Frequently Asked Questions about Puppy Mills

• 4-5 million animals die in shelters every year (roughly 11,000 every day)
  
• 20% of animals in shelters are purebred
  
• It's estimated that 500,000 dogs are bred in puppy mills every year
  
• There are more than 6,000 licensed commercial kennels in the U.S. (and untold numbers of
  unlicensed).
  What is a puppy mill?
  There are many different definitions for the term "puppy mill," but Best Friends' definition is any person who breeds dogs for commercial sale—that is, in order to make a profit. A puppy miller is a person who breeds to make money. It is that person's main reason for having dogs. Puppy mills can be poorly maintained, filthy places, or they can be fairly clean and well-organized, but the common thread is both types breed dogs for sale.
  How can you tell the difference between a puppy mill and a good breeder?
  In order to make money, a puppy mill operates differently than a responsible breeder. The list below describes characteristics that indicate that a breeder is operating as a commercial enterprise instead of breeding as a hobby:
  Common signs of a puppy mill:
  

• Puppy mills usually have several breeds of dogs for sale at the same time
  
• Puppy mills often offer to ship dogs to new owners
  
• Puppy millers usually will not allow customers to view their property or kennel
  
• Puppy millers do not require an application or references from people buying a puppy
  
• Puppy millers do not ask buyers to return or contact them if at any point in the dog's life if the
  owners cannot keep the dog
  
• Puppy mills keep a lot of dogs and a lot of puppies to make a profit
  
• Puppy mills breed females every time they come into heat, so they are pregnant or nursing at all
  times
  
• Puppy mills are often USDA-licensed so they can sell puppies to pet stores. A USDA license is a red
  flag that breeders are in the business to make money
  
• Puppy mills supply pet stores with puppies
  What's wrong with a breeder having a lot of dogs or making money from breeding, as long as they take care of the dogs?
  Even if a commercial breeder keeps dogs clean and relatively healthy, they still breed females every time they come into heat. The dogs still live in cages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and have little or no human contact or love. Their purpose in life is to sit in a cage, constantly producing new puppies to make a profit for the owner.
  Life for a dog in even the "best" puppy mill is one that no creature should have to endure, especially companion animals that for generations have been considered man's best friend. Even in the "best" puppy mill, dogs will live in a cage until they are sold to another breeder, or until their bodies literally give out and they can no longer produce any more puppies.
  How can people be sure they're not getting a dog from a puppy mill?
  The best way is to adopt a dog or puppy from a shelter or rescue group instead of buying one. Never buy from a pet store or online. In fact with millions of animals, including purebred dogs and puppies, dying in shelters every year, there is no reason to breed or buy them at all. There are thousands of wonderful pets available for adoption on websites, and it is easy to search for particular breeds or ages of pets. There are websites just for shelters and rescue groups to showcase their available animals. A few good sites are:
  • www.petfinder.com
  • www.1-800-save-a-pet.com
  

• www.pets911.com

One can also find a dog by contacting a local breed rescue organization by searching www.google.com. Enter a city or state, the breed you are looking for, and the word "rescue." Every pet adopted is a life saved!
What about purchasing a dog or puppy online or in a pet store?
Never buy a dog or puppy from a pet store or through the Internet. Never buy a dog unless you see where it was raised, and meet its parents. Pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills because of cost and convenience. They buy dogs wholesale from breeders who raise and sell them commercially. It's all business. Don't be fooled by registration papers, claims that dogs are from "local breeders," guarantees or free vet visits. No matter what the store says, it is always safer to adopt a dog or through a reputable hobby breeder where you can see where the dogs are raised.
Purchasing a dog online is even more dangerous than buying one from a pet store. In most states, breeders need no license to sell dogs directly to the public. They are never checked out by inspectors and they often are only selling through the internet in order to avoid inspection.
If a dog is registered or "has papers," does that mean it is high-quality or healthy?
Registration papers or a pedigree is worth no more than a blank piece of paper. Anyone can register a dog by filling out a form and paying a fee. Registration means that the dog's name and existence has been duly recorded with the registry, but papers are no guarantee the dog is purebred or healthy.
Is it true that there are health or behavior problems with puppy mill dogs?
Yes, and they are significant. Puppies raised in cages away from human contact miss out on important socialization that will affect their behavior for the rest of their lives. Because they are taken away from their mothers as early as possible for sale, they miss out on what mother dogs teach puppies—how to interact properly with other dogs and with people.
Common health problems found in dogs from puppy mills and sold in pet stores:

• Internal parasites, some that can infect humans as well
  
• Deadly diseases such as parvo and distemper
  
• Congenital defects such as luxating patellas (displaced kneecaps), hip, eye and heart defects.
  These often do not become apparent until years after dogs are purchased and the pet store's warranty is long expired.
  Are puppy mills legal?
  Yes. The federal government (USDA) regulates breeders who sell animals to pet stores, and there are no laws against the keeping and breeding a lot of dogs. What is illegal is animal cruelty, and that is what causes puppy mills to be shut down. Best Friends believes that even the cleanest puppy mill is cruel, because the females are kept perpetually pregnant and dogs are forced to live in cages their whole lives.