes just scraps. Veterinary care is generally non existent or very rare, partly to prevent any outsiders from seeing the conditions endured by the dogs. Some puppies may receive vaccinations to comply with regulations.

Most puppy mills pups are sold to pet stores either directly or through a broker. Prior to 1994, a significant percentage of puppies sold in Canadian pet stores came from puppy mills in the United States. CFHS worked with other groups seeking regulation of the import of puppies into Canada. In 1995, Agriculture Canada introduced legislation requiring that pups be at least eight weeks old, permanently identified by a microchip, that they be vaccinated and examined by a veterinarian. The regulation has reduced the number of puppies coming in from the United States. However, it has resulted in a significant increase in the number of puppy mills in Canada.

Consider adopting a dog or cat from your local humane society or municipal animal shelter. There are many fine animals waiting for a chance at a loving home.

Do not buy a dog or cat from a pet store unless the store is a satellite location for adoption of animals from the local humane society/SPCA. Some societies have established such programs to increase the visibility of animals available for adoption. The same screening process should apply as for adoptions directly from the shelter.

If you want a purebred dog, buy directly from a reputable breeder, preferably one that has been personally recommended to you. Make sure you see the conditions where the puppies are kept and at least one of the pup's parents. Ask the breeder about genetic disorders and how they are trying to prevent them. The puppy should come with a non-breeding agreement and some guarantee of health. A good breeder will ask you questions about where you live and how you plan to care for the puppy.

It is best to visit a few breeders before making your choice. Here are some things to look for to ensure you are dealing with a good and reputable breeder:

• Make sure you see the conditions where the puppies are kept and at least one of the pup's parents.
• Good breeders deal only with one or two breeds and they will have plenty of competition ribbons and prizes to show you.
• Ask the breeder about genetic disorders and how they are trying to prevent them. Every breed has tendencies toward certain genetic conditions and the breeder should be knowledgeable about this.
• The puppy should come with registration papers from the Canadian Kennel Club, although this in itself is not an indication of health or soundness. The breeder should also show you pedigrees indicating the puppy's heritage
• Don't buy from anyone who asks for additional money for registration papers.
• The puppy should also come with a non-breeding agreement that you and the breeder both sign. This prevents you from registering puppies from your new dog.
• A good breeder will provide written guarantees of health for the puppy and its parents - this will include certification papers that the parents of the puppy are free of genetic disorders.
• A good breeder will ask you questions about where you live and how you plan to care for the puppy.
• No good breeder sells puppies to pet stores.

I am not the auhor of this article. Angie.