We've all seen them, noses pressed to the glass, eyes pleading for somebody to take them home. So cute and cuddly that many a rational person has made the impulsive decision to bring one home, a few hundred dollars later. And with out a doubt, thousands of dollars in veterinary bills later, the poor sucker finally realizes that maybe buying that puppy wasn't such a great idea. Right idea, wrong place, unfortunately.
Every single puppy that is at a pet store came from a puppy mill or a backyard breeder. A puppy mill is a large-scale dog breeding facilities that operate under substandard breeding conditions, causing the development of chronic health problems, temperament issues, and hereditary defects in puppies that come from the mills. Single responsible breeders out there who would allow one of his or her dogs to be marketed out like regular merchandise to whoever can lay down the cash. Let me repeat that, please. There are no responsible breeders who would sell their dogs to pet stores.
How do you know who is a responsible breeder? Easily; a responsible breeder must know where their puppies are going. A responsible breeder will interrogate the potential buyer about their home, family, living arrangements, other people that share their house, their past, and their future.
Responsible breeders raise their animals with the intent to produce a healthy dog, and to provide a quality pet for responsible owners. Good breeders will take into consideration breed-specific health problems, genetic screening, physical condition, age of the dog and temperament before producing litters. Good breeders carefully nurture the mothers and the puppies they produce. They constantly check the puppies' health, and ensure they are properly socialized.
In contrast, dogs bred in puppy mills are usually kept in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. They usually do not receive adequate food, water or veterinary care. Both breeding dogs and their puppies tend to be housed in extremely cramped conditions, often exposed to the heat, snow, rain, and coldness. Females are sometimes forced to breed every time they are in heat to increase profits, resulting in gradually decreasing sizes of litters. As puppies, mill dogs are weaned from their mothers well before the eight to ten weeks recommended. Dogs in puppy mills are often bred willy-nilly.
In conclusion, you should always buy from a responsible breeder or from a shelter. Buying from a pet store or online is never okay; you are just helping out the puppy mill industry and killing a dog in a shelter that would love a home. Always look at the history of the breeder before you buy, meet face to face with the breeder and always, always, meet the parents at a home; never on a side of a road or in a parking lot.
I can't believe anyone can treat animals so awfully!
