What you can do to stop the suffering
Don't buy from pet stores who sell dogs from puppy mills or over the Internet without first meeting the puppies' parents.
See that cute little dog in the pet store window? If he came from one of the tens of thousands of puppy mills in this country, his mother will more than likely live the entirety of her short life standing on a wire floor, packed in a small cage with other dogs that may be aggressive toward her. Frightened, malnourished, often without medical attention of any kind, she shivers in the cold days of winter and bakes under the August sun. Never knowing kindness or the slightest affection, she is a prisoner for profit. Bred at six or seven months and then every heat cycle after that, her short life will end brutally when she is no longer able to produce puppies. MLAR has rescued breeding females who were "de-barked" with steal pipes, their back teeth cracked, their jaws broken. Other dogs have come to us with scars from undergoing more than a dozen Caesarian sections, all performed without anesthesia by commercial dog breeders, who are generally farmers unqualified to perform such surgeries.
Please don't support these inhumane practices by purchasing a dog from a pet store that is selling dogs from puppy mills or from one of the thousands of misleading web sites offering multiple breeds of puppies; adopt from a shelter or rescue organization instead.
Main Line Animal Rescue is an all breed rescue organization helping all dogs regardless of their breed, but there are specific breed rescues across the country who help only purebred dogs of certain breeds. For example, Lab Rescue helps only Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundland Rescue assists Newfies in trouble, and if you want a West Highland Terrier, their rescues place hundreds of homeless Westies from New York to Seattle every year. Information is available on the Internet under Petfinder.com or through the national club for the specific breed you are looking to adopt.
If you are determined to purchase a purebred puppy, contact a small reputable breeder endorsed by the national club for the particular breed you desire. This information is available online. A reputable breeder breeds for the purpose of improving the breed, not simply for profit. A reputable or "responsible" breeder would NEVER ship their dogs off to be sold in pet stores. They want to meet the families who will be buying and caring for their dogs.
When you do find a breeder, ask questions. Talk to their vet as well as people who have already purchased their dogs. Reputable breeders will also take their dogs back and find them other homes, even after five or six years. They are also willing to provide you with follow-up advice, answer any questions you may have after you bring your new puppy home. Always see how and where their puppies are living, and always... always... meet the parents! If the breeder won't allow you into his barn or into his kennels, thank him and leave. It is most likely a Puppy Mill.
How to spot a Puppy Mill....Buyer Beware