Puppy millers: How CLUELESS can you be?
By Gina Spadafori
April 5, 2008
Fresh into the Pet Connection e-mail box:
We found your name on a dog breeder directory and wanted to contact you as we have a dog website that is already building great popularity in the dog industry, and is well on its way to become one of the top dog sites on the Web. The address is [if you think we're going to promote your puppy-millers, you're crazy!].
What I would like to propose to you is to list your site in our newly improved Breeders Directory which includes all AKC recognized breeds, by becoming a member of the [xxx] community. [COMMUNITY? Of people dedicated to torturing dogs and screwing the public? Glad I don't live there!] There is NO cost, simply go to this link:
[xxx]
If you have any questions, my name is XXX and you can reach me at: [xxx] or toll free at [xxx].
Wow. Someone sure missed Oprah yesterday.
From the HSUS, two easy steps to stopping puppy mills:
- Choosing not to buy my next pet from a pet store or Internet site
- Refusing to buy supplies from any pet store or Internet site that sells puppies
I’ll add one more:
Tell a friend.
The Internet has been a real mixed blessing where dogs are concerned. On the one hand, the ability to share information, to pull diverse communities together (of fanciers of a given breed, for example), to LEARN (I was a clicker trainer via information from the Internet LONG before most people even knew what a clicker was!) and to provide a ready resource to send people to when they have questions - all of these things have been beneficial to dogs - both individually, and in the collective - in uncountable ways.
But then there’s the “dark side” - not the least of which the easy venue the Internet provides for these “puppy farmers” to market the product they’re pushing. And all of these “puppy directories” and “breeder listings” (the ones not associated with Parent Breed Clubs) are a part of that. Someone wants a puppy of a certain breed? Google is more than happy to serve a veritable borgaschmord of breeders and “breeder directories” who want nothing more than your VISA card number and the address to ship the puppy to.
Let’s hope Oprah’s show at least gets people started asking a few more questions!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — April 5, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
She could, and should, do an entire other episode on internet direct pet dealers. When extremists shout at me that if I did not breed, the folks would go to the shelter instead, I laugh.
Because with a paypal account or credit card, I could have a dozen purebred pups or ready to breed adults of most breeds on the way by sunset. No questions asked, no icky spay/neuter clauses, no conditions at all and all on open registration. For my breed, there are outfits that will sell you breeding trios!
If someone is determined to get a purebred dog, they will. And the slick internet site, with pics of the “family” cuddling their “baby” in the living room make it OK to by that puppy with the “click here” pay by credit card option. I am sure most readers here know damn well that most of the pictures are lifted illegally from other sites, it has happened to me.
Internet web-mills need to be shown for what they truly are. If the breeder does not insist that you come to meet them and require and provide references etc.. then all those pretty pictures are just window dressing for chicken coops and misery.
Comment by JenniferJ — April 5, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
When we had a big puppy mill shut down here in Buxton Maine last August. Over 250 dogs- and before the court case was settled -another 100 plus pups. they kept about 15 different web sites for the different breeds and all appeared to be down home, small and cozy and caring. It was disgusting.
Buyer beware. The other day I had to stop into a local pet store that sells pups…long story, anyway, the woman behind the counter was carefully explaining that “oh no it is not our pups that come from puppy mills, our pups are from USDAA approved kennels”. DUH!!!
Comment by nancy freedman-smith — April 6, 2008 @ 3:49 am
Just wondering if there is any state in the country that makes puppy mills (and kitten mills) illegal? Where are the best states for animal protection? The worst? Might be interesting to find out . . .
Comment by catmom5 — April 6, 2008 @ 5:28 am
I have to laugh whenever someone defends USDA kennels. Um - folks - the “A” stands for “Agriculture”, which means the dogs are *livestock* rather than companion animals.
That little distinction just never seems to occur to the pet shop owners and breeders who defend the practice, however.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — April 6, 2008 @ 6:00 am
Hi Pat,
Oh, the pet shop lady knew…it was a spiel that people “buy”. I have to say, this particular shop is so “cute” and the owners so nice, that it is hard even for me to digest. (almost)
Comment by nancy freedman-smith — April 6, 2008 @ 8:16 am
I would like to know how to find out if there are puppy mills in my area…..North Louisiana. And what I can do,,,how I can help,,,put these kinds of people out of business.
Comment by Kelly — April 7, 2008 @ 6:15 am
Kelly-
Here is a listing of USDA kennels in Louisana. These are the probable puppy mills of record. There may be others in state:
Louisiana 13624 72-A-0162 Bertrand, Blake And Celina 4178 Vidrine Rd Ville Platte 70586
Louisiana 33591 72-A-0158 Butler, Allen P O Box 626 Winnsboro 71295
Louisiana 17390 72-A-0139 Button, Carolyn 168 Knocker Rd Ferriday 71334
Louisiana 37184 72-A-0163 Cox, James 3060 Bridges Rd Athens 71003
Louisiana 5760 72-A-0115 Crowell, Eric Hans Critter 100 Keith Drive Slidell 70461
Louisiana 21538 72-A-0149 Dronet, Marilyn Wild Woods Rabbitry 24418 Verneuil Lane Ponchatoula 70454
Louisiana 38203 72-A-0164 Fisher, John Fisher Small Pets 62155 Pools Bluff Rd Bogalusa 70427
Louisiana 20208 72-A-0159 La Fleur, Mike 3103 Tiger Ln Ville Platte 70586
Louisiana 18326 72-A-0143 Marshall, Ruth Sweet N Sassy 812 Fairfield Dry Prong 71423
Louisiana 28362 72-A-0160 Maxwell, Roger 2514 Walker Rd Jonesboro 71251
Louisiana 4778 72-A-0023 Pesson Pasture Game Ranch 708 E School St Lake Charles 70605
Louisiana 11154 72-A-0130 Tison, Barbara B J Terriers P. O. Box 903 Jena 71342
Sorry about the line spacing.
You may want to check with your local SPCA about puppy mills in your area and how the SPCA is approaching the issue.
Also look at the ASPCA and HSUS websites about puppy mills and pet stores in general.
If you have a certain breed of dog, there may be a breed rescue in your area. (Look on internet for breed rescues) They may also provide insight.
This is a very complicated issue that evokes alot of emotions and differing opinions. Again, find out what is happening in your area and take it from there.
Comment by glock — April 7, 2008 @ 10:17 am
I am horrified to see the breeder of my beloved Shih Tzu listed as the possible owner of one of these disgraceful establishments. I bought him from a local reputable pet store eight years ago and can only hoped that he was “saved”.
Comment by Jan Hanks — September 21, 2008 @ 6:23 am
Jan … what you just wrote underscores the point: There is NO SUCH THING as a “reputable” pet store that sells puppies.
No REPUTABLE, ETHICAL and CARING breeder sells to a pet store or a broker. They insist on making their own choices as to who gets their dogs and cats.
When you buy from a puppy from a pet store, you are supporting puppy mills. Period. Your dog was “saved” but your purchase condemns thousands of other dogs just like him to short, brutal lives of misery.
There is no other way around this fact, sorry.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 21, 2008 @ 6:45 am