Puppy mill

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A puppy mill in rural US

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Puppy mills, sometimes known as puppy farms^[1], are large-scale dog breeding facilities that operate under substandard breeding conditions,^[2][3] causing the development of chronic health problems, temperament issues, and hereditary defects in puppies that come from the mills.^[2]

The term can be applied to operations involving other animals irresponsibly bred for profit, e.g. "kitty mills."^[4] Animals that have been produced in mills are most commonly sold at pet stores to unsuspecting consumers. ^[5]

Irresponsible breeding on a smaller scale is referred to as backyard breeding.^[4]

Differences in breeding conditions

Responsible breeders raise their animals with the intent to produce a healthy dog, and to provide a quality pet for responsible owners.^[6] Good breeders will take into consideration breed-specific health problems, genetic screening, physical condition, age of the dog and temperament before producing litters. Good breeders carefully nurture the mothers and the puppies they produce. They constantly check the puppies' health, and ensure they are properly socialized.^[7]

In contrast, dogs bred in puppy mills are usually kept in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. They usually do not receive adequate food, water or veterinary care. Both breeding dogs and their puppies tend to be housed in extremely cramped conditions, often exposed to the elements. Females are sometimes forced to breed every time they are in heat to increase profits, resulting in gradually decreasing sizes of litters.^[2][8] As puppies, mill dogs are weaned from their mothers well before the eight to ten weeks recommended.^[9] Dogs in puppy mills are often bred indiscriminately. While the puppies produced may come with pedigrees, the pedigree itself is neither an indication of quality nor authenticity.^[5]

Effects

Due to the poor breeding conditions in puppy mills, puppies bred there tend to have issues which dogs from responsible breeders do not have. Puppies raised in a cramped environment shared by many other dogs become poorly socialized to other dogs and to humans. Dogs are then transported over long distances in poor conditions, sometimes resulting in the deaths of many dogs. As the surviving mill dogs grow older, they are more prone to developing respiratory ailments and pneumonia, as well as hereditary defects such as hip dysplasia.^[2] In addition, mill dogs are more prone to have problems with their temperament. Puppies from mills are usually sold as purebred dogs in an attempt to fetch the higher prices associated with purebreds. However, due to the indiscriminate breeding practices of puppy mills, the dog may or may not actually be a purebred puppy.^[5]

The vast majority of puppy mill animals are sold to pet stores by "dealers". Some puppies are sold by dealers masquerading as authentic breeders. Reputable breeders never sell puppies to dealers or pet stores.^[5][9] Most animal rights groups recommend purchasing purebred puppies directly from responsible breeders. In addition, local animal shelters are a reliable source for puppies that does not directly benefit puppy mill operators. Another recommended source for puppies are breed-specific rescue organizations.^[2]

History

According to Canis Major publications, puppy mills originated in the post-World War II era. Midwestern farmers looking for an alternative crop reacted to a growing demand for puppies, resulting in the development of the first commercial puppy business. As the business grew, both small and large retail outlets began to sell puppies through pet departments. At around the same time, the first pet store chains were born.^[10]

Through indifference or ignorance, many puppies were left unsocialized or exposed in existing chicken coops or rabbit hutches. In addition, veterinary care for these puppies was often overlooked because of an inability to pay. As a result, organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States began to investigate breeding kennels, leading to the passage of the Animal Welfare Act of August 24, 1966.^[10][11]

According to the Humane Society of the United States, thousands of puppy mills are located around the country.^[12] The highest concentration of both puppy mills and breeders has been reported to be in the states of Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri.^[13]

Controversy

Miniature breeds at a US puppy mill

The term "puppy mill" has been widely used by animal rights groups in protests against smaller breeders who may appear to have substandard breeding conditions. Such breeders, occasionally labeled hobby breeders, are often cited by animal rights groups as puppy mills. Hobby breeders claim that emotional rhetoric, sensationalism, and pictures of dirty kennels are used to justify additional legislation or additional restrictive licensing that travels well beyond the initial goal of removing dogs from truly deplorable conditions.^[10]

Some hobby breeders argue that many attempts to legislate puppy mills would put them out of business. Many hobby breeders argue the laws, which often require extra paperwork and inspections, would be more of a nuisance than help in shutting down puppy mills. Such breeders often cite existing lemon laws for puppies as sufficient protection for both dogs and prospective buyers.^[13]

Commercial kennels may be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture which may inspect the kennels routinely.^[14] However, USDA inspections frequently find kennels in non-compliance with the Animal Welfare Act leading many USDA licensed facilities to be branded as puppy mills by animal rights and animal welfare organizations.^[15]

Media coverage

On May 29, 2008, MSNBC aired a report about puppy mills, in which Oprah Winfrey revealed an industry fraught with problems and apparent cruelty. The broadcast showed puppy mills with small cages, with chicken wire floors, stacked in rows from floor to ceiling, and stated that many dogs spend their entire lives within these tiny cages. Many of these dogs are sold on the internet or by pet retailers to buyers who are unaware of the dogs' background. The report claimed that customers who object to this treatment of puppies unknowingly allow the industry to thrive. It also pointed out that many of the puppy mill bred dogs suffer long-term health problems.^{[16][dead link]}

Legislative response

United States, Federal

In the United States, some elements of the dog breeding industry are regulated by the Animal Welfare Act of August 24, 1966.^[17]

Australia

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has responded to the problem of puppy mills in Australia by proposing the Animals Regulation of Sale Bill.^[18] It would ban the sale of dogs through pet shops, the internet or newspapers. The aim is to crack down on impulse purchases and shut down unregistered backyard breeders. These breeders should no longer easily profit from the sale of the dogs, and the number of unwanted and abandoned animals could drop.^[19]

Opposition to the bill comes from the Australian Veterinary Association and the Pet Industry Association. They say that the bill makes no difference to shelter admissions or euthanasia rates.^[20]

Some claim that the bill will only serve to push unregistered breeders further underground.^[20]

In New South Wales alone, more than 60,000 animals are put down each year.^[19] Australia-wide the number is over a quarter of a million.^[21]

References

External links

• http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/content/2007/puppymillsite/Puppy_Mill_Laws_by_state.pdf
• http://www.aspca.org/puppymills
• http://www.thekodyfoundation.org
• http://www.petshoppuppies.com/ Pet Shop Puppies -- Request a free USDA inquiry on any puppy you may have purchased from a pet store.
• Stop Puppy Mills - Humane Society of the United States
• Puppymill Awareness Day
• Companion Animal Protection Society -- The only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals
• Prisoners of Greed
• No Puppy Mills -- Dedicated to educating the public about the commercial dog industry in America
• Understanding cage size -- A series of illustrations showing how to measure and calculate the primary enclosure size in commercial kennels.
• North Penn Puppy Mill Watch -- Covers PA puppy mill activity and critical pending state-wide legislation
• PetStoreAbuse.com -- Information on the pet trade and commercial breeders.
• NJ Consumers Against Pet Shop Abuse -- Information about puppy lemon laws and puppy mills.
• Clover Moore's Bill -- Covers the contents of the Bill and how it will stop petshops, newspapers and internet sales of animals

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