Whispawillow Kennels

The Cost of that Doggy in the Window

It happens time-and-time again. You walk by a pet store and you see the cutest little bundles of fluff. They are behind glass at the back of the store or up front in plain view of the public. These animals are almost irresistible. Do the dog world a favor – resist. These puppies, these innocent creatures, are often the result of Puppy Mills.

There are fewer dirtier words in the world of dog than these two – Puppy Mill. A Puppy Mill is an abomination on the face of the animal planet. It is a means of making a profit without care or concern for the animals involved. The dog, puppy or adult, is purely merchandise. It is a cog in the wheel of a capitalist system based solely on profit.

A Puppy Mill comes in different types. It does not have a sign on the front stating its purpose. When you buy a dog from a pet store, you are probably purchasing a Puppy Mill dog. Many Pet Stores purchase their animals from brokerages. These sell the animals from Puppy Mills extending across and between countries. These Puppy Mills exist solely to supply the growing demand from pet stores. Pet stores may deal in imported puppies to maximize their profit margin. Sometimes, stores and brokers side-step protective legislation to accomplish this.

Puppy mills are wrong at so many different levels. These commercial breeders do not pay attention to the fundamentals of breeding. They mass-produce animals without concern for genetic defects or hereditary disorders. They then pass on to the buyers, the resultant problems they have created. Your dog may be cute on the surface, but underneath the puppy is about to be a costly medical experiment.

It is not your fault. You mistakenly trusted the store. Puppy mills and the stores that sell this “merchandise” do not screen their animals to ensure the bloodlines will be healthy and true. In essence, they do not care about the overall future of any specific breed, even mixed or designer dogs.

There are other issues surrounding the irresponsible breeding of dogs for profit. Puppy Mills tend to not care for the physical and emotional well-being of their animals. Both breeding stock and offspring live in neglect. This is frequently physical abuse. Like factory animals (another crime against living beings) pups and dogs reside in small cages stacked high. Sometimes, they are let loose to live in appalling conditions.

Puppy mills can be a factory type facility. The animals live in cramped cages with barely adequate food and water. They do not receive beyond the basics. Bitches and dogs mate in a never ending cycle, worn out. They are then tossed away. Animals may receive basic or no medical care. Often, they do not undergo a proper socialization process.

Some of the Puppy Mills are family concerns. These people raise their dogs in the backyard or in large out buildings. Little effort is made to provide adequate heating. Such puppy breeders neglect their animals. Frequently the dogs and puppies under their care lack even the essential necessities of life – food and water. The Humane Societies and Pet Police rescue animals from Puppy Mills on a regular basis. Unfortunately, they cannot save all the animals. They do not have the right to shut down some Puppy Mills. Legislature will help. It is up to very individual to sign petitions and write their legislative representatives to ensure the end to inhumane Puppy Mills. A puppy or a dog is NOT a commodity. Dogs are living beings deserving humane and just treatment.

Information provided by Amanda Harris; for additional dog training articles by Amanda, check out additional topics on orthopedic dog beds & dog training info.