The terms ‘puppy mills’ and ‘puppy farms’ have been heard a lot on the news through the last decade but some people still do not understand exactly what these words mean or the suffering behind such innocuous sounding terms. In short, puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities that operate below standard conditions. Puppy mills are about making money, not about the health or well being of the dogs.

What is a Reputable Dog Breeder?

It might be easiest to first explain what a reputable dog breeder is and what makes them different then a puppy mill. Organizations like PETA would have anyone who breeds dogs painted with the same brush. However, this is an unfair generalization as most dog breeders raise litters for the love and betterment of the breed.

Man has been breeding dogs since we first domesticated them 1500 years ago. It started with the desire to reproduce desirable traits while limiting negative ones. An example would be the development of good hunting dogs that aided early man in securing food for the village.

Fast forward around 1200 years and man is still breeding dogs with specific traits in an attempt to be able to reproduce those traits in offspring. However, the uses have broadened dramatically and dogs are not only companions in the field or protecting their flocks but are also becoming housedogs and dogs of leisure. Specific breeds are named and dog shows soon follow in order to judge how well a dog matches its breed type. Dogs that display the best breed type are used in a breeding program to further improve the breed overall.

Today, good breeders – breeders of reputation – still only breed dogs that display the best breed type. Breeding stock are shown, judged, cleared of all hereditary conditions, and live in ideal situations where they are pets first, exercised, fed well, and loved. Good breeders know the value of keeping their dogs in peak health and condition and do so not because of the monetary value of their offspring but for the overall good of the breed. A well known joke around a dog show is that a good breeder will never be rich as they always keep the best pup for themselves and any money they do make off the sale of the rest of litter is reinvested in top quality food, medical care, training, and dog show entries.

What is a Puppy Mill?

Puppy mills are the opposite of a reputable dog breeder. Their object is to make a living off of their dogs and the welfare of their breeding stock and puppies is not a consideration. Often dogs live in dirty, overcrowded conditions with little ventilation and no socialization or exercise. Because of the media hype surrounding puppy mills, owners have had to work harder to hide the multitude of dogs on their property so the dogs never leave the kennel building nor does a veterinarian ever see them. Breeding stock is not chosen by which dogs most closely represent the breed standard or who is free of genetic defects but rather by who is in heat at the time. Food is substandard and sparse. The bottom line is always the cost of care versus how much they can make off of the pups.

Who Buys Puppy Mill Puppies?

Puppy mills sell their pups over the Internet, at swap meets, or out of the back of a van in a parking lot. However, their chief retail outlets are pet stores. How many times have you walked by a pet store window and seen a cute pup inside? You instantly want to take it home because it looks so sad in that cage! Pet shop puppies tug at our heartstrings and many end up being bought on a whim. Once the pup grows up, they develop health and  temperament  issues, often winding up in shelters because the person that bought the pup did not expect the cost or time involved with raising a happy, well-adjusted member of the canine society.

How Do We put a Stop to Puppy Mills?

Stop buying what they sell! Do not buy pups sold at pet stores or swap meets. Ask to see the parents of the litter, the pedigrees, the paperwork stating the parents passed the tests for genetic testing and match all these things to the tattoo in the dogs’ ears or flank. If the dogs have a microchip instead of a tattoo, take the two parents to your vet and ask them to ‘scan’ the microchips, then match the paperwork to the microchip. If these numbers do not match, be wary as these parents are not who the breeder says they are and something fishy is going on.

Remember: a reputable breeder raises puppies because she loves the breed, not for the money. If you are suspicious about after visiting a kennel, contact your local animal control for information.