Technology? Meet the puppy mill
By Gina Spadafori
March 16, 2007
The Allentown (Pa.) Morning call ran a series on Pennsylvania’s problems with puppy-mills, high-volume breeding operations known for a “it’s just livestock” attitude towards the animals in their care and, often, cruelty of astonishing levels:
Puppy breeding and boarding kennels throughout Pennsylvania have been virtually assured of passing grades from state regulators even with feces-filled living areas, cramped cages, dirty water bowls and diseased or dead dogs, according to an investigation by The Morning Call based on a first-ever analysis of 20,000 state inspection records.
Dog wardens are charged with protecting puppies. But the analysis of kennel inspection records from 2003-2006 shows the wardens have been the kennel owners’ best friend.
Kennels received perfect ratings — no violations in the 26 categories inspected by wardens on each visit — more than nine times out of 10 during that time, the newspaper’s analysis of the state’s computerized records showed.
This record of perfection flabbergasts animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which have long criticized Pennsylvania for allowing substandard kennels and puppy mills to operate.
It’s a good piece of reporting. Personally, though, I think nothing legal will work to fight puppy-mills, a view I’ve come to after writing on this issue for 25 years. Any legislation will always be watered down to near uselessness, and enforcement will never be a priority.
The only way to fight puppy mills is to NEVER BUY A DOG FROM A PET STORE. You can expand on that advice by taking extreme caution in dealing with any breeder online. A great many Web sites now cater to puppy-millers, allowing them access to direct sales and cutting out the middle-man. A lot of reputable breeders have Web sites. But if you find one that lets you order from a number of different breeds and is happy to sell you a puppy no questions asked, then you’re probably dealing with a puppy mill.
When you buy a puppy-mill dog, you doom many, many more dogs to a life in cages producing more puppies. DON’T SUPPORT THIS CRUEL INDUSTRY. Go to a shelter or rescue group, or find a reputable breeder. To do otherwise makes you an accomplice to cruelty.
Now … the other thing that’s extremely cool about the Morning Call’s package is its offering of a “widget” to go on other peoples’ sites and allow for searches of the state’s breeder and kennel inspection database. The “why” of the offering is explained here; the widget is available here.
I wanted to say that I bought a puppy from an out of town breeder, she brought him down to me from another state.
He seemed so nice and sweet and truly this puppy has the best disposition, but he has health concerns that I hope do not get worse. First of all he had Giardia and that took weeks to cure, and then he had some other parasites that caused him to poop ten or twelve times a day, and he needed different meds for that, and now he is getting allergies and his feet are breaking out - so I am closely watching that.
I am very dedicated to him and he is the sweetest boy. So I am pleased with his nature and the vet says he’s going to be at least 120 pounds when he grows up.
I can’t say I wish I hadn’t bought him as he has this wonderful termperment, and the vet says his overall teeth and position etc of bones look fine, but I wonder if he was made to sit in poop or to drink muddy water etc. I called the breeder and raised heck with her about this guy, and she claims that she had no idea, well bet me she didn’t.
I wouldn’t trade him for the world. My only caution is to make sure you visit the momma and where the puppies are raised and see if its clean or not. I was just too trusting.
Comment by Withheld name — April 9, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
I wanted to say that I bought a puppy from an out of town breeder, she brought him down to me.
He seemed so nice and sweet and truly this puppy has the best disposition, but he has health concerns that I hope do not get worse. First of all he had Giardia and that took weeks to cure, and then he had some other parasites that caused him to poop ten or twelve times a day, and he needed different meds for that, and now he is getting allergies and his feet are breaking out - so I am closely watching that.
I am very dedicated to him and he is the sweetest boy. So I am pleased with his nature and the vet says he’s going to be at least 120 pounds when he grows up.
I can’t say I wish I hadn’t bought him as he has this wonderful termperment, and the vet says his overall teeth and position etc of bones looks fine, but I wonder if he was made to sit in poop or to drink muddy water etc. I called the breeder and raised heck with her about this guy, and she claims that she had no idea, well bet me she didn’t.
I wouldn’t trade him for the world. My only caution is to make sure you visit the momma and where the puppies are raised and see if its clean or not. I was just too trusting.
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 3:10 pm