Puppy e-mills

The perils of online dog shopping

June 27, 2012

 

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Before you buy a puppy online, be sure to sniff around. Your new best friend might be right there at your local shelter. (William…)

To the list of sketchy under-the-radar activities that flourish on the Internet — gambling, pornography, investment scams, identity theft — add this: puppy sales.
Commercial puppy breeders have learned that cutting out the middleman — the pet store — doesn't just save them money. It allows them to escape the scrutiny of theU.S. Department of Agriculture. Under the federal Animal Welfare Act, the USDA is charged with regulating, licensing and inspecting wholesale breeders.