Have you
ever wondered how pet stores manage to always have a
steady stream of puppies for sale? While some stores
may occasionally buy from local 'backyard breeders', the majority
of pet store puppies (estimates say more than 90%) are
from large-scale commercial dog breeders.
Commercial breeders produce puppies in a warehouse-like atmosphere. They usually offer more than one breed, though not always. The dogs are raised with profit in mind: they are kept in rows of bare wire kennels, fed low quality food, given prophylactic (preventative) veterinary care, and have little or no socialization with humans. They are considered livestock – not pets.
Female dogs, called 'brood bitches', are usually bred every heat cycle, twice a year. This relentless overbreeding causes severe nutritional deficiencies and impairs the dogs’ immune systems. Some females are bred before they are physically mature; others are bred beyond the appropriate age for their breed. When a dog is no longer able to breed (if it lives that long), it is usually sold at auction or euthanized, sometimes in inhumane ways.
When puppies are born they are allowed to stay with their parents and littermates for only six to eight weeks. They are then placed in crates and shipped to pet stores or brokers across the country. The puppies, jostled from truck to truck or airport to airport, may spend up to a week in transit. It’s not uncommon for a few of the puppies to die during the trip.
The Humane Society of the United States estimates that some 5,000 commercial breeders are operating today, breeding more than one half million dogs a year. Most of these breeders are located in the rural Midwest, particularly Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Arkansas. Pennsylvania, "the puppy mill capitol of the East", also has a large number of these breeding establishments.
Puppy Brokers
Puppy brokers buy dogs from commercial kennels and then resell them to pet stores. Even if a store claims that it doesn’t buy from commercial breeders, there is a good chance that it buys from a broker who does.
The nation’s largest puppy broker is the Hunte Corporation in Missouri, which also exports dogs overseas. The company has been linked to numerous negligent pet stores and breeders. Animal welfare complaints have been filed against the company, as well.
On Monday, August 14, 2006, all 60 puppies inside a Hunte Corp. truck suffocated to death when the truck caught fire. The drivers were uninjured.
'Puppy Mills'
The term 'puppy mill' means different things to different people. Some consider a 'puppy mill' to be any commercial breeder; others consider only substandard breeders to be 'puppy mills'.
PIJAC (the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council), defines 'puppy mills' as breeders who do one or more of the following:
a) Fail to follow acceptable standards of breeding,
b) Fail to provide veterinary care and husbandry,
c) Fail to provide socialization,
d) Fail to provide safe housing,
e) Fail to maintain sanitary facilities,
f) Fail to transport in humane and safe manner, or
g) Knowingly breed adult dogs with hereditary or genetic defects
Because of the large number of dogs the average commercial breeder has, it is easy for them to fall behind in their care. Very often, the dogs in puppy mills are covered with filthy, matted hair. They might have unattended health problems and injuries. Sometimes there are dead dogs lying around the premises.
The Products of Commercial Breeding
Pet shop puppies come into contact with numerous animals at breeder and brokers' holding facilities, during transport, and ultimately at pet shops. During this time, puppies are commonly exposed to a variety of illnesses. Transportation stress makes them more susceptible to these illnesses.
The unhealthy conditions and lack of veterinary care found in some breeding facilities also lead to serious problems. Many pet store puppies suffer from parvovirus, distemper, ear infections, and respiratory problems.
Because dogs are bred for quantity, not quality, unmonitored genetic defects and personality disorders are passed on from generation to generation. Many pet store puppies (such as Mickey) develop hip deformities, epilepsy, and vision or hearing problems later on in life.
Severe behavioral problems, such as aggression and difficulty housebreaking, are also common.
...But the dogs are AKC registered!
Most pet stores brag that their puppies come with 'papers' - this means absolutely NOTHING. American Kennel Club (AKC) registration does not guarantee proper breeding conditions, health, quality, or claims to lineage. 'Papers' are issued to anyone who applies and pays the $20 litter registration fee.
While the AKC does not condone large scale breeding, they do not have the resources to inspect every breeding facility. There are just too many breeders and not enough inspectors to regularly inspect them. Many commercial breeders register with two registries (such as the Dog Registry of America, North American Purebred Dog Registry, Continental Kennel Club, America's Pet Registry, Universal Kennel Club, and All American Dog Registry, to name a few) in case they are suspended from the AKC.
'Teacup' and 'Designer Dogs'
Many commercial breeders offer “Teacup” varieties of common breeds (such as Chihuahuas, Yorkies, and Pomeranians). In reality, there is no such thing as a “Teacup” breed and no ethical breeder would ever use such a word. The word “Teacup” equals “runt” or “the product of two runts breeding”. These dogs suffer from the same problems runts have and should not be bred.
A more recent trend is that of breeding ‘designer’ dogs. A ‘designer’ dog is a cross between two purebred dogs. The most popular ‘breed’ of ‘designer’ dog is the Labradoodle - a cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle. Other common ‘breeds’ include Yorkipoos, Cockapoos, and Schnoodles.
There are several problems with the breeding of 'designer dogs'. With purebred puppies, you have a general idea of what you're getting; with 'designer dogs', it's impossible to predetermine the coat, color, size, and temperament - any part of either breed could show up. These dogs are being sold for thousands of dollars - rather outrageous considering they are simply mutts. What is most unfortunate, though, is that these ‘specially bred’ dogs are being popularized while thousands of mixed breed dogs languish in shelters.
Dog Breeding Laws
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the law that governs the humane treatment of dogs used in commercial breeding establishments. Among the requirements are a minimum amount of space for each dog, shelter, a feeding and veterinary care program, fresh water every 24 hours, proper drainage of the kennel, and appropriate sanitary procedures.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for inspecting commercial dog breeders to ensure they are in compliance with the AWA. Unfortunately, kennel inspections take low priority at the USDA and kennels are not regularly inspected. There also some that say the inspectors care more about the breeders’ livelihoods than the animal’s welfare.
What You Can Do
- Never buy a puppy from a pet store and boycott stores that sell dogs and cats. There are millions of dogs of all breeds and ages already looking for homes. Visit petfinder.org to find one near you.
- Ask your local pet store to stop selling dogs or cats. Even if a store claims that it doesn’t buy from puppy mills, there is a good chance that it buys from a broker who does.
- Write letters to the editor of your local newspapers about commercial breeders and pet stores. Explain the inhumane treatment of puppies and their contribution to pet overpopulation.
- Ask for increased monitoring and inspections of kennels in accordance to the standards set in the Animal Welfare Act. Insist that repeated violators have their license revoked. Write to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, 14th Street & Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250.
- Contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and your two U.S. senators, asking them to urge the USDA to strictly enforce the Animal Welfare Act.
NOTE: There are responsible and reputable breeders out there. A responsible breeder is concerned with improving the quality of the breed, rather than making money. Customers wishing to buy puppies from these breeders are welcome to inspect the premises and in most cases, to meet the puppies parents. They want to keep in touch with customers and be informed if a dog develops health problems - THEY DO NOT SELL TO PET STORES.
