Why You Shouldn’t Support Puppy Mills
Puppy mills have been in the news recently due to the negative consequences occurring to the puppies, pet breeding industry, and other pertinent factors. Increasing numbers of animal welfare groups and pet lovers are outraged about these mills. It is important to avoid doing business with puppy mills for many reasons. This article will provide more insight into this fascinating and disturbing topic.
Why Are They Bad Places?
Every living being is entitled to being treated with respect, compassion, and dignity. These facilities are operated by individuals or companies who exhibit none of those qualities. Animals are treated poorly, without concern for their well-being, mental health, and positive growth. Many are kept in wire cages that hurt and maim feet. Others cannot urinate or defecate without getting it on other puppies. Local authorities are busting mills throughout the country and finding deplorable living conditions. Dogs and puppies are found being sick, maimed, and scared.
What Are Puppy Mills?
According to the ASPCA, there is no specific legal definition of what kinds of facilities qualify as puppy mills. However, on a general definition, puppy mills are often large scale commercial breeding facilities that are driven by profit instead of an emphasis on the welfare and wellbeing of the dogs bred. It is not surprising to find its dogs severely neglected without any regard to responsible and ethical breeding practices.
How Many Puppy Mills Exist in the U.S.?
According to the ASPCA, many puppies sold by these mills have falsified breeding records. Records state that, at any given time, about 10,000 of these facilities exist. Many are not licensed or legal.
What About Buying Puppies Online?
Avoid this at all times. Puppy mills regularly sell animals online, according to reputable sources like the ASPCA. The Internet makes for easy shipping, no background checks, convenience, and low overhead. Online retailing has become the perfect way for these breeders to avoid the authorities. Endearing pictures and phony promises always sell puppies. Watch out!
What Do The Insides Of These Mills Look Like?
The insides of puppy mills are deplorable. The puppies are crammed into small living areas, more than likely boxes or crates. There is poor lighting, and often animal feces are all over the place. Puppy mills are breeding grounds for bacteria and all types of dangerous illnesses.
How Does One Know Puppies Sold Are Not From Mills?
Experts recommend doing research. Meet the family that bred the puppy. Visit the home. Learn about the puppy’s parents, or at least the mother. Reputable dog breeders make certain that the puppies they raise are adopted by reliable, trustworthy people who can provide loving homes and have undergone background checks.
Who Operates Or Owns These Mills?
Puppy mills are owned and operated by people or companies that are only interested in making a profit. They have no concern for animal welfare, healthy living conditions, or treating animals with respect and dignity. Their only concern is making money from the sale of innocent puppies.
Where Are They?
These breeding environments are found everywhere in the world. The most popular location is on a plot of land that is far from heavily populated areas. Remote farms, large acreage, or other areas are perfect locations for these facilities.
What Can People Do About Them?
It is important to know that every individual can play a role in shutting down these cruel and harmful breeding facilities. Adopting the attitude that there is nothing one person can do is a huge mistake. Every person must become a vigilante against these facilities. Many pet-oriented organizations and businesses recommend interested parties sign a petition or take a pledge not to buy puppies from a pet store.
The Humane Society, for instance, offers rewards of up to $5,000 for any tips leading to the arrest and conviction of a disreputable puppy mill operator. Taking an active role in stopping illegal animal cruelty is crucial for the overall success of shutting down these mills. Interested parties can confidentially phone in a tip to 1-877-MILL-TIP. Information will not be released outside of the organization. If desired, caller names will be kept confidential.
Interested parties can contact their local animal control agency or law enforcement office to report a puppy mill operation. Provide as much information as possible about the suspected facility. Be sure to mention the rewards program in existence at the time of the call.
If the suspected puppy mill operator is found guilty of committing the crime, be sure to have the law enforcement representative write and address a letter to the Humane Society. Ask that the letter state the tip led to the arrest and conviction of the puppy mill perpetrator. Mail, deliver, or fax the letter to the Humane Society’s Animal Fighting Reward Program. The address is found on their website.
Put up posters and other informative literature throughout the local community, on social media sites, and on applicable websites. Take posters and literature into workplaces, networking meetings, trade shows, fundraising events, and other pertinent places where people meet. Everyone needs to become aware of these hazards to put an end to them. Sharing the news about these horrendous operations is crucial for getting as many people as possible involved and aware.
Always adopt puppies from animal rescue companies. These compassionate, reasonably priced, and professional businesses have a true love for animal welfare that is simply touching and refreshing. Puppies are taken care of, treated respectfully, and taught socialization skills. They learn to become a treasured family member. It simply does not get much better than that!
Stop buying puppies from pet stores, no matter how reputable they appear to be. Many puppy mills sell to these businesses. When customers stop buying puppies that are not labeled as being from local pet adoption centers, the price will drop. The demand will diminish. Eventually, the puppy mill will receive fewer orders. They will shut down over time.
All puppy mills must be shut down. Their operation is a crime on all levels. Playing an active role by taking one small step at a time is the key to success. Become an active participant instead of an innocent bystander. Learn about this deplorable practice from as many sources as possible. Puppies and humans deserve better!
Recommended Reading: http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/puppy-mills
