Puppy Mill Awareness

Puppy Mills… Have you heard of them? If not, then by the time you are done reading this, you will know more about this cruel practice.

Author: Jason Rapp

First off, what is a puppy mill?

The term “puppy mill” is used to describe a large-scale commercial dog breeding enterprise. The sole purpose of these places is to breed as many dogs as possible for profit. The conditions are usually below any acceptable amount of cleanliness and care. Since these dogs are treated like machines and nothing more, they can develop health conditions and suffer from genetic issues due to inbreeding. 

These are some of the health conditions that can be more prevalent with puppy mill dogs epilepsy, heart disease, kidney disease, musculoskeletal disorders (hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, etc.), endocrine disorders (diabetes, hyperthyroidism), blood disorders (anemia, Von Willebrand disease), deafness, eye problems (cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, etc.), giardia, parvovirus, distemper, upper respiratory infections, kennel cough, pneumonia, mange, intestinal parasites, heartworm, and chronic diarrhea. In addition to the above issues, dogs are forced to breed until they cannot. They have very little time in between pregnancies, which causes even more stress and more health problems in mothers.

Why are these places in existence?

Well, the short answer is people want pure or hybrid dog breeds and will pay anything to get them. Some examples of hybrid dog breeds would be Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, Cusky, and Puggle. There are many more hybrid breeds. Those were just a few.  Puppy mills only exist due to supply and demand. If there were no demand, they would slowly fade away (at least, I hope).

Are there any laws to stop this?

The laws are different for each state. Slowly some states are putting laws into effect that puppies can only be adopted from rescue groups in Pet stores and cannot be purchased from a “breeder.” The laws are usually listed under the animal welfare act of each state. There are also reports that cover the current Puppy mill issue, such as this one from the Humane Society of the United States. The only federal law that exists is called the “Pact Act.” Which is short for Preventing animal cruelty and torture act. This is H.R.724, and was passed in 2019.

What can I do to help stop puppy mills?

The first step you can take is Adopt and don’t shop.  There are large amounts of puppies that can be adopted from your local animal shelter. By going through an animal shelter or rescue, you are taking more money from these evil practices. Also, never purchase a dog online, this could be a scam. It could also involve shipping the dog to you, which could cause more health problems including the death of the dog. Lastly, if you suspect there is a puppy mill in your area, please contact the local authorities as they will be able to step in and inspect the situation and take appropriate action.

There, you have a short education on puppy mills and how to stop them. Don’t let your learning stop there. Please continue to question irresponsible practices that harm our furry friends and family. You can also link up with other local people through the new social feature coming soon to the Vkind app. This way, you can share knowledge and do even more for those who do not have a voice.

Resources:

https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-is-a-puppy-mill-1117271

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/puppy-mills-faq#laws

https://www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/state-puppy-mill-laws-0320.pdf

https://www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/HSUS_Horrible-Hundred-2023.pdf

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/724