Let's have a debate - NBC piece on the AKC and puppy mills

 I saw that too.  My thought, "It's about time!"

The general public needs more education on dog breeding, breeding methods, what to look for, what is good, what is bad, etc.  Most people seem to think that if the dog is AKC registered, all is well.  That is not the case.

 Others think if the dog is registered, all is well - and they get a CKC registered dog.  CKC is a sham in the USA (ok my opinion).

 I would love to see a major network do a full story, it would have to be a series for the week - to help educate folks on how to select a good breeder, how get a good healthy puppy.  A full series would also cover adopting from rescues (which use foster homes for the most part and can tell you about the dog's personality) and adopting from the local dog pound (which also has many great dogs, but you need to to a personality assessment yourself).

 A full series would also go on to talk about proper dog care: no tie outs day and night, nutrition, etc.  Planning to pay for vet care, usually annually in the early years, but more frequent (and more costly) with age.  

 I just want to see intelligent and balanced retort by breeders and those who have been so offended by this - to me it is all about balance.

I don't see the AKC as all bad but I think they set themselves up for this - see the link from my spca as evidence - no way no how 9 inspectors is sufficient if they purport to inspect breeders. And how could they stamp a kennel OK that a few weeks later is seen to be a puppy mill with horrific conditions?

I think they need to decide what their role is and then ensure they can carry out that role to high professional standards

I always think AKC backlash is just AKC people trying to protect the bottom line. Obviously AKC is hurting for cash, since they are now allowing mixes to be in AKC events. Not too many years ago, they wouldn't allow a "mutt" on site of AKC events.

That said, obviously 9 inspectors for the entire country isn't going to cut it. There are 161 registered breeds. Listed on the breeder referral pages for the 1st 5 breeds alphabetically

• Affenpinscher
• Afghan Hound
• Airedale Terrier
• Akita
• Alaskan Malamute

, there were 307 breeders. I think I counted 114 breeders of labs. Even if we were to say that one person could inspect 2 kennels per day, it would be years between inspections of any one kennel. If you've  only got 9 inspectors to do that much work, it becomes easier to see how a place could be stamped as okay and a few weeks later get busted. If it raised people's awareness that AKC doesn't automatically denote wonderful, that's great. It's your responsibility to research who you are buying from, go see the place, and to know what to look for in a good breeder. Many of the parent clubs do post that kind of info on their sites. They do tell you what to look for in a breeder. Some of them do seem to realize it is absolutely impossible to police everyone, and make no claims of being able to do so.

This is AKC's response. 

http://www.akc.org/press_center/article.cfm?article_id=4983

kpwlee

I think they need to decide what their role is and then ensure they can carry out that role to high professional standards

Yes, yes YES!!!

As Mondy Lamb of the Wake County SPCA said it's more than just a problem with the AKC. Federal, state and local government don't allot enough money to inspect and enforce laws that concern animal cruelty.  Many places have laws on the books that require breeders to limit litters per year, register and pay for a breeder permit and other requirements.  Intact animals require another permit and fee.  We have mandatory spay and neuter laws here.  The city, county and state can't or won't allocate adequate funds to enforce these laws.  Where the money for all the fees and permits goes, who the heck knows?  It should go right into a fund used just for this purpose only. 

I am not a breeder and have never bred a litter of puppies.  I have bought pure bred puppies. The breeders who are so afraid of any and all breeding legislation seem sort of paranoid.  Some seem to believe it's just the first step toward becoming a country where pets are no longer legal.  I think that's hogwash.  It sounds like the people who are so afraid of any sort of gun control.  Next "they" will take away all our guns.

For every law there is a segment of society who are more than willing to take their chances when the rewards are big, as they are in the puppy mill trade.  The odds are in their favor.  They (puppy mills) know their business is very unlikely to be investigated or inspected by anyone. Much like our food supply there are not enough inspectors to inspect a fraction of the producers.  There is no doubt in my mind that some inspectors are guilty of not doing their jobs due to laziness and some probably take bribes.

 How in the world can AKC say they inspected that mill in NC referenced in the other article?  Is there some other info I've missed on that?   I hope many people write to the AKC and express their opinion. 

 The AKC needs to do more in educating and enforcing.  Yes, they do much good and I recognize the things they do to help dogs and owners. They donate a huge amount to research that benefits all dogs, not just purebred. The provide many venues where breeders and owners can demonstrate and test their dog's skills and physical traits against the standard for that breed. yes, I know this isn't perfect either but what is when human subjective opinions are involved?  

My other point of view on the subject concerns the puppy buyer. People need to take heed and realize that they have to take some responsibility for doing some research before you buy a dog, no matter what the label says (AKC papers).  Just because something I buy says "made in America", I don't assume it's superior to a product made elsewhere.  Animals aren't cars or TVs.  They are subject to things that are beyond the control of even the best breeders who do all the right things when producing a litter.  I'm tired of people blaming everyone but the buyers.  I'm tired of the argument that the general public doesn't know how to choose a breeder.  Why not?  There have been many articles, shows and news stories on the internet about puppy mills. Ignorance is no excuse, IMO, not in this world of information so readily available.

Too many people are so into the instant gratification of their every whim that they are oblivious to the damage they cause with their foolish purchases of puppies from sources they know nothing about and don't care to know if you try to tell them.  We don't feel sorry for them if they buy a fake Rolex on the street corner or from someone on the internet with pretty pictures on their site.  Why do the buyers not bear a huge piece of the blame for providing a huge market to the breeders who fill this "need". 

There is no one person or organization or group to blame.  I'll still tell people to start their search for a puppy with breeders who register their dogs with the AKC. That's just the first tiny step in the process of finding a pure bred puppy.

I like the way this gal thinks.  It's a long article but worth reading for every dog lover.

http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/who-killed-these-dogs

 Excellent article with loads of great points.

I also agree with most of your post and can see your point about the uselessness of having legislation but not having it enforced. I do hope that someday NC can HAVE legislation in order to have the opportunity to enforce it

And while I do think that puppy buyers need to make educated purchase decisions, I also recognize that believing that the vast majority of folks have access to the pertinent information or know how to find it is inaccurate.  Its hard to imagine that is the case but it is.

They see an advertisement or a flashy website and off they go. I really do know some fairly intelligent people that just get a pup and have no idea what to ask or how to select a pup. My neighbor with the baby golden took a neighbor's kids to select the pup, she thought the kids would enjoy that . The litter was chosen because they were the right color and because the breeder was a friend of a friend.

I could name 6 or 7 people that selected their pups as recklessly. One I am sure was from a mill or similar. The pup was about 2000 miles from the purchasers - they were shown pictures of the kennel and the 'breeder' had someone bring their pup to them along with another delivery nearby at 6 weeks old!

OK so what is my point? not that I hang around ignorant folks more that its no different than the people that choose a car because they like the look, price and convenient location of the sales lot.  Or running to Walmart because they have what I want a a lower price. People don't all use their brains before making purchases - of anything. I don't operate like that but the advertisers know that most people do.

So I hope that every day more folks learn about mills but I have no false hope that mills will be put out of business because no one wants their pups. I feel that having well written legislation is essential.

I also think that anyone who thinks that puppy mill legislation will impact proper breeders is just another member of the paranoid populace that seems to be ruling this country

 Excellent, excellent post Karen..least from my way of thinking. As you've said, people just don't use their brains. I also think that since something is offered for sale, many people think ....well, you know we have all of these laws that say this and that has to be inspected and since it is for sale, it must be okay. I also think well written legislation is essential. That is why I've turned my focus on animal welfare to lobbying. This past Monday I went to Albany NY for the 3rd time, to speak on behalf of the animals. It really is quite interesting and at the same time absolutely mind boggling how many laws are put before your politicians. That is why it is so necessary to either write, email, phone or personally see your representatives, in order that a law you are interested in will even be looked at. You can follow different national organizations, to find out when they may have a lobby day at your state capital. If you can't go, this is a good time to call your representative and let them know you are adding your voice to those that will be speaking with them. States will not see any of this legislation, unless the voters let them know this is what they want.