Definition of a Puppy Mill

[Chip's Mom]

I could not watch only a small portion of the video but sometimes actions speak alot louder then words as I would say that video does.

My idea of a puppy mill can be compared to a production mill without any quality control. The goal is to produce as many puppies as possible that can be sold as long as there is a demand from the public to purchase such goods. Females are bred every heat cycle for as long as she will breed and are kept in poor housing with little or no room to move around or tied to a doghouse with little or no human contact other then to feed, water and give shots when necessary. She may be left alone to whelp and take care of her puppies. When her usefullness is over, she is given away or turned into rescue or sold at auction to anyone that will take her. Some people do keep their dogs in the house but they are secluded into one room and kept in crates day in and day out. If you look into a dog's eyes, you can tell if a dog is loved and happy. These dogs that come from puppy mills have a blank stare about them and have given up on life. Some of them will only eat in the middle of the night in the safety of darkness, shy away from people and they don't know what a ball is, grass under their feet, kisses and hugs or love from their owners. They are empty inside because all they have known all their lives is emptiness and giving birth. I have seen such a pup and I have seen female dogs like this and I have also seen the work involved to bring them out of their shell and some never come out of their shell. It is heartbreaking and anyone who calls themselves a dog lover should be angry and upset over the abuse that some of these dogs go through and should try to stop puppy mills even if they have to pay a higher fee for a license or give up a little in the lives to stop some of the suffering that these dogs go through. It breaks my heart every time I think of one little corgi that is in a puppy mill today.

[jakort1]

Originally Posted by Peggy

IMO, back yard breeders are not the ones that breed for performace dogs. That can and usually is still a reptuatable breeder.

Peggy

The kennel club I attend was discussing backyard breeders when the V.P. said "I could never be a backyard breeder...my house sits too far back on it's lot" She's a very reputable wolfhound breeder, but, I still chuckle about that remark.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by jakort1

The kennel club I attend was discussing backyard breeders when the V.P. said "I could never be a backyard breeder...my house sits too far back on it's lot" She's a very reputable wolfhound breeder, but, I still chuckle about that remark.

A better term is "casual breeder" IMO, but back yard breeder has become the common term for someone who breeds casually and not to the standard, doesn't show or do health tests.

Peggy