Working at a vet’s office, I’ve seen first hand what can happen when people buy animals from puppy mills and irresponsible breeders. When purchasing from a pet store, most people don’t know where their animals came from. Many are bred in puppy mills, where dogs are caged and bred as often as possible. This often results in animals that are sickly or weak. Inbreeding is a problem among irresponsible breeders, and can cause some costly medical problems. In addition to poor breeding, many of these animals are not properly vaccinated or cared for, and close quarters breeds disease. So what can you do? If you are interested in getting a pet, or know someone that is, here are some tips to protect yourself.
Pet stores are notorious for acquiring animals from breeding mills, and it can be very difficult to find out where the animal came from. Consider adoption instead. You can save the life of an animal, while being sure that your money isn’t going to a substandard facility. Puppy mills continue to make money, because people continue to support them with their purchases. Personally, both of our dogs were adopted from the local SPCA. They have both been very healthy so far, and beautiful dogs (I’ve been asked on several occasions how much we paid for them). If you have your heart set on a particular breed, adoption could still be right for you. An estimated one in four animals in shelters across the country is a purebred, and there are breed-specific rescue organizations for almost every breed.
If you’re not interested in adoption, make sure that you’re buying from a responsible breeder. Some warning signs are breeders that won’t allow you to see the facility, or to meet either of the pup’s parents. They should screen you are thoroughly as you are screening them! A good breeder has the dog’s best interest at heart. You should also ask for an adoption contract, explaining the breeder’s responsibilities and health guarantees.
Never buy a dog from the internet. You have no way of seeing where the animal was bred or how it’s been cared for. Plus, people selling animals on the internet are not held to the Animal Welfare Act regulations, which means they aren’t inspected by the USDA.
Interested in being an advocate for animal welfare?
Let your government officials know that you’d like to see legislation passed that ensures all animals are bred and raised in healthy conditions. By going to congress.org, you can easily email all of your federal and state representatives at once.
If you have a friend looking for a pet, let them know about the dangers of pet stores and irresponsible breeders. You can point them toward the ASPCA’s website as a good resource. (http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_puppymills)
If you’ve adopted an animal from a mill, tell your story to the ASPCA. These stories give them more evidence to get legislation passed.
If you have your own website or blog, add a link to the ASPCA’s puppy mill information. You can also download and print flyers to leave in veterinarian and groomer offices, or pet supply stores. Or design your own! Being informed is always your best defense.
