How to Spot a Puppy Mill....Buyer Beware
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Avoid breeders who breed more than two breeds of dog, this may
indicate that the breeder is operating a Puppy Mill.
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Beware of breeders selling their puppies over the Internet and are
willing to ship puppies anywhere in the country. And again,
offering multiple breeds on multiple sites.
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Beware of ads in newspapers with phone numbers starting with 717
area codes. Some of the most infamous commercial breeders in the
country can be found in Pennsylvania's Dutch Country.
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Pet stores must provide paperwork detailing breeder information.
The breeder's address is listed on the paperwork. If the puppy
was bred in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas or
in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, then there is a good chance that
the puppy came from a commercial breeding facility or Puppy Mill.
Pet stores will tell you that their dogs do not come from Puppy
Mills but are from small breeders who breed and raise the dogs in
their homes. Don't believe it. Good breeders, reputable
breeders who breed to improve the standard of the breed, would
NEVER sell their dogs to a pet store. They are far too careful
about screening potential buyers to ensure their dogs are going to
good homes, and they would NEVER put their seven week old puppies
on a tractor trailer with hundreds of other dogs and transport them
across the country to be sold in a pet store.
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NEVER use a broker or a middleman who promises to "get you
anything you want" and who works with numerous breeders. These
people will often insist that they meet you away from the
breeder's kennels, a sure sign that he is distributing for a
Puppy Mill.
- Many people feel that if a dog has "papers" then the dog is a "good" dog. AKC papers DO NOT guarantee good health or sound temperament. The American Kennel Club is simply a registry for purebred dogs. They have in the past accepted registration fees for breeding dogs in some of the worst Puppy Mills in the country. And for those breeders who have had their registration privileges suspended by the AKC, then they can always register their dogs with the ACA. The American Canine Association issues "papers" for dogs bred by several breeders who are actually posted on Pet-Abuse.com, a national registry listing people convicted of abusing animals or violating the Animal Welfare Act. "Papers" increase the asking price of a dog by $300-$500 and this registry helps many breeders barred from the AKC sell their puppies to consumers who mistakenly think that papers, any papers, mean that they are buying a puppy free of disease and without behavioral or genetic problems. Unfortunately, this is not often the case.
The one sure way to avoid buying from a bad breeder or supporting the inhumane practices of our nation's Puppy Mills is to adopt your new dog or puppy from your local shelter or rescue organization. A third of all dogs at SPCAs and Humane Societies are purebred dogs. The other two thirds are incredible Mixes that will often be healthier, smarter and more grateful for having that second chance to become part of your family.