May 21st, 2010
If you’ve ever purchased one of those cute little puppies in the window of a pet store – any pet store – you’re likely buying a puppy that originated in a puppy mill.
On Monday evening, Animal Planet aired an investigative documentary from the HSUS on the connection between the large pet chain, Petland, and puppy mills.
The North Shore Animal League America claims 18,000 adoptions each year and most of their animals are plucked from high kill shelters and puppy mills. It says it is the world’s largest no kill animal adoption and rescue organization They work with many smaller rescues, as well as the National Mill Dog Rescue, to place dogs that are rescued from puppy mills.
Their website defines a puppy mill as “mass breeding operations that run solely for the purpose of making a profit. In these mills, the health, happiness or well-being of the animals are of no concern. Animals are kept in terribly inhumane conditions, where they live in cramped and unsanitary quarters, NEVER leave their cages, do not receive any necessary medical care, and never get any affection or caring human interaction. They have very limited socialization and the poorest quality food. They never have a treat or a toy and have never heard the words, “good dog.” They are basically just being kept alive.”
I was horrified when the documentary stated that an estimated 30,000 a year dogs are sold through Petland alone. I was even more appalled to read the stats on the North Shore site, which states more than 3,500 pet stores in the U.S. sell over 500,000 dogs each year.
Most rescues and shelters agree that puppy mills and backyard breeders, or hobby breeders who have fewer dogs than mills, but little knowledge of advancing the breed, are largely responsible for the pet overpopulation problem.
These mills and backyard breeders aren’t to be confused with legitimate, quality breeders. These legitimate breeders are few and generally have no more than a couple dogs of one breed they love. They possess unlimited knowledge of the breed and their first and only concern is for their dogs. They’re not in it for the money, but to advance the breed. They have tests ran for genetic defects inherent in the breed and do temperment testing on all of their dogs. As a result of the quality of the dogs and the cost for producing just one litter, their puppies generally run $1,500 up to the tens of thousands of dollars. They do not advertise in the newspapers, on the Internet or sell their puppies through pet stores. Unlike puppy mills, their females usually only produce one or two litters during their entire lives.
Puppy mill dogs are over bred until their bodies can no longer produce. At that time, they are usually deemed a business liability and killed.
Dogs at a puppy mill are a commodity, nothing more.
It is those dogs, the ones no longer of use to a puppy mill operator, which the North Shore Animal League America usually offers for adoption at their facilities on the East Coast.
This week, the organization received 97 dogs from mills in Oklahoma and Missouri to rehabilitate and place for adoption in New York. Next Friday, I’ll post a story about the organization and what they’re doing to try and help mill dogs and other dogs in the south and Midwest.
A recent AP/petside.com poll revealed that 54 percent of the respondents would adopt their next dog from a shelter and 23 percent would buy from a breeder. Do you think most people know the difference from a true quality breeder, a puppy mill or a backyard hobby breeder? Tell us in the comments section.
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Tags: hsus, National Mill Dog Rescue, North Shore Animal League America, petland and puppy mills, puppy mills and pet stores
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9 Responses to “Puppy Mills and Pet Stores”
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Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell has had dogs all of her life. Her first rescue was Hershey, a miniature black and brown Dacshund. She ruled the Campbell household until 2005 when she passed away at age 16. The case of Scruffy, a Yorkshire terrier whose torture death was videotaped in 1997, horrified the nation when the tape appeared on national news shows. Kerri began covering the trial for the local daily newspaper in Kansas City, Kansas where the crime occurred. Her investigation into animal cruelty cases led to her awareness of the puppy mill problem in that state.
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Kerri,
Great post! The images from shelters should sicken anyone who has a love for animals.
However, we should not lump all breeders together. As you mention, there is a vast difference between quality and “backyard” breeders. The elements you cite — not advertising in newspapers, only breeding dogs relatively rarely, running genetic tests — are a good way for prospective owners to determine whether they are dealing with a reputable breeder. If your breeder has lots of litters, advertises in newspapers, and tells you other litters are on the way, they may not be the best to work with.
Another important test: how much time does the breeder spend with you? Any reputable breeder will ask a lot of questions and thoroughly look into your worthiness as an owner. It may take weeks to actually get a dog from a reputable breeder! If the breeder is ready to sell you a dog the first time you meet, that’s a bad sign.
Responsibility for improving dogs works both ways: breeders and owners have a part to play!
Excellent points, Matthew. Thank you for weighing in. Reputable breeders will also have a clause in their contract requiring the dog be brought back if it doesn’t work out (as with happened with President Obama’s dog Bo before he became “First Dog,”)and will usually have the dog already spayed/neutered or have this requirement as part of the contract.
Kerri,
Great post. I hope that eventually people will stop supporting puppy mills with their $ and that it will cease to be a profitable way to do “business.” We can dream, can’t we?
Allie
That’s a really good dream, Allie!
The screening is entirely something that must be emphasized. There are far too many people who jump into purchasing a dog, any dog that they’re just not prepared for. This, unfortunately, has happened at shelters as well in more urgent situations. Did you hear about the SPCA in Ontario, not too far from me that started killing off dogs who had ringworm? Almost 100 were adopted out in response to the controversy (thank goodness) and because of the desperation of the situation, standards were lowered to allow anyone who sud they’d care for the animal to take one home. I can’t help but wonder how many people will realize they’ve taken on more than they thought they would (even with medical costs) simply by trying to do the right thing and save the animal from being put down? It’s hard to fault that, but at the same time…bet many of them will end up right back in the same situation all over again. If people were forced to think through their animal adoption decisions with the influence of shelters/breeders, there would be a lot less without homes!
That is sad, Beth. But the problem begins with a market that is so oversaturated with animals. That is the root of the problem and one that has to be corrected first.
Kerri — These images of puppy mills make me absolutely nauseous! I am glad that you posted them so that people who don’t realize what all the hoopla against puppy mills is all about can see the horrific reality.
It is terrible, isn’t it, Sharon? I hope the rest of the country wises up and passes legislation similar to that in PA.
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