Join The Fight To Stop Puppy Mills
When you buy your puppy in a pet store, probably most of you
don’t question where the cute little fluffball came from.
You might assume that the pet store buys from breeders or
maybe a local family had a surprise litter.
Pet store puppies are rarely bred by reputable breeders,
they are sourced from puppy mills. Most people won’t have
heard of a puppy mill. Soon, you will probably wish you
hadn’t.
A complex of small cages and run with the express purpose of
breeding dogs on a rapid cycle. Scores and scores of puppies
are bred in this way to end up in the window of pet shops
across the continent. The lucky ones, that is, who survive.
Poor health, temperament issues and hereditary diseases are
often the legacy of being bred at a Puppy Mill.
Socialization rarely occurs as the puppies are taken away
from their mother early, thus depriving them of these
skills.
Poor health is contributed to by a lack of decent food and
water, terrible cramped living conditions and overcrowding
and there is little chance for them to experience positive
human interaction before being transported to the pet store
Responsible breeders will be aware of any hereditary factors
which affect a particular breed, and will screen and
selectively breed their dogs, always putting the welfare of
their animals, be that breeding stock or pups, first. They
will ensure puppies receive the correct medical attention
and shots before selling them to a properly screened home.
A good breeder will have spacious, clean and humane
premises, and should voluntarily be able to show you the
bloodline of your puppy. A breeder ALWAYS gives a guarantee
(although details may differ), tips on care, and would never
make you return the puppy if dissatisfied, as they would
have properly interviewed the family.
There is no such ethos at the Puppy Mill, where money talks
fast and loud. They breed dogs regardless of health, disease
or family history, which is a recipe for disaster.
The bitches have the worst deal, as they will be made to
breed relentlessly in miserable health conditions. And once
spent from this terrible life, they will be rewarded with
abandonment or death.
Puppy mills are still in operation despite laws to control
them. The way to combat these farms is to remove the demand
for puppies by only purchasing your puppy from a good
breeder, or adopting one from an animal rescue centre don’t
trust pet stores, which may be ignorant or misleading of the
truth.
Don’t buy a puppy mill puppy just to save him. You will just
create the market for more puppies to be produced. The best
thing to do if you see puppies being bred or kept in
inappropriate conditions is to inform the appropriate animal
protection authorities who will be able to take action.
Puppy mills are a sad fact of supply and demand, so don’t
add to the problem by buying puppies of which you do not
know the origin.
Author Rebecca Foxton can help you give your pet better
health with (http://www.dogbuffs.com/?p=80) Fortiflora. For
an excellent source of health tips for pet owners, visit her
(http://www.dogbuffs.com/) dog supplements articles on Dog
Buffs.
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