Puppy Mill Research Paper

A puppy mill is “an establishment that breeds puppies for sale, typically on an intensive basis and in conditions regarded as inhumane.” There are thousands of puppy mills in the United States, some of which are not recorded. Therefore, the ASPCA has concluded that there could be over 10,000 puppy mills in the United States. There are many issues regarding puppy mills, from the way they treat the animals and the upkeep of their environment. Many of the puppy mills are not regulated and not licensed to own a puppy mill. Most people think a puppy mill is just a place where they breed dogs to sell, and they would be right, but they’ve never seen what goes on in the inside of a puppy mill. The federal Animal Welfare Act, passed in 1966, requires

Also severe tooth decay, ear infections, dehydration, and lesions on their eyes, which almost always leads to blindness. With no concern for hygiene the dogs are forced to relieve themselves in their cages, so they have to walk and sleep on their own feces. Also these dogs are in bad environments so most are not protected by the weather (heat, cold, rain and snow). It's common to find dogs in puppy mills with collars that have been fastened so tightly that they have become embedded in a dog’s neck and must be carefully cut out. Puppy mill operators often fail to apply proper husbandry practices that would remove sick dogs from their breeding pools, puppies from puppy mills are prone to congenital and hereditary conditions. Some of these include, epilepsy, heart disease, kidney disease, musculoskeletal disorders, endocrine disorders, blood disorders, deafness, eye problems, and respiratory disorders. On top of that, puppies often arrive in pet stores and their new homes with diseases or infirmities, including: giardia, parvovirus, distemper, upper respiratory infections, kennel cough, pneumonia, mange, fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, heartworm, and chronic diarrhea. Many of these puppies have behavioral problems such as fear and lack of socialization with humans and other animals. “Puppies born in puppy mills are typically

I don’t understand why someone who treats their animals so badly can go to jail, but a person who does just that with over 100 dogs doesn’t. These puppy mill breeders have no little to no concern for the health and welfare of the animals. These conditions that the dogs are living in are considered inhumane and even cruel but unfortunately they are legal. So, it is very important that future pet owners seek rescue dogs from their local shelter or buy pets from a trusted breeder in order to put mills out of business. Many pet store owners will tell you they get all their puppies from “licensed USDA breeders” or “local breeders.” Pet stores often use this licensing to provide a false sense of security to customers, when what it really means is that they do, in fact, get their puppies from puppy mills. “Responsible breeders would never sell to someone they haven't met because they want to screen potential buyers to ensure the puppies are going to good homes.” If you’re looking to buy a purebred dog then I recommend looking in a local shelter first. There are alot of shelter dogs who are purebred. Then, if you don’t find what you’re looking for, do your research and find a trusted breeder that allows you to meet them in person, and the dog. Keep in mind that you should never meet a breeder at an off-site location, and never have a puppy shipped to you