Pet Adoption – Dogs

Acquiring a Dog - Avoid Puppy Mills

What are puppy mills?

Puppy mills are commercial kennels where animals are bred for profit rather than for promotion of the breed. They often end up in pet stores or sold over the Internet and classified ads in newspapers. AAP opposes puppy mills because they fail to provide a humane standard of care for the animals' physical, mental and behavioral needs.

Puppy Mills produce many breeds of dogs for a majority of pet stores. Their female dogs are bred continuously with no rest between heat cycles. Mothers and their litters often suffer from malnutrition, exposure, and lack of adequate veterinary care. Continuous breeding weakens the females' bodies and they are killed when they can no longer produce enough litters. In addition to many documented physical ailments, puppy mill animals often display antisocial behaviors as a result of early removal from their mothers and littermates.

As an alternative to purchasing puppy mill dogs, AAP encourages consumers to check with their local shelters and reputable rescue groups to see if the particular breed they are looking for is available or check out reputable breeders through your vet's office or by contacting the Canadian Kennel Club. Reputable breeders do not breed dogs for economic gain but rather do so out of a genuine love for a given breed. First and foremost is the care for their animals' physical and mental well-being. Responsible breeders normally breed their animals no more than once a year and usually have a wait list of prospective buyers whom they question to ensure their animals will be going to the right home. As well, they will always be willing to take the animal back should the owner no longer be able to care for it.

Identifying a Puppy Mill

• Inadequate housing - insufficient lighting, poor ventilation and temperature extremes.
• Overcrowded cages, with little room to turn around or stand up;
• Cage floors usually made of wire which hurt small paws and allow feces to drop below (sometimes into other cages);
• Little or no sanitation;
• Lack of proper veterinary care; frequent outbreaks of contagious disease;
• Lack of quality food and water, leading to malnutrition;
• Overbreeding of females, often three times a year without a break;
• Shady breeding practices which promote genetic defects and temperament problems;
• Illegal registering and tattooing of dogs and fake veterinarian certificates.

Avoid buying a Puppy Mill Dog

1. Always deal directly with a reputable breeder if you're planning on buying a purebred. The breeder should be a member of the Canadian Kennel Club. Frequent and/or multiple ads in newspapers can indicate a backyard breeder or broker. You can also ask a local veterinarian about a source for puppies. Remember, reputable breeders do not sell through pet stores.
2. Visit the kennel to meet the breeder and to see the breeding dogs. The sire, or male dog, may not be present at the kennel as he may belong to a different breeder. Make sure that you see the pup you intend to buy nursing with its mother. If there is anything that bothers you about the facilities or the breeder, go elsewhere. Reputable breeders will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the breed or their operation in general and will usually have a few questions of their own for you.
3. Check out local breed rescues, Humane Society or SPCA and opt to adopt. There are hundreds of dogs abandoned each year who are waiting for someone to give them a good home. Many are purebred.
4. Never buy a pup on impulse. This animal is going to be a member of your household for 10 to 15 years. Take the time to do your research. Find out about the needs of the breed you're interested in, and make sure you can meet those needs. Some points to consider: does the dog need a lot of exercise? How big does it get? Do you need a low-allergenic breed? Is the dog best suited to city life or country life?
5. A dog advertised as purebred dog must come with registration papers which must be provided at no additional charge. It is the breeder's responsibility to register the pup, not yours. If you are told otherwise, be very wary that this may be a puppy mill dog. Contact the Canadian Kennel Club to ensure that the you are dealing with is a member in good standing.

O'Malley, rescued after spending 11 years in a basement puppymill.
He had never been outside