Choose Your Pets Wisely to Avoid Supporting Puppy Mills
Anyone who has owned a dog has probably had to make a choice about where to get that dog. For some people, a quick trip to the pet store is all they need to find a lovable new pet to join their family.
What many dog owners fail to realize is that puppies being sold at pet stores are likely to have a dark past. Puppies sold at pet stores likely came from a puppy mill. A puppy mill is a breeding facility that churns puppies out at an unhealthy pace. The dogs that live in these facilities are subjected to deplorable conditions.
Dogs used as breeders in puppy mills are kept in tiny cages and seldom allowed to exercise or socialize. They are bred far more often than they naturally would. Female dogs are often bred so frequently that their reproductive organs often suffer irreparable damage.
To keep their kennels quieter, breeders sometimes debark the dogs, a procedure that involves shoving a metal pipe down the dog’s throat to rupture its vocal cords. They receive only the most perfunctory of health care and many dogs are in extremely poor health. Since they do not receive routine dental care, dogs kept in puppy mills suffer rotten teeth and the many related health problems.
While the lack of health care and filthy, cramped conditions are cause enough for concern, there are other issues to worry about. Because puppy mills sell purebred dogs almost exclusively, the breeding stock kept at puppy mills are often from the same family. This results in inbreeding which can lead to a host of genetic diseases. These diseases often aren’t apparent immediately and only surface after the dog has been purchased. Many conditions caused by inbreeding, such as hip defects and intestinal problems, don’t become serious until the dog is much older.
Although the Animal Welfare Act of 1970 is supposed to act as protection against animal cruelty, puppy mill operators are not often prosecuted for their mistreatment. Only in the most severe cases are legal actions taken against puppy mill breeders. Because the USDA (the department with jurisdiction in animal welfare matters) does not have the resources to pursue legal action for every case, many puppy mills are allowed to continue to operate indefinitely.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine what type of environment your puppy came from. If you purchase a puppy from a pet store, you are taking the risk that it was bred at a puppy mill. Instead of buying a purebred puppy and supporting the cruel and heartless conditions endured by dogs at puppy mills, consider rescuing a dog from a shelter.
Dogs rescued from shelters are wonderful animals who deserve to live in a loving home. Approximately 10 to 20 million domesticated animals are killed in shelters each year when homes cannot be found for them. By adopting a dog from a shelter you will not only cut down on the demand for dogs from puppy mills; you will also give a great dog a second chance at life.
Filed under: Dogs, General, Pet Food, Shopping
