When Canby, Oregon, resident Johnnie Dever discovered her precious Princess, a beautiful 6 month old Coton de Tulear, came from a recently exposed puppy mill, she was crushed to find out that she had unknowingly supported its operation. Ms. Dever had never heard of the breed before, but it was a small dog that looked similar to a Maltese and she had been thinking of getting a puppy. The so-called breeder, or seller, which is a more befitting title, was only too eager to supply the puppy. No questions asked. In fact, she hand-delivered Princess to Ms. Dever within 5 hours of her first inquiry phone call. Once Ms. Dever saw her, she fell in love and willingly parted with the $1,600 for her Princess.
Puppy mills prosper because of uninformed buyers like Ms. Dever. The sole purpose of a puppy mill is to make money much to the demise of any dog in its trappings. Puppy mills provide minimal care, including cramped and filthy cages littered with urine and feces, poor quality food, non-existent veterinary care and limited social interaction with humans. The dams, also known as brood bitches, are forced to reproduce every time they come into heat, every 6 months. These brood bitches are typically denied proper veterinary care and nutrition if the litter will not be profitable as compared to the expense of the dam’s veterinary care. And when the brood bitches can no longer reproduce, they become a liability. The litters produced by puppy mills are often overflowing with sick puppies bred from unhealthy lines and brought into unhealthy environments. The sellers perform no health screenings on their breeding stock and therefore offer no health guarantees on their puppies. Parasites, skin conditions, breathing issues and eye damage are common maladies costing new owners hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in veterinary bills. Sick puppies too are a liability for a puppy mill. If they cannot be sold, they are starved and left to die.
Within a couple of months of owning Princess, Ms. Dever felt she could not handle her new puppy and contacted the breeder, Foxburrow Kennels to return her. The breeder told Ms. Dever that she could not have her money back, but offered to re-sell the puppy. Thankfully Ms. Dever sought training for Princess and has worked out the dog’s behavioral issues. Further, it is fortunate that Princess has no known health issues and now has proper veterinary care. Ms. Dever is happy she rescued Princess from her horrible puppy mill origins. Had Ms. Dever been aware of Foxburrow Kennels’ deplorable practices, she would never have fallen for the puppy mill scam.
What can you do to stop puppy mills? In most cases, there are common underhanded business practices. The puppies were advertised away from the dam and away from the kennel. In this case, the puppies were displayed for sale on a local church lawn after Sunday services. When Ms. Dever called to inquire about the puppies, the breeder offered to bring the puppy to her. Puppy mill operations don’t want prospective buyers to see the kennel site, the dam, the rest of the litter or the squalid conditions in which they have been raised. The breeder was also eager to close the sale, not giving the buyer time to research the breeder or check for references. The breeder asked no questions of the buyer about her readiness to own a puppy. Keep in mind, a reputable breeder is just as interested in knowing about a potential buyer as an informed buyer is about the breed and the breeder.
If you are thinking of getting a puppy from a breeder, research the breed, the breeder and honestly evaluate your lifestyle and readiness to take on a new puppy. You can research the dog’s breed and breeder referrals at: http://www.akc.org/. To research the breeder, contact the National Club of your specific breed and inquire about local breeders. Reputable breeders are interested in advancing the breed and improving their lines, not just selling their puppies. Additionally, you can contact the local county animal control and/or the Better Business Bureau to inquire about any complaints filed against the kennel. Just remember, if you are denied the opportunity to look at the kennel, the dam, or the litter on-site, you’ve probably stumbled upon a puppy mill. Take your dollars elsewhere and make an informed purchase from a reputable breeder. Or adopt a purebred at a local rescue or shelter instead.
Copyright © 2011 Jill Tonkin. All rights reserved.
