When Canby, Oregon, resident Johnnie Dever discovered her
precious Princess, a beautiful 6 month old Coton de Tulear, came from a
recently revealed puppy mill, she was crushed to find out that she had
unknowingly supported the operation of a puppy mill. Ms. Dever had never heard
of the breed before, but it was a small dog that looked similar to a Maltese
and she had been thinking of getting a puppy. The so-called breeder was only
too eager to supply the puppy. No questions asked. In fact, she hand-delivered
the puppy to Ms. Dever within 5 hours of her first inquiry phone call. Once Ms.
Dever saw the puppy, she fell in love and willingly parted with the $1,600 for her
Princess. And she unknowingly supported the operation of a puppy mill.
Puppy mills prosper because of uninformed buyers like Ms.
Dever, unknowing participants in the puppy sales operation. The sole purpose of
a puppy mill is to make money much to the demise of any dog in its trappings. Puppy
mills provide minimal care, including cramped, filthy cages littered with urine
and feces, poor quality food, non-existent veterinary care and limited social interaction
with humans. The dams, or Brood Bitches, are forced to reproduce every time
they come into heat, every 6 months. These Brood Bitches are typically denied
proper veterinary care and nutrition if the litter will not be profitable as
compared to the expense of the dam’s costs. And when the Brood Bitches can no
longer reproduce, they become a liability. The litters produced by puppy mills are
often overflowing with sick puppies from unhealthy lines and brought into
unhealthy conditions. The breeders perform no health screenings on their
breeding stock and therefore offer no health guarantee on their puppies.
Parasites, skin conditions, breathing issues and eye damage are common maladies
costing new owners hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in veterinary bills. Sick
puppies are a liability for a puppy mill. If they cannot be sold, they are
starved and left to die.
Ms. Dever unknowingly supported Foxburrow Kennels and these
unsavory-type practices. Within a couple of months of owning Princess, she felt
she could not handle her new puppy and contacted the “breeder” to return her.
The “breeder” showed her true colors when she told Ms. Dever that she could not
have her money back, but offered to re-sell the puppy. Thankfully Ms. Dever
sought training for Princess and has worked out her behavioral issues. Further,
it is fortunate that Princess has no known health issues and now has proper
veterinary care. Ms. Dever is thankful she rescued Princess from her horrible
puppy mill origins.
What can you do to stop puppy mills and their practices? In most
cases, there are common underhanded business practices. The puppies were
advertised away from the dam and away from the kennel. In this case, the
puppies were displayed for sale on a local church lawn after Sunday services.
When Ms. Dever called to inquire about the puppies, the breeder offered to bring
the puppy to her. Puppy mill operations don’t want prospective buyers to see
the kennel site, the dam, or the rest of the litter and the squalid conditions
in which they have been raised. The breeder was also eager to close the sale,
not giving the buyer time to research the breeder or check for references. Tellingly,
the breeder asked no questions of the buyer about her readiness to own a puppy.
A reputable breeder, in stark contrast to a puppy mill breeder, is just as
interested in knowing about a potential buyer as an informed buyer is about the
breed and the breeder. This breeder did not inquire about Ms. Dever’s living
conditions, had she ever owned a dog before, did she have a fenced yard, a
crate, etc.
If you are thinking of getting a puppy from a breeder, I
recommend you research the breed, the breeder and honestly evaluate your
lifestyle and readiness to take on a new puppy. You can research the breed and
breeder referrals at: www.akc.org. To research
the breeder, contact the National Club of your specific breed and inquire about
local breeders. Reputable breeders are interested in advancing their breed and improving
their lines, not just selling their puppies. Additionally, you can contact the
local county animal control and/or the Better Business Bureau to inquire about
any complaints filed against the kennel. Just remember, if you are denied the
opportunity to look at the kennel, the dam, the litter and their site, you’ve
probably stumbled upon a puppy mill. Take your dollars elsewhere and make an
informed purchase from a reputable breeder. Or adopt a purebred at a local
rescue or shelter instead.
First published March 11, 2011
Copyright
© 2011 Jill Tonkin and Best Behavior Dog Services, LLC. All rights
reserved.
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