Puppy Mills. What do YOU think they are?

[Suki Wingy]

all of the above are a mill. Caring more for $ than for the animals is generally what defines a miller for me. If you buy a pup from a pet store, he won't die but It'll mean a whole nother litter will be born and also suffer. You also pay a whole lot more than from a rescue and also more than the average good breeder, but most likley spend lots of $ extra on vet bills. Of all of the dogs from pet stores I've met, they've all been sick at one point that normal other puppies don't usually have.

[junescrater716]

it's true that most pet store dogs are sick. Curly had kennel cough when we brought him home. But still in my opinion, all dogs are worthy of homes even if they are from pet stores.

[Suki Wingy]

what about the dogs used for breeding those dogs? They certainly don't have anything like a home even though they officially do.

[LilacDragon]

I certainly don't mean to be rude but it boggles my mind that someone can look at a pet shop puppy and not give a single thought to where it came from.

I know a woman who has a double dapple doxie that she rescued from a puppymill (a friend who knew she had tried to rescue this dog on two seperate occasions bought her at an auction). This dog was born stone deaf and without eyes - just empty sockets. She was sold at auction as a puppy for a very high price because she was a double dapple. At the second auction, she went for a higher price because she was an excellent mother!

My mother has a pet shop puppy that she says she "rescued". It has a skin condition that it will be treated for for it's entire life. Goodness only knows what is wrong with the mother. His skin condition is genetic.

[GreyhoundGirl]

I would never buy a pet store Puppy.

A) they never have greyhounds or whippets
B) they are WAY too expensive
C) they have WAY too many health problems
D) They support Puppy mills
E) the list goes on

[Husky15]

I would prefer to adopt a dog, and Belle is only the second dog we bought from a pet-store. The other we got was a Husky/Malamute. Pagan [our Shetland Sheepdog] my father rescued from an abusive owner living just down the street from us. Princess [Lab/Golden] we got from a woman who could no longer keep her, but I forget where we got Buster. We got our cat named Boots from a shelter [they were going to get a dog but came back with a cat] and we got my CC from a man living beside my grandmother. Although I realize what happens when people buy dogs from pet-stores, I do not think it is right to just let them die. They are living, breathing animals too that deserve love just as much. And let's face it - the dogs and animals at pet-stores are always going to be bought. There are so many people out there who do not understand what exactly goes on. I didn't even know as much as I do about shelter animals until I came on here. I knew they were there, but I knew nothing about it. It's the sad, sad truth.

[Karen]

I know, but the more we educate people, the fewer who will buy.

[Marigold2]

Good Morning, I just saw this tread concerning puppy mills. I would like to offer my opinion as well. Puppy Mills are truly horrible places, much different from a breeder. A breeder raises their dogs because they love them and are dedicated to that breed, they might show them or just keep them as pets as well as sell some. However their main goal is the care, love and education of those dogs, which are their family. Puppy Mills ONLY breed for one purpose, and that is profit. No concern, love or kindness is giving to the animals. They are only there for profit. If the puppy is ill or not good to sell they are killed, pure and simple. With one million animals put down every year in our local shelters the best place to adopt a dog, cat, bunny or other animal is from a shelter. The ASPCA, Love-A-Spray and hundreds of other groups are out there needing help, needing more monies, needing people to adopt. Perhaps the puppy or kitty will not be pure breed, but their love and need is even greater. You are saving a life and enriching yours to no end. Puppy Mills are not here to save a pet, they are there to make a profit. The choice you make, whether to save a life or promote a horrible business is up to each and everyone of us.

[borzoimom]

When I had my shepherds, I was told countless times it would have been easier to adopt a child than get one of my precious shepherd pups!

[lovingpaws]

Don't get me started................

[lovingpaws]

Don't get me started................

Too late

1983 & 86 bought gifted golden - from pet stores -aka puppy mills. received papers to send in & register with AKC. Kacee the older one was fairly smart, Kisha younger, mentally challenged - she acted like a puppy all her life and even at age 12 people said how old's your puppy. I DIDN'T know anything about puppy mills then Both had health problems and one or the other was at the vet about every 2 months, ear infection, skin infections, allergies, anxiety. I think things would have been worse if I didn't feed natural & holistic foods. My third came after another 2 years, from breeder. Rarely saw vet. Great health, great body form. One disadvantage was epelepdic seirsures at about 8 or 9 - controlled with med. K & K also died of cancer at over 14, and that they made it that long was truly a blessing from God.

When I did volunteer work at a shelter (actually it was at the shelter but done by DART members) that also did investigation, I remember the day they brought in "puppy mill breeder dogs. These dogs were fearful and agressive, they needed tlc and to learn to trust, physically the also were in poor shape. We need to stop buying AT ALL pet store that sell DOGS & cATS

[borzoimom]

Don't get me started................

lol... I knew you were coming back to this one.. lol.