The Alarming Truth About Puppy Mills, and Why and How to Avoid Them

In the most basic sense, a puppy mill is a place in which numerous dogs are bred so that the owners can sell as many puppies as possible, thereby netting as large of a profit as possible. They are vastly different from responsible breeders, as they are not concerned with the health or safety of the puppies or the dogs they breed. Puppy mills have long been one of many pet issues, but these days, it seems like the problem has gotten worse. Animal Matters urges future pet owners to avoid puppy mills at all costs, and has provided some pointers on how to do so.

Why You Should Avoid Puppy Mills

Sadly, most puppies that come from puppy mills have extensive health issues, including dysplasia, distemper, parvovirus and other hereditary disorders that the "breeders" chose not to screen for. These puppies are then sold off to pet stores, which sell them to unwitting customers. Once the owner gets their new puppy home, they may learn that their puppy is aggressive and unfriendly with friends and family members. Additionally, they may become saddled with veterinary bills that they cannot afford. These issues typically result in the owner dropping the puppy off at the shelter to hopefully be placed in another home. Sadly, most puppy mill puppies spend their lives going in and out of shelters, as most people do not have the means of dealing with their ongoing pet issues.

How to Identify a Puppy Mill

Puppy mills are generally not difficult to identify. For one, most puppy mills charge half the price for a "pure bred" than any other breeder. They do this to turn a profit as quickly as possible. Puppy mills also forego cleanliness and comfort for their dogs. A typical backyard breeder will have cages full of five to ten puppies at a time. These pens will be dirty, and have just one or two water and food bowls for all puppies to share, which is why so many dogs at these breeding farms look malnourished. There might be feces and urine in the pups’ pens as well, lending to the overall filth of the puppies’ coats. Finally, most breeders at a mill are generally closed off to questions, and are unwilling to share information regarding the lineage of their dogs.

Animal Matters fights common pet issues and wildlife issues across the globe. Puppy mills are a growing concern, and it is up to you to put a stop to them. If you are in the market for a new pup, do your research, and if you do come across a puppy mill, put an end to their business by taking away their business.

Taryn Johnson is an avid writer. She loves all things about electronics and marketing. In a perfect world, Taryn would be writing from the beaches of Hawaii all day long.