bunni
Posted : 7/22/2006 3:27:56 PM
even though they claimed there were all American Kennel pups
I'd like to point out (again) that the kennel club who a puppy is registered with makes no claim and takes no responsibility for where the puppy comes from. The kennel clubs are genetic registries. Your parents are your parents regardless of whether they come from the Hampton's or the Hampten's Trailer Park. AKC is no guarantee of any sort of quality.
I'd also like to point out the difference between legal puppy mills and illegal puppy mills. The "puppy mills" selling the majority of puppies in this country are legal. They are actually individual breeders who generally breed huge numbers of pups and then sell to brokers who collect even larger numbers of pups who are then distributed to
et stores. If you look in a trade magazine for pet stores you'll be amazed at the ads for puppies. What we call a puppy mill, they brag about. (For example, one well known broker sells puppies of every breed and is quite proud to do so.) These brokers and their executives, believe it or not, well respected in their communities.
The legal requirements for raising "bulk" puppies are far more minimal than most of us would expect them to be. Cage size is an example. (And is also one of the items most cited in inspections by the USDA who licenses these places) A relatively small cage is all that's required for a pup or dog. If the cage is about twice that size it is not required that the dog ever be let out for exercise. It is only "recommended" that puppies have "sufficient human contact". There are more requirements about ventilation than about socialization which makes it clear that these laws are based on livestock laws. The USDA, although they are responsible for enforcing the sorry azzed laws and guidelines that do exist are notoriously poor in doing so since they are so understaffed, overworked and since puppies are not their top priority.
I mention the legal puppy mills and brokers because it is easier (in my opinion) to deal with people who are not already breaking the law by 1) Enforcing the laws that already exist and 2) Getting some of those guidelines changed. Going after outlaws is less productive since we already know they are willing to break the law and are likely, when busted, to just go somewhere else to break it.
(By the way, missed you all.)