The news stories are everywhere, and they are sad stories indeed. The stories about dogs and puppies being tortured, abused, and neglected in the name of breeding for money. I’m talking about puppy mills. Puppy mills plague our cities and states. They are unregulated torture chambers, in the most unlikely places. Puppy mills have been found in barns, sheds, garages, and many other places that aren’t suitable places for animals to live. They are often unheated in the winter and without air conditioning in summer heat.
The animals that are held captive in puppy mills aren’t loved, they aren’t cuddled, and no one pets them to ease their fears. These dogs never see a vet when they are sick. They go unfed, and without water. They are nothing more than money making puppy machines.
They are often sold as pure bred puppies, when in fact, they may not be. Many of them are even inbred. Dogs that are inbred are known to have a higher likely-hood of illness and health defects because their parents are related. And these breeders do not take the time to make sure that the animals they are breeding aren’t related.
What can you do to help stop puppy mills?
Sadly, this problem is bigger than one person can tackle alone. Although every single person that joins in on the fight and wages war against this atrocity, is one more soldier the dogs need in their corner.
There are some steps you can take to help stop puppy mills. One way to help is for you to avoid buying puppies from pet stores, pet shops, out of the newspapers, or from the Internet. Many pet stores and pet shops are known to be stocked with puppy mill puppies, and because there is no sure fire way of knowing which are and which aren’t, you should avoid purchasing from them altogether. Also, the sale of puppies via newspapers and the Internet are all unregulated. This means that there is no one watching out for these tiny creatures. The so-called “pure bred” puppy that you are buying could very well be from a puppy mill.
If you have decided that it’s the right time for you and/or your family to welcome a dog into your home, you should begin researching for a reputable dog breeder. You should also consider visiting your local dog shelter to see about adopting a dog. If you are looking for a specific breed there are a large number of breed specific rescue agencies available across the United States.
The simplest thing you can do to help stop puppy mills is to tell your friends and family about the problem. Spreading awareness will help stop the buying and selling of these puppies. If the breeders can’t sell these puppies, the need to breed these poor dogs over and over again will diminish.
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