
What is a Puppy Mill?
A puppy mill is basically a place where dogs are bred as livestock without any natural care or well being for the animal, in order to make a profit. Normally puppy mills are jam packed with dogs from all different dog breeds that are sold to people all over the nation. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong in selling dogs as that is the main way in which many of us acquire our pets, but it is the disgusting condition in which these pup hoarders grow and breed these animals that make it disgusting.
Dogs Health At the Puppy Mills
One of the first concerns is the the living conditions of these animals at the mills. The dogs are jammed pack together in extremely unsanitary conditions. The main concern when they breed these Dogs are solely for profit and care little about the health of these animals. As such, there is little or no veterinary care when these dogs become ill, and many of them do. They are not properly fed and of course you wouldn't expect these animals to be bathed and groomed anytime soon. The puppy mill owners rarely clean up waste as the dogs are mostly kept in mesh containers which allow dog feces to slip through. The dogs which are used as breeders are normally kept around for 4 to 5 years and then they are no longer needed, they are cast out on their own or an even more devious deed happens, they are killed.
Sometimes the puppy mill owners will have a contact person who collaborates with rescues. The rescue will receive a phone call with the number of breeder dogs and types. The rescue then can save the breeder dogs from death. Once adopted, it can take a year or more for the dog to relax and allow human touch.
How to tell your dog may have been in a puppy mill
- Dogs that grew up in the puppy mill environment most times show more aggression than usual.
- Your dog may seem to be suffering from depression
- Barks more often than usual
- You may notice that your dog has developed respiratory ailments and pneumonia, as well as hereditary defects such as hip dysplasia.
Another sad thing is that these under cared dogs end up into a lot of reputable pet stores and sold as good grown purebred dogs. These animals travel very long distances to thousands of pet stores across the USA and some even die before they finish their journey. The best part of the whole puppy mill fiasco is when a dog is bought and given a good and loving home to grow. These types of Dog breeders should be shut down if they are unable to provide a standard, exceptionable and decent way of breeding these dogs for sale. The buyers also should check if these Dogs were brought up in puppy mills and demand that they know which mill the animal was bred from and find out about it and if the mill is unfit for Dog breeding it must be reported. Do your part to help close these disgusting puppy mills.