Puppies…Simply Irresistable! Puppy Mills…Simply Inhumane!

            According to The Humane Society of the United States, “puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers.”  I am  sure that the concept of a puppy mill has been around for awhile and are functioning across the nation; however a large hub of mills in the eastern United States are located in Lancaster, PA. Owners of puppy mills have one aim or goal and that is to make money by producing large numbers of purebred dogs quickly with a “snappy” turnover. Puppies are to either be sold to local kennels, pet shops, brokers, advertised in the newspaper or to even be sold over the internet.

          At first knowledge, puppy mills may not seem such a “dirty” business; but once further research and investigation is completed its “dirty little secrets” become exposed. Many problems crop up as a result of mass-producing puppies to meet the needs of the consumer population. The mills are overrun with animals, many of which become unwanted and needlessly euthanized. The overcrowding leads to a gamut of sanitary problems. Many of the purebred, mature dogs are used for breeding only and are not nurtured or cared for or properly socialized. Often times the adult males and females are bred too close together, too soon, or are inbred, resulting in genetic disorders such as hip dysplasia, bone cancer or ear infections, depending upon the breed.  Inbreeding may also lead to an obvious changes or alterations of the disposition of a particular breed.  Allow me to share a personal testimonial about my father’s golden retriever, Reggie. Against professional advisement, my dad purchased a purebred Golden Retriever from a local kennel, which was later determined to have received the litter from a mill in Lancaster. At first glance, many of the puppies were extremely passive and lethargic, although large in size and assumed physically healthy. Overall, Golden Retrievers are gentle, teachable, relatively passive, yet socially friendly dogs, ergo the reason they are often chosen to be service dogs, or Seeing Eye dogs.  However, “Reggie” was aggressive, possessive, wiry, and running on high voltage. My mother and I kidded that he had ADDHD (Attention “Doggie” Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Which I believe, in fact, was the case.  His disposition, much to my father’s dismay, only grew worse as he matured, regardless of my dad’s constant discipline and training sessions, at which he is/was relatively adept. I must confess, that at one point, after Reggie bit my dad for not wanting to drop a stocking of my mom’s, we painstakingly considering having him “put down”.  After research, professional input from our veterinarian, and obedience training classes by a professional, it was concluded that “they”, the puppy mill breeders, had bred the gentleness right out of  him. I must be honest and say that this cannot be proven, but is very likely the case. Through continued obedience classes, training, and nurturance, Reggie has become the love of our life, a constant source of entertainment, a companion, and quite obedient (most of the time), but not without much persistence.

            Puppy mills are big business in the United States, but beware, if you seek to buy your purebred from a pet store, kennel, online, or via an ad in the paper you may be in for more than you bargained! A word of caution, you may do better to go directly to the breeder, preferably a private one. Meet the canine’s parents. Surmise their disposition and medical history before taking your “pick of the litter” home. You may save yourself, time, money, stress, and heartache in the long run…not to mention your baseboards and chair legs.