Puppy mills can be a danger for families that want to adopt a new dog. A puppy mill is a breeding facility with the sole purpose of churning out the most dogs for the least money - and to make the most profit.
Substandard breeding conditions and inbreeding can lead to health and behavioral problems in the puppies bred there. Since the 1980s, the Humane Society of the United States has been fighting to shut down these facilities. You can do your part by making sure to research before you adopt and by keeping yourself informed! Here are some tips to avoid adopting from a puppy mill:Avoid:
Pet stores, newspaper or journal ads, and great deals on the internet! Many puppy mills supply local pet stores, and ads in newspapers or on websites can easily falsify information. Remember Bandit from Season 2? His website said that he was from a licensed breeder, but he turned out to be the product of a puppy mill, costing his new family thousands of dollars in vet bills and heartache over his life-threatening health and behavioral problems. Read a story about a successful puppy mill adoption using Cesar’s Way.
Visit the breeder and ask questions!
Ask to see the entire facility where the dogs are bred and kept. Is it clean? Spacious enough? Ask to see the parent dogs as well. Does the breeder show hesitation to let you see the facility or to let you meet the other dogs who are being kept there? Or is the breeder willing to just sell one of his puppies to anyone who walks in off the street, sight unseen? Reputable breeders will want to make sure their puppies are going to good homes. Beware of all these red flags.
Adopt from a shelter or rescue instead! This is the simplest solution. Rescues and shelters most often have the best interest of the animal at heart, and many of them are last chance adoptions. Remember: don't feel sorry! Adopt based on your energy level and compatibility!
5 comments:
haha! love it! spca/humane society saying "dont buy from them! buy from us!" classic sales pitch. sorry, but after my many dealings with the local humane society, i will never support them again!
Try to focus on the animals you would be helping when you adopt from the Humane Society, not on the unpleasant and disagreeable people employed at the Humane Society of Wicomico County. One animal there is worth more than the entire staff. I agree that organization leaves MUCH to be desired, but those animals need homes. I have three great dogs from the Wicomico Humane Society They are worth all the "people contact" I had to go through to get them.
So you will judge all shelters based on your experience with one? Because you're angry with the local shelter, you'll condemn what the national Humane Society has to say? Or refuse to adopt from a private breed rescue? Because you had a bad experience witht he WCHS, you'd never consider saving an animal's life as opposed to buying a puppy? Just wanted to make sure I was clear on what you were trying to say.
So glad you posted this! Many people do not do research before getting dog, and most people don't understand the seriousness of our overpopulation problem. There are so many dogs that needs homes that are great dogs. When you adopt a dog, you are saving 2 dogs: the dog you've adopted, and the dog that will be rescued when that space opens up.
Makes me so happy to see animal adoption being promoted!
no not one experience. MANY experiences. when i share my story with others, i in turn get their horror story. many times you have read about these stories right here on sbynews. especially when joe was ticked with linda lugo. remember?
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