Denniston Park NA

"Subsidizing Misery"

Jun 17, 2003

Oklahoma has the dubious distinction of being among the seven worst puppy mill states in the Union.?  It's a hard fact, a sad fact.?  But a fact nonetheless.?  Every year in this state, thousands upon thousands of dogs are born into puppy mills.?  Now, first things first, what exactly IS a puppy mill? Well, per the Webmaster of www.nopuppymills.com,?  "Plain and simple, it is no different than a steel mill, sawmill, grain mill or paper mill. A puppy mill is the starting point of a product that is mass-produced and destined for the retail industry . . . Puppy mills don't have to be dirty, they don't have to be illegal, they don't have to have sick and dying dogs . . . they just have to produce dogs for the wholesale dog industry."

Puppy mills first sprang up in large numbers after WWII, a time when many GI's returning from the war wanted to settle down in the suburbs with a wife, 2.5 children, and a dog named Spot, so to speak.?  SOMEONE, it seems, had to meet the demand, and purebred dogs (especially Cocker Spaniels and Poodles and other breeds) were highly popular in Fifties America.?  Also, the barbaric laboratory animal industry was burgeoning, and needed even more animals (purebred dogs especially) for everything from the testing of products to vivisection.?  (And yes, this is still legal in most of the civilized world, even today).

There was a huge outcry against puppy mills in the Sixties, and again in the Eighties, and then in the Nineties . . . but still these businesses flourish.?  Some are the stereotypically squalid and filthy little rat holes you might imagine; others are large, commercial operations with stainless steel kennels, employees, you name it.?  What do both the rat holes and the big boys have in common??  Again, both breed not for the love of dogs and fair profit only.?  No, they both breed indiscriminately and without regard for breed standards, and they both breed for wholesale and/or retail sales to strangers.

Many people ask, "How can I tell a puppy mill from a reputable breeder?"?  There are over 3,000 breeders in the U.S., and, while not all perfect, they are NOT to be confused with the puppy millers.?  Here are 12 things to consider when telling the two apart:

1.) Reputable breeders NEVER sell to pet shops.? Period.?  End of discussion.?  A reputable breeder will interview YOU to make sure that YOU are right for the dog; a good all breed shelter (or breed specific rescue society) will also interview YOU.?  Bear that in mind.

2.) Reputable breeders NEVER refuse you access to their facilities.?  Puppy millers usually do, as they often have many, many things to hide.

3.) Reputable breeders will not only have AKC and/or UKC papers on each and every dog, they will have knowledge of animal husbandry, and will be able to tell you why it is that they have bred each litter as they have.?  Puppy mills, on the other hand, have no time for such important details. As a result, often avoidable genetic anomalies are common among puppy mill dogs.

4.) Reputable breeders may advertise in the newspaper; however, they will usually list only the facts about the kennel itself and/or what litters may be currently available.?  Your typical Daily Oklahoman "dogs for sale" ad is a puppy miller ad.?  Again, remember, the good breeder cares about each dog, and about the breed standard, not just the Almighty Dollar.

5.) Reputable breeders will tell you the TRUTH about AKC and UKC registration papers.?  Many people think that registrations and pedigrees are assurances of canine perfection.?  (Rest assured that they are not.)?  Furthermore, the AKC and the UKC and similar clubs exist only to register dogs, not to regulate kennel conditions.?  They may occasionally yank someone's club status, but are basically powerless to act otherwise.?  (That's why stronger civil laws are needed.)

6.) Reputable breeders will never sell on roadsides.?  They will never ask you to meet them at caf?©s, truck stops, shopping malls, or other "halfway" points.?  Period.

7.) Reputable breeders will let you know if a breed is wrong for you.?  And it may well be.?  Think how many poor folks out there got stuck with inbred and high-strung Dalmatians after both "101 Dalmatians" movies came out.?  And guess who was responsible for the influx of pathetically bred Dalmatians??  Yup, that's right -- puppy mills.?  Puppy millers will try to talk you into a purchase, no matter how bad the choice may be for you and/or the dog.

8.) Reputable breeders will offer you some kind of warranty for the pup you ultimately choose (or who chooses you!).?  Some animal shelters and breed specific rescue societies will also give you some kind of trial period in which to "try the pup out" in his or her new environment.

9.) Reputable breeders may guide you toward another breeder and/or breed, the local pound, a breed specific rescue society, or local animal shelter when any one of these might be the better choice for you.?  A puppy miller will never do this -- shelters and rescue societies he considers his enemy, and cold hard cash his only friend.

10.) Reputable breeders will spend the time and money having each dog in every litter tested for hip dysplasia and other health problems.?  A puppy miller will almost never do this.?  Also, puppy mill dogs often come with their own health problems, including (but not limited to) kennel cough, Parvovirus, sarcoptic mange, serious flea/tick infestation, etc.?  A reputable breeder would never sell a dog in such poor health. If he did inadvertently do so, he would rush to make things right once the matter was brought to his attention.?  By the same?  token, no animal shelter would ever adopt out a pet in such dreadful shape.?  It goes against both common sense and common decency.

11.) Reputable breeders know when to let their bitches in heat breed, and when not to.?  Puppy millers only care about the bottom dollar, and so many puppy mill bitches must live their entire lives in forced pregnancies and filthy cages, and must suffer terribly from ensuing health problems.

12.) Finally, puppy millers (both corporate and small potatoes) will scream and shout and kick and wail when they hear the term "puppy mill" itself.?  They know that they are guilty, and are the first to try to avoid that term whenever possible.?  Puppy millers will usually scurry like rats in the dark once they're exposed to the light of day.

We must all work together to eradicate puppy mills.?  Me, I'm a mixed breed/pound puppy kinda guy.?  I believe that rescue is the most wonderful choice in the world.?  But if, perhaps, you want a purebred pup, you might also consider a purebred rescue society -- there are lots out there.?  If you decide that you must buy a puppy, then please do the decent thing and make certain to choose a reputable breeder.?  Good breeders will care about selective breeding and breed conformity, and will place the animals' health and general welfare first on the list of priorities.?  Profit may be a factor for them, yes, but is usually secondary to a love for the breed in particular and dogs in general.

Major dog magazines are a good place to start looking for a good breeder, as are well established kennels that are open to the public.?  Remember:?  to subsidize a puppy mill is to subsidize misery.?  And, please, make sure to have your pets spayed or neutered.

Animal Shelter Contacts:
Pets and People Humane Society 350-7387
OKC Animal Shelter 297-3100
Second Chance Animal Sanctuary 321-1915
Free to Live 282-8617