Adopt A Dog Rescue Facts About Puppy Mills
Puppy Mill Q&A
Animal lovers spend a lot of time talking about puppy mills, often with enough vehemence to raise eyebrows. Just what is a puppy mill and why are organizations like the American Humane Society so set against them? The following questions and answers should shed some light on this touchy issue.
Q: What exactly is a puppy mill?
A: A puppy mill is essentially a puppy production factory. Puppy mills are businesses designed to make money. As such, it is in the puppy mill financial interest to produce the highest number of dogs for the least amount of cost. Puppy mills generally sell their stock to pet stores or directly to the public through the internet or newspaper ads. Many puppy mills house their breeding stock (the dogs used to produce the puppies) in horrifying conditions that may include tiny cages, no exercise, dirty food and water, and little or no veterinary care. The first concern of the people who run puppy mills is making a profit, not the care or wellbeing of their animals.
Q: Are all puppy mills really that bad?
A: It possible that there are some humane puppy mills, but the reality is that any person even remotely concerned about animal cruelty wouldn operate a puppy mill. While some puppy mills may take better care of their animals than others, it impossible to run an animal production business on the scale of a puppy mill and give each dog the individual attention and socialization it needs to be healthy. No matter how well a puppy mill cares for its animals, it is still contributing to pet overpopulation. Remember that between 3 and 4 million unwanted dogs are euthanized every year.
Q: What about animal cruelty laws? Doesn the government inspect puppy mills?
A: The Animal Welfare Act requires certain minimum standards be met by any puppy mill that sells holesale?dogs (in other words, sells dogs to pet stores). However,Mbt Sandalen Katika, the Humane Society of the United States reports that many puppy mills are cited repeatedly for violations of the Animal Welfare Act without being fined or having their licenses revoked. Puppy mills that sell directly to the public through the internet or newspapers are not policed by any government organizations and can produce dogs under any conditions they choose, no matter how many dogs they sell.
Q: What is the difference between backyard breeders and puppy mills?
A: Backyard breeders are people who usually only own one or two dogs. Backyard breeders sell puppies that are the result of an at-home breeding program or an accidental pregnancy. Puppy mills are large-scale operations,Mbt Laufschuhe, sometimes with hundreds or even thousands of dogs. While backyard breeding isn a good idea, it usually less objectionable than a puppy mill.
Q: How do I know if the puppy I buying is from a puppy mill?
A: Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure that a puppy isn from a puppy mill is to visit the home or kennel when it was born. Puppies in pet stores are almost always from puppy mills,Mbt Schuhe Sifa, even if the pet store claims not to sell puppy mill puppies. Before buying a puppy from a pet store, ask to see documentation showing where the puppy came from. Most pet stores will refuse this request. If you do manage to see documentation,Mbt Schuhe Raha, it will likely show that the puppy came from another state, an indication of a puppy mill dog. In short, unless the pet store can give you the name and phone number of a local breeder, youe most likely buying a puppy mill dog.
In recent years, puppy mills have begun selling dogs directly to the public through the internet and newspaper ads. These ads are usually misleading and claim that the puppies are aised in a family environment.?Don even think about buying a puppy online or through the newspaper unless you can visit the puppy home in person. If you are buying a dog from another state or a person who refuses to let you visit their home, youe probably buying from a puppy mill.
Q: What are some problems associated with puppies from puppy mills?
A: Dogs born and raised in puppy mills suffer from a wealth of physical and emotional problems. Remember, the goal of puppy mill owners is to get you to buy the puppy; what happens after that doesn matter to them. Often puppies from mills are sick or prone to genetic defects. Puppy mill breeders don screen for genetic disorders like hip dysplasia or heart disease, so dogs from puppy mills are much more likely to develop these conditions than those bred by a responsible, home-based breeder. Many puppy mill dogs die within a few weeks or end up costing their owners thousands of dollars down the line due to congenital health conditions.
Even worse than possible physical problems are the social and behavioral problems that can arise from being born in a puppy mill. Dogs have a very narrow window for socialization that occurs between 6 and 14 weeks of age. Puppies that aren well socialized during this time may never be safe companions for homes with children, cats, or other dogs. Problems like separation anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder can develop in dogs that aren properly socialized.
Q: Are you saying that buying a puppy is bad?
A: It would be a disservice to responsible breeders everywhere to claim that buying a puppy is wrong. Giving an animal a safe, comfortable home is always a good thing. Raising a puppy is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. Buying a puppy in and of itself is not wrong; however,MBT Tariki Schuhe, it is important to get a puppy from a responsible, (preferably local) breeder or animal shelter instead of a pet store.
Q: What can I do about puppy mills?
A: The single most important thing anyone can do to stop puppy mills is to prevent them from being profitable. This means that you should never buy a puppy from a pet store or over the internet unless you know for sure that they do not come from puppy mills. Remember, the only way to truly establish a dog origin is to visit the place it was born.
Now that you know more about puppy mills, spread the word to your family and friends. If you know someone that is looking for a dog, encourage them to adopt a puppy from a local shelter or breed-specific rescue. Knowledge is power, and the more people you inform about puppy mills, the less likely puppy mills will be to prosper.
Be active in your city and state legislative process. Write letters to your representatives and tell them how you feel about puppy mills and animal cruelty. The great thing about living in a democracy is having a voice and the power to change things that aren right. If there is a puppy mill in your community,MBT Habari Sandals, write letters to you local papers or host a community meeting detailing the institution. Remember that you have the power to change the way puppy mills are received in your neighborhood. Just be sure your protests are civil and well within the bounds of the law.
Q: I don want to support a puppy mill, but I do want a purebred puppy. Where can I find one if not at a pet store?
A: 1 in 4 dogs in shelters are pure bred, and there are many pure breed rescues that would love to help you find the puppy youe been dreaming of. Most local shelters can put your name on a waiting list for a specific breed. You may have to wait longer, but imagine how good it will feel to know you are getting the dog you want and saving a life at the same time.
If you can wait or want to be sure you get the a puppy while it is still very young, look for a responsible local breeder. Look for local chapters of breed-specific clubs for suggestions on breeders in your area. If you find a breeder through the newspaper,Mbt Schuhe Kesho, be sure they are willing to let you visit the puppy home and meet both the parents. 相关的主题文章：
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