DO YOU KNOW that behind those cute little puppies in the petshop window there is a story of misery, a puppy mill story....
Conscientious and concerned breeders regard a puppy mill as a place where people produce puppies for the only purpose of making money. These people don't care about the welfare of the breed they are selling.
Puppy mills operators minimize their expenses in many ways: overcrowding, sanitation, insufficient food and indiscrimate breeding practices that often result in the birth of puppies with genetic defects, temperament and behaviour problems. By cutting down expenses they increase their profits.
Females are bred every six months for their entire lifetime despite illness, physical injuries and congenital deformities and they receive very little or no veterinary care.
Puppies sold in pet stores
Most of the time , petstore puppies are weaned from their mother much too early , this ensures that they arrive at the pet store while they are still cute and cuddly and very marketable. In pet store puppies are treated in the same manner as a can of dog food, they are just another item in the inventory.
If you think you are "rescuing" a puppy from a pet store, please rethink this strategy. The puppy mill business is one of supply and demand. For every pup bought in a petstore there will be another one to replace it that much sooner. Puppy mills will exist as long as it is economically feasible to do so. These puppies are far from a bargain, as many times buyers will encounter huge veterinary bills.
The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Quebec recommends you avoid pet stores that sell puppies or kittens. Exercise your power as a consumer and don't buy a puppy from a pet store.
Internet "pet brokers"
More and more websites selling puppies have started popping up on the internet. Some websites claim themselves as " Pet Brokers", be very careful of any internet pet sales, often this is a business fronting for puppy mills.
Newspaper Ads
What about breeders that advertise frequently and place multiple ads in newspapers? Chances are he or she is a puppy mill breeder, a backyard breeder or a broker. They will offer you a good price but will it be worth the sorrow of finding out a few months later that the dog has hip dysplasia or other genetic disease?
Backyard breeders
What is a backyard breeder? A backyard breeder is a dog owner whose pet either gets bred by accident or who breeds on purpose for a variety of reasons. This breeder is usually ignorant of the breed standard, genetics, behavior, and good health practices. A backyard breeder can very easily become a commercial breeder or a puppy mill. They breed for the money and often sell their puppies to petstores.
Where can you buy a purebred dog?
Many purebred dogs end up in shelters or in rescue operations, an alternative is to adopt a homeless pet. If you are going to get a purebred puppy, make sure you do your homework and purchase through a responsible breeder.
Responsable breeders offer guarantees and are happy to show you OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), GDC (Genetic Disease Control) or OVC (Ontario Veterinary College) certifications for the parents and grandparents. Conscientious breeders also include a non-breeding contract and their puppies are ALWAYS registered with the CKC.
Non registered puppies
The sale of non registered pure breed puppies is illegal in Canada. A reputable breeder will NEVER offer you a non registered puppy. If a breeder offers you a non registered pup, just say NO.
Regulations set out in Animal Pedigree Act of Canada and The Canadian Kennel Club By-laws must be adhered to explicitly regardless of where and under what circumstances the dog is obtained.
Thank you for helping us save the breed.
Canadian puppy mills
Although no one really knows, it is estimated that there are between 800 and 1000 puppy mills accross the country. If you know the location of a puppy mill, call or write and let us know where it is. An investigation will be carried out.
Thank you for helping us put the puppy mills out of business.
Protection of the breed :
Martha Millas
email: marthe.millas@sympatico.ca
Bibliographies:
Help Shutdown Puppy Mills- Schnauzer Lane :
Alaskan Malamute Club of Canada, A word about Pet Shops, Puppy Mills
and Reputable Breeder. :
www.oocities.org/heartland/pointe/2314/clubinfo/puppymill ( online)
Text adapted by Martha Millas