Atrocious... Abhorrent... Inhumane... Sickening...

These are only a few of the adjectives that come to my mind when I think about the growing number of commercial mass puppy breeding operations that are thriving throughout the USA and Canada at this very minute. A dog and puppy "holocaust" is taking place, with "canine concentration camps" in every state and province. Most of us have heard about puppy mills, but (and I am guilty of this, too) we avert our eyes and minds from them - because the truth is just too horrible to think about. 

Well I received my "wake up call" yesterday when a "responsible breeder" attempted to post advertising on "Responsible Breeders Showcase", my web site dedicated to responsible dog ownership and responsible dog breeding. In checking out this breeder, as I do with every breeder that wants to showcase their dogs and puppies on my service, a search deep into the bowels of Google revealed a shocking document which told me just what this breeder was all about. She had been charged with numerous counts of animal cruelty and neglect, all related to her keeping breeding dogs in a barn without adequate care. Many of the dogs had to be euthanized due to injury and illness as a result of this neglect. There was even mention of findings of dead dog carcasses left amongst the living dogs. Despite these charges, the breeder was still in business. In searching Google for information about this breeder, I was shocked to discover just how many "breeder directories" had allowed her to advertise - no questions asked. I was disgusted and alarmed.

Sadly, the Internet has become an advertising Mecca for puppy mills, back yard breeders, puppy brokers, and others who profit from misery. The number of commercial dog breeding operations in the USA and Canada has more than doubled in the past 10 years, and their numbers are still on the rise. With high-profile celebrities like Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie and Britney Spears waltzing into pet stores and buying puppies like fashion accessories, it's no wonder that there is such a market for these cruel profiteers to exploit. The public sees only adorable little teacup puppies being toted around in designer dog carriers - what they don't see is the haunted look in the eyes of the parents of that cute little puppy - the dogs who live and breathe solely for the purpose of producing more and more "cute little puppies", confined in cages and runs, often without adequate food, shelter, room, clean water or veterinary care - and ALWAYS without the one thing that dogs thrive on - human companionship.

The term, "Puppy Mill" has been used to label many types of dog breeders, and there are many who disagree on what the definition of a "Puppy Mill" really is. Certain radical animal activists would have dog breeding in general against the law (which would likely see the extinction of most of our most beloved purebred dog breeds within about 10 years)

For me, a "puppy mill" is a "dog factory", where dogs are seen as "equipment" and puppies as "the product". Like any business, the goal is to make the most money possible while keeping costs to a minimum. Dogs are kept like livestock, in small pens or cages, and bred at every opportunity until they are too old or ill to be of further use to the "factory". Once this occurs, these dogs are "disposed of" - either killed or sold to laboratories to be subjected to further mistreatment. Not all commercial breeding operations are this bad - and most are not this good.

I'm not going to fill this article with graphic photos of neglected dogs standing behind chicken wire - or cooped up in small, filthy pens barely big enough for them to turn around in, much less get the daily exercise a dog needs to remain healthy. I'm not going to detail the stories of gross neglect and abuse that so many breeding dogs and puppies endure at the hands of their owners. What I AM going to do is hopefully incite a call to action, outlining what we, as dog owners and dog lovers can do to help make puppy mills go away forever.

Like the man who coined the term "Man's Best Friend", I have always seen dogs as loving, joyful, innocent, forgiving, intelligent animals. I've heard that dogs have the intellectual capacity of a 4 year old human child. I love dogs, and I really have to wonder how these charming and wonderful creatures can be treated with such disdain by lawmakers. How can it be legal to "farm" dogs like cattle, regulated only by the USDA (US Department of Agriculture), who ensure only that each dog's "basic requirements for life" are met? How can it be acceptable in our advanced society for 1 person to own in excess of 250 dogs, and do with them as they please? How can the "Companion Animal Act" omit the one thing "companion" animals require the most - companionship!? It's a stunning display our society's apathy, lack of education, lack of information and lack of meaningful sanctions against animal cruelty.

So what do we do about the problem of Puppy Mills??

We've simply got to stop providing a market for puppies from commercial dog breeding businesses. If we put the brakes on demand, then "supply" will soon follow suit. We can do this by spreading the word - getting the message out there - commercial dog breeding is just WRONG!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOBBY BREEDER!

There are many highly responsible dog breeders in the USA and Canada. These are people who love dogs and are particularly fond of a certain breed, so much so, that they desire to proliferate the breed by selectively breeding their dogs to constantly improve their breed. Often they show their dogs, and occasionally have well bred, healthy, home raised and well socialized puppies available that you can apply to adopt for a fee (that generally covers little more than the expense of veterinary care, genetic testing, temperament testing, quality care, training and nutrition incurred by the breeder). If you are truly interested in acquiring a particular breed of dog, a puppy that is going to be healthy, hearty, happy, mentally sound, long lived and beautiful example of the breed, then a responsible hobby breeder is the ONLY source you should consider in your search for that perfect puppy. And by taking the time and effort to locate a quality puppy from a responsible breeder, you're keeping your money out of the hands of pet stores who buy from puppy brokers, who buy from puppy mills.

This is my checklist for responsible breeders. I use this list to determine if a breeder is suitable to be considered to showcase their kennel on my service. You make find this to be of use to you in your search for a responsible hobby breeder.

• Breeder has no more than 3 breeds - preferably only 1 breed.
• Breeder houses their dogs in their home, and dogs live as part of the family and are treated with love and respect at all times.
• Dogs and puppies receive plenty of interaction with the breeder and her family.
• Breeder registers their dogs and puppies with the AKC, CKC or other well-recognized breeder registry.
  (This is not a clear indication of a good breeder, but lack of registration can be a red flag that a breeder has been stripped of registration privileges due to misconduct)
• Breeder is knowledgeable about their breed and carefully screens their dogs for any health conditions that are prevalent in their breed. Breeding should be done only with dogs that have health clearances.
• Breeder keeps dogs in a clean, healthy environment, and welcomes you to visit (by appointment) to meet their dogs and see first-hand how their dogs live and interact with people, other pets, children, etc.
• Breeder has a limited number of carefully planned litters - no more than 2 or 3 per year, and allows breeding females a rest between breedings.
• Breeder guarantees the health and temperament of their puppies and will replace any puppy that should develop problems covered in the guarantee.
• Breeder is highly selective in whom she places her puppies with. Should want to know a lot about you and your living arrangements, family members (ages of children, etc), plans for puppy's care, training, nutrition, housing, etc. She'll probably ask for references, want to know if you have had a dog or pet before, and what became of it. She'll want to know if you own or rent a home, since you may need landlord approval to keep a dog in a rental property.
• Breeder is forthcoming in answering any questions you may have about her dogs, her breed, health issues, health guarantees, post-sale support, training. nutrition.
• Breeder is committed to their dogs and puppies for life. This means being willing to take back a puppy or help in finding a suitable replacement home in the unfortunate event you are unable to keep the puppy or dog - for any reason.
• Breeder can provide at least 5 references from other buyers of puppies, as well as veterinary references.
• A search for the Breeder's Name, Zip Code, Kennel Name or Phone Number on Google does not reveal any problems - either with complaints from puppy buyers, or court proceedings against them. Be sure to search through several pages - I go 5 pages deep.
• Breeder is not listed as holding a USDA breeding license. (This means they are licensed to sell puppies to brokers or pet stores - in essence, a commercial breeder).
• Breeder is caring, responsible, communicative, knowledgeable and committed to their dogs and puppies.

Responsible Breeders Showcase is a cooperative of 6 different dog information web sites that allow responsible breeders to advertise. Breeders showcased must meet the conditions listed above before they are permitted to hold memberships. Puppy Mills, backyard breeders, commercial breeders, puppy stores and puppy brokers are not permitted to advertise.

Be cautious when trying to locate a responsible dog breeder online. A pretty web site can often mask a horror story. Do your homework and be sure to fully investigate any breeder, no matter how nice they seem, to ensure that you are dealing with a responsible, caring breeder and not a puppy mill, backyard breeder, puppy broker or a pet store selling puppies online.

Let's end the complacency where puppy mills are concerned. Spread the word about where puppies from pet stores really come from. Don't buy a puppy on impulse from a newspaper ad, the mall, or the parking lot of a shopping center. Take your time and find a responsible breeder who'll help you choose just the right puppy for your family and lifestyle. By doing the legwork and being selective about where your puppy comes from, you can be (almost) certain that you'll have a wonderful furry family member to add joy, laughter, love and companionship to your life for many, many years. Buy a puppy on impulse from a pet store or other questionable source, and you may end up with a neurotic, sickly, temperamental and very costly dog (think of the vet's bills!) that may cause you years of worry, heartache and undue expense.

And one thing is CERTAIN, if enough people continue to buy puppies from pet stores and online puppy shops, PUPPY MILLS and their cruel exploitation of poor, defenseless dogs will continue indefinitely.

Debbie Moore

Responsible Breeders Showcase
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