Q. How can I tell if the pup I am buying is from a puppy mill or not?
A. Let’s start with the definition of a puppy mill, which is a commercial dog-breeding operation that puts financial profit above the health, physical care, and emotional well-being of the dogs. This is pretty specific. There are puppy mills all over the world.
Here are some key tips from ASPCA. Dogs live in overcrowded and confined cages. The important point here is the lack of adequate movement, play, and socialization. Next is continuous breeding until the females are exhausted. These dogs are then disposed of by abandonment, auctions, and killing. They receive minimum or inadequate care including lack of proper veterinary treatment, clean water, adequate food, socialization, and protection from extreme weather. Lastly but importantly, because of indiscriminate breeding and inbreeding, inherited defects, contagious diseases, and severe behavioral fear and trauma can occur.
These puppies can be purchased through retail pet stores, online brokers, classified ads, or websites that mask the true origin of the dogs. The operators (breeders) generally refuse to let future guardians visit the actual breeding site or meet the puppy’s parents.
The difference between a puppy mill and back yard breeder is a puppy mill is a large commercial business that sells puppies for profit and minimizes expense. Backyard breeders operate on a small scale out of ignorance, convenience, or a causal profit rather than a professional infrastructure.
On the other side, there are hobby breeders which are small scale, who occasionally breed and the focus is reproducing or improving the breed they love. There are large breeding operations that are not puppy mills but are for profit. The difference is these large breeders will have all health clearances on both parents and will assess temperament. They love the breed and want to improve it. To do this, they will have studied genetic characteristics of both parents and are careful not to breed closely related parents. They may place potential breeding dogs in private homes to be nurtured, cared for, and loved. This allows the breeder to select better genetics for their line while having an optimum life for the dog.
There are things you can do to ensure your pup comes from a reputable breeder. First do your homework. As always, buyers beware, whether it’s an ad in a newspaper or magazine, on the internet, or on a specific website. Do your research. If you are willing to buy a pup from out of state, go visit the breeder and if possible, visit both the mother and the father of the litter you are researching. This obviously applies to local or in-state breeders too. No matter where you get your pup, ask to see the health clearances of both parents. This includes OFA (Orthopedic Foundation of America) certification of hips and elbows, eyes and heart certificates, and thyroid and genetic clearances commonly seen in the breed. When you visit the breeder to meet the mom, ask to meet the breeder’s other dogs if they have any.
Many breeders have you sign a contract. Read it! A responsible breeder will have a clause saying if you can’t keep the dog for any reason at any time, the breeder will take the dog back. Breeders are responsible for every puppy they place. A good breeder will ask you questions on your lifestyle, your plans for your pup, where the puppy will live, etc. If the breeder feels you are a good match, the breeder will put you on a list for a puppy. Many good breeders have a wait list, so don’t be impulsive. If you have an uneasy feeling about the breeder or the puppy, leave. Those gut feelings are accurate, and if you think you are rescuing a pup, you are not. You might be buying a lot of heartache and financial costs. Keep your head as alert as your heart.
Judith K. Herman, DVM, CVH
Animal Wellness Center
Augusta, Maine
www.mainehomeopahticvet.com