Puppy Mills
The answer depends on who you ask . . .
When I first got my first dog I would not have bought from
anyone that even partially fit in one of the above catagories.
Then I found out that every breeder is in it for the money if they
have more than one litter a year, not one per dog, ONE. There
is big bucks in dog breeding and it's easy. Anyone can do it.
The question is, "Should they?" If you only buy from people who
breed with the dogs health in mind then those others who
breed for profit and who don't love their dogs will go out of
business.
Something to chew on:
A hobby breeder dedicated to promoting and protecting a
particular breed or two might consider all of the above
"breeders" to be puppy mills. Animal shelter and rescue
workers who deal daily with abandoned dogs might agree.
John Q Dog Owner probably thinks of puppy mills as those
places exposed on "20/20" or "Geraldo". They have seen the
cameras pan back and forth over trash, piles of feces, dogs with
runny noses and oozing sores, dogs crammed into shopping
carts and tiny coops, rats sharing dirty food bowls and dry
dishes. They've seen the puppy mill owner captured on tape,
dirty, barely articulate, and ignorant of dog care, temperament,
genetic health, or proper nutrition. He's belligerent, too,
demanding to be left alone to earn his livelihood. But is the
television crew simply seeking the sensational and applying
these appalling conditions to the entire dog producing industry?
Just what is a puppy mill?
After World War II, when farmers were desperately seeking
alternative methods of making money when traditional crops
failed, the US Department of Agriculture encouraged the raising
of puppies as a crop. Retail pet outlets grew in numbers as the
supply of puppies increased, and puppy production was on its
way.
However, the puppy farmers had little knowledge of canine
husbandry and often began their ventures with little money and
already-rundown conditions. They housed their dogs in chicken
coops and rabbit hutches, provided little socialization, and often
eschewed veterinary care because they couldn't afford to pay.
Animal welfare organizations such as the Humane Society of
the US (before it became politicized by the animal rights
movement) investigated conditions at these farms and
eventually were successful in focusing national attention on the
repulsive conditions at "puppy mills."
Puppy mill conditions were a major impetus in the passage of
the national Animal Welfare Act. However, what often happens,
the appellation has been bastardized to mean any breeder who
breeds lots of dogs, no matter what the conditions of the kennel
or the health of the puppies. The AWA is administered by the US
Department of Agriculture. The act lists several categories of
businesses that handle dogs:
Pet Brokers are those who import, buy, sell, or trade pets in
wholesale channels, and they must be licensed by USDA to
conduct business (just an FYI, most breeders do not like
wholesalers and often call them puppy mills, keep in mind that
they are financial competition and consider the source);
Pet wholesalers are those who breed for the wholesale trade,
whether for selling animals to other breeders or selling to
brokers or directly to pet stores or laboratories, and they must
also be licensed by USDA to conduct business; and laboratory
animal dealers and bunchers must also be licensed, as must
as auction operators and promoters of contests in which
animals are given as prizes.
Hobby breeders who sell directly to pet stores are exempt from
licensing if they gross less than $500 per year and if they own
no more than three breeding females.
The AWA does not list a definition of either "commercial kennel"
or "puppy mill." The American Kennel Club also avoids defining
"puppy mill" but does label a commercial breeder as one who
"breeds dogs as a business, for profit" and a hobby breeder as
"one who breeds purebred dogs occasionally to justifiably
improve the breed, not for purposes of primary income."
AKC does not license breeders. [More on the AKC] The USDA
issues licenses under the Animal Welfare Act after inspecting
kennels to determine whether or not minimum standards for
housing and care are being met. They require a minimum
amount of space for each dog, shelter, a feeding and veterinary
care program, fresh water every 24 hours, proper drainage of
the kennel, and appropriate sanitary procedures to assure
cleanliness.
USDA licensed more than 4600 animal dealers, more than
3000 of them dealing solely in wholesale distribution of dogs
and cats, in 1992. Animal welfare proponents claim that there
are many dealers (commercial kennels? puppy mills?) who
have avoided the system, and that USDA does not have enough
inspectors to seek them out and enforce the law. These welfare
lobbyist have lobbied for stricter laws in the "puppy mill states"
in the mid-west.
It's easy to say that John Jones or Mary Smith runs a puppy mill
or that pet store puppies come from puppy mills, but the label is
tossed about so frequently and with so little regard for accuracy
that each prospective dog owner should ascertain for himself
whether or not he wishes to buy a dog from John Jones, Mary
Smith, a pet store, or a hobby breeder. Here are our Dog
Owner's
Guide definitions to help you decide:
Hobby breeder: A breed fancier who usually has only one breed
but may have two; follows a breeding plan in efforts to preserve
and protect the breed; produces from none to five litters per
year; breeds only when a litter will enhance the breed and the
breeding program; raises the puppies with plenty of
environmental and human contact; has a contract that protects
breeder, dog, and buyer; runs a small, clean kennel; screens
breeding stock to eliminate hereditary defects from the breed;
works with a breed club or kennel club to promote and protect
the breed; and cares that each and every puppy is placed in the
best home possible. Yes with 5 litters a year they make good
money. If puppies average 8 per litter and $1000 per puppy,
that is $40K a year. Now some will tell you that they spend that
on raising and properly breeding their dogs. Ask for proof of vet
bills because in my experience they do it all as cheaply as they
can. They go to low cost clinics for vaccines and clip dew claws
themselves. So verify it if you are choosing a dog from this
category.
Commercial breeder: One who usually has several breeds of
dogs with profit as the primary motive for existence. The dogs
may be healthy or not and the kennel may be clean or not. The
dogs are probably not screened for genetic diseases, and the
breeding stock is probably not selected for resemblance to the
breed standard or for good temperament. Most commercial
breeders sell their puppies to pet stores or to brokers who sell
to pet stores. They make even more money
Broker: One who buys puppies from commercial kennels and
sells to retail outlets. Brokers ship puppies by the crate-load on
airlines or by truckload throughout the country. Brokers must be
licensed by USDA and must abide by the shipping regulations
in the Animal Welfare Act. They make excellent money too.
Buncher: One who collects dogs of unknown origin for sale to
laboratories or other bunchers or brokers. Bunchers are
considered lower on the evolutionary scale than puppy mill
operators, for there is much suspicion that they buy stolen pets,
collect pets advertised as "Free to a good home", and adopt
unwanted pets from animal shelters for research at veterinary
colleges or industrial research laboratories. Keep in mind that
in order to sell to a lab the lab must have strict guidelines on
how to take care of the animal. Animal testing is very rare these
days.
Backyard breeder: 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. Again, excellent money.
Puppy mill: A breeder who produces puppies hand over fist with
no breeding program, little attention to puppy placement, and
poor health and socialization practices. A puppy mill may or may
not be dirty but it is usually overcrowded and the dogs may be
neglected or abused because the breeder can't properly handle
as many dogs as he has. Puppy mill operators often denigrate
hobby breeders and their dogs in attempts to make a sale. Just
for the record: I saw a RRCUS breeder (with my own eyes) that
had 40 puppies (newborn) in her home at one time. All the
puppies were born within a week of each other. Her house was
clean and she hid the dogs in the bedrooms and brought out
puppies to see in the living room in a pen as if that is where the
puppy stayed. Because she shows occasionally RRCUS
deems her to be seeking higher quality dogs and thus follows
their regulations. So just because someone belongs to a club
does NOT guarantee their motives.
Unfortunately, some people who are well-ensconced in your
local dog scene could be categorized as operating puppy mills.
Prospective buyers should be careful to question anyone they
are considering as a source for a puppy.
If you think you've found a puppy mill and wish to report it there
are several actions you can take. Start by visiting:
www.canismajor.com/dog/stopmill.html
When I first got my first dog I would not have bought from
anyone that even partially fit in one of the above catagories.
Then I found out that every breeder is in it for the money if they
have more than one litter a year, not one per dog, ONE. There
is big bucks in dog breeding and it's easy. Anyone can do it.
The question is, "Should they?" If you only buy from people who
breed with the dogs health in mind then those others who
breed for profit and who don't love their dogs will go out of
business.
Something to chew on:
A hobby breeder dedicated to promoting and protecting a
particular breed or two might consider all of the above
"breeders" to be puppy mills. Animal shelter and rescue
workers who deal daily with abandoned dogs might agree.
John Q Dog Owner probably thinks of puppy mills as those
places exposed on "20/20" or "Geraldo". They have seen the
cameras pan back and forth over trash, piles of feces, dogs with
runny noses and oozing sores, dogs crammed into shopping
carts and tiny coops, rats sharing dirty food bowls and dry
dishes. They've seen the puppy mill owner captured on tape,
dirty, barely articulate, and ignorant of dog care, temperament,
genetic health, or proper nutrition. He's belligerent, too,
demanding to be left alone to earn his livelihood. But is the
television crew simply seeking the sensational and applying
these appalling conditions to the entire dog producing industry?
Just what is a puppy mill?
After World War II, when farmers were desperately seeking
alternative methods of making money when traditional crops
failed, the US Department of Agriculture encouraged the raising
of puppies as a crop. Retail pet outlets grew in numbers as the
supply of puppies increased, and puppy production was on its
way.
However, the puppy farmers had little knowledge of canine
husbandry and often began their ventures with little money and
already-rundown conditions. They housed their dogs in chicken
coops and rabbit hutches, provided little socialization, and often
eschewed veterinary care because they couldn't afford to pay.
Animal welfare organizations such as the Humane Society of
the US (before it became politicized by the animal rights
movement) investigated conditions at these farms and
eventually were successful in focusing national attention on the
repulsive conditions at "puppy mills."
Puppy mill conditions were a major impetus in the passage of
the national Animal Welfare Act. However, what often happens,
the appellation has been bastardized to mean any breeder who
breeds lots of dogs, no matter what the conditions of the kennel
or the health of the puppies. The AWA is administered by the US
Department of Agriculture. The act lists several categories of
businesses that handle dogs:
Pet Brokers are those who import, buy, sell, or trade pets in
wholesale channels, and they must be licensed by USDA to
conduct business (just an FYI, most breeders do not like
wholesalers and often call them puppy mills, keep in mind that
they are financial competition and consider the source);
Pet wholesalers are those who breed for the wholesale trade,
whether for selling animals to other breeders or selling to
brokers or directly to pet stores or laboratories, and they must
also be licensed by USDA to conduct business; and laboratory
animal dealers and bunchers must also be licensed, as must
as auction operators and promoters of contests in which
animals are given as prizes.
Hobby breeders who sell directly to pet stores are exempt from
licensing if they gross less than $500 per year and if they own
no more than three breeding females.
The AWA does not list a definition of either "commercial kennel"
or "puppy mill." The American Kennel Club also avoids defining
"puppy mill" but does label a commercial breeder as one who
"breeds dogs as a business, for profit" and a hobby breeder as
"one who breeds purebred dogs occasionally to justifiably
improve the breed, not for purposes of primary income."
AKC does not license breeders. [More on the AKC] The USDA
issues licenses under the Animal Welfare Act after inspecting
kennels to determine whether or not minimum standards for
housing and care are being met. They require a minimum
amount of space for each dog, shelter, a feeding and veterinary
care program, fresh water every 24 hours, proper drainage of
the kennel, and appropriate sanitary procedures to assure
cleanliness.
USDA licensed more than 4600 animal dealers, more than
3000 of them dealing solely in wholesale distribution of dogs
and cats, in 1992. Animal welfare proponents claim that there
are many dealers (commercial kennels? puppy mills?) who
have avoided the system, and that USDA does not have enough
inspectors to seek them out and enforce the law. These welfare
lobbyist have lobbied for stricter laws in the "puppy mill states"
in the mid-west.
It's easy to say that John Jones or Mary Smith runs a puppy mill
or that pet store puppies come from puppy mills, but the label is
tossed about so frequently and with so little regard for accuracy
that each prospective dog owner should ascertain for himself
whether or not he wishes to buy a dog from John Jones, Mary
Smith, a pet store, or a hobby breeder. Here are our Dog
Owner's
Guide definitions to help you decide:
Hobby breeder: A breed fancier who usually has only one breed
but may have two; follows a breeding plan in efforts to preserve
and protect the breed; produces from none to five litters per
year; breeds only when a litter will enhance the breed and the
breeding program; raises the puppies with plenty of
environmental and human contact; has a contract that protects
breeder, dog, and buyer; runs a small, clean kennel; screens
breeding stock to eliminate hereditary defects from the breed;
works with a breed club or kennel club to promote and protect
the breed; and cares that each and every puppy is placed in the
best home possible. Yes with 5 litters a year they make good
money. If puppies average 8 per litter and $1000 per puppy,
that is $40K a year. Now some will tell you that they spend that
on raising and properly breeding their dogs. Ask for proof of vet
bills because in my experience they do it all as cheaply as they
can. They go to low cost clinics for vaccines and clip dew claws
themselves. So verify it if you are choosing a dog from this
category.
Commercial breeder: One who usually has several breeds of
dogs with profit as the primary motive for existence. The dogs
may be healthy or not and the kennel may be clean or not. The
dogs are probably not screened for genetic diseases, and the
breeding stock is probably not selected for resemblance to the
breed standard or for good temperament. Most commercial
breeders sell their puppies to pet stores or to brokers who sell
to pet stores. They make even more money
Broker: One who buys puppies from commercial kennels and
sells to retail outlets. Brokers ship puppies by the crate-load on
airlines or by truckload throughout the country. Brokers must be
licensed by USDA and must abide by the shipping regulations
in the Animal Welfare Act. They make excellent money too.
Buncher: One who collects dogs of unknown origin for sale to
laboratories or other bunchers or brokers. Bunchers are
considered lower on the evolutionary scale than puppy mill
operators, for there is much suspicion that they buy stolen pets,
collect pets advertised as "Free to a good home", and adopt
unwanted pets from animal shelters for research at veterinary
colleges or industrial research laboratories. Keep in mind that
in order to sell to a lab the lab must have strict guidelines on
how to take care of the animal. Animal testing is very rare these
days.
Backyard breeder: 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. Again, excellent money.
Puppy mill: A breeder who produces puppies hand over fist with
no breeding program, little attention to puppy placement, and
poor health and socialization practices. A puppy mill may or may
not be dirty but it is usually overcrowded and the dogs may be
neglected or abused because the breeder can't properly handle
as many dogs as he has. Puppy mill operators often denigrate
hobby breeders and their dogs in attempts to make a sale. Just
for the record: I saw a RRCUS breeder (with my own eyes) that
had 40 puppies (newborn) in her home at one time. All the
puppies were born within a week of each other. Her house was
clean and she hid the dogs in the bedrooms and brought out
puppies to see in the living room in a pen as if that is where the
puppy stayed. Because she shows occasionally RRCUS
deems her to be seeking higher quality dogs and thus follows
their regulations. So just because someone belongs to a club
does NOT guarantee their motives.
Unfortunately, some people who are well-ensconced in your
local dog scene could be categorized as operating puppy mills.
Prospective buyers should be careful to question anyone they
are considering as a source for a puppy.
If you think you've found a puppy mill and wish to report it there
are several actions you can take. Start by visiting:
www.canismajor.com/dog/stopmill.html
What is a Puppy Mill?
This is the age old question. What qualifies a breeder as a
puppy mill? I don't know. What I do know is what level of
breeders there are.
The term "Puppy mill" means different things to different
people:
puppy mill? I don't know. What I do know is what level of
breeders there are.
The term "Puppy mill" means different things to different
people:
 | A place where several breeds of dogs are raised and | |
| the breeder always has puppies for sale? | ||
| A dirty, trashy place where one or several breeds of | |
| dogs are kept in deplorable conditions and puppies are always available? | ||
| A place where a single breed of dog is raised in | |
| acceptable conditions and puppies are always available? | ||
| A place where lots of dogs are raised, where breeding | |
| is done solely for the financial gain rather than protection of the breed integrity, and where puppies are sold to brokers or to pet stores? | ||
| All of the above? | |
| None of the above? | |
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