Common Myths and Truths About Puppy Mills

TRUTH:  Large Scale Commercial Dog Breeding (commonly referred to as the puppy mill industry) is not only legal, but is thriving in the United States, as well as other parts of the world.  Puppy Mills are licensed and inspected (albeit rarely) by the USDA and state agencies, with breeders allowed to meet the absolute bare minimum of standards.  These are survival standards only – nothing more.   

Every year the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), puts out a report called the Horrible Hundred.  You will see that most of the breeders, many of whom have the worst violations, are USDA licensed, inspected, and approved to breed.  In other words, they are repeat offenders, committing horrible violations year after year, and are not being shut down by the USDA – the very agency whose job it is to protect mill dogs.

A low estimate puts the number of puppy mills in this country at 10,000. It includes both licensed and unlicensed breeders.  Backyard Breeders, as they are referred to, are typically unlicensed and operating on a much smaller scale –  usually somewhere on their property.  Unfortunately, this number is impossible to determine accurately, but it is extremely high in particular areas of some states. In Florida, for instance, one of those areas is Miami and includes many of the surrounding suburbs.

TRUTH: Partially answered in the previous myth, no license should ever be seen as a safety blanket when it comes to buying a puppy. The fact that someone has a USDA license does not guarantee human and ethical breeding practices, and certainly doesn’t guarantee the health of the puppies purchased. Furthermore, run out of any pet store immediately if an employee or, worse yet, the owner swears to you that the puppy you’re considering buying did NOT come from a puppy mill, but rather, from a reputable breeder who ALWAYS puts the health of his or her dogs first and only breeds the mother during ONE heat cycle. If you’re told this, or something similar to this, you are not being told the truth. Think about it. You’re talking to an employee, or owner of a pet store, who wants to make a sale – period. They will NEVER admit that their dogs come from a puppy mill! So make no mistake, according to the HSUS, if you purchase a puppy on line or buy at a pet store that isn’t partnering with a rescue organization or shelter that is showcasing adoptable rescue dogs, you are supporting a puppy mill. Please keep in mind that reputable breeders do not sell to pet stores…but backyard breeders do.

I think it’s important to note that of all the large pet store chains, Petland is the only one that continues to purchase all of the dogs they sell from puppy mills, despite pressure from animal welfare activists to stop doing so and get on board with other pet store chains that don’t support puppy mills. To date, there are more than 200 Petland stores worldwide, with about 140 in the U.S. Collectively, these stores sell tens of thousands of puppies each year, and an alarming percentage of them are sick.

TRUTH: This is the saddest misconception about rescue dogs because it is largely untrue. While some dogs do end up in shelters because of behavioral issues, the vast majority of them are surrendered because their owner became ill, had to relocate, passed away, or was simply unable (or unwilling) to properly care for the dog.

It’s essential to bear in mind when visiting a shelter that it is a very stressful environment, and some dogs that seem to have a behavioral problem because they are nervous or are barking excessively, are behaving this way because they have been thrust into totally unfamiliar surroundings and subjected to the constant barking of the other dogs they’re housed with. This behavior should disappear once they are removed from the shelter, with some dogs needing a little more time and patience, depending on the length of their stay at the shelter.

There are amazing dogs in shelters all over the world who are well adjusted, loveable, and eager to meet you and show you how grateful they are to be adopted and brought into a loving home. What I have heard over and over again and experienced personally, is that the gratitude you will clearly see in the eyes of a rescue dog is truly special, and something to behold!

TRUTH: Shelters do take in animals with health issues, and most are treatable and taken care of by the shelter. At Best Friends Animal Society, and practically all no-kill animal shelters, every dog surrendered is given a thorough checkup and does not go to an adoptive home without being vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and micro chipped. These services are included in your adoption fee. Any medical issues that the shelter has found or is treating, are fully explained to the adopter. You will experience quite the contrary when you purchase, at a very hefty price, a dog at a pet store that gets all of their inventory from a puppy mill. Not surprising, as a customer, you will NEVER be told about health issues your new puppy will likely be facing very soon, or down the road because of the immoral breeding practices employed at the puppy mill where your dog was born – where the ONLY consideration is profit. Think of all this as another check mark in the “Why I should Adopt a Shelter Dog.” column.

TRUTH: There are plenty of puppies available in shelters! The average age of a dog entering a shelter is 18 months, which is still considered a puppy.

Puppies are without a doubt cute, but they’re also a lot of work, which is why dogs are often surrendered to shelters before their second birthday. You can easily find a wonderful young adult dog at a shelter who is likely already trained and eager to become your companion. In fact, for many first time pack leaders, this is a very good choice.