Horrible puppy mill story in USA Today

It always amazes me that people can be so cruel!  We need stories like that to wake people up so they will stop buying these puppies from pet stores!

 I wish they would run stories like that ALL THE TIME in the newspapers.  Front page even.  But it won't happen.

Wouldnt help.  People would just get immune to the horror.

I cant believe puppy mill breeders actually make money.If I am buying a puppy I want to see the mom and if possible both parents.If their not willing to show me the parents then I'm not willing to take their puppy.How much are these people usually getting for a pup? 

I wish they would run stories like this all the time too. I think the average person just doesn't know better.

A friend of a friend recently was talking to me at a party I said she was going to get a puppy from the pet store so she would get a healthy one. Of course she got a long lecture from me and she was horrified at what I told her. She honestly didn't have any idea. She was older and didn't go online and had never had heard anything like that. She was just trying to find a healthy dog to take the place of her older shelter dog who happened to have had a lot of health problems.

With her I helped her find a good breeder, but then she decided to go with another shelter dog instead which I was happier with anyway.

I used to work in a pet shop and we used to ge tpeople coming in and asking if we sold puppies and kittens and I said "No" and then I would launch into WHY NOT!  I asked what breeds were they interested in, gave them a book list, web sites to look at covering their chosen breeds and puppy care and training, got numbers of breeders to contact as a starting point, cautioned them against BYBs and gave them a list of "If you like THIS breed you might also like to consider..."  And you're right, most people just don't know and are shocked when you tell them!  In a way I did like that job.  I helped several people find themselves a reasonably good puppy and not long after all pet shops were banned from selling puppuies and kittens anyway.

Chuffy

all pet shops were banned from selling puppuies and kittens anyway

Chuffy I noticed your in the UK, and I heard that the UK toughened up it's Animal Welfare Act that not only applied to pet shops but also to breeding establishments, and this regulated the scene, and due to this pet shops decided they didn't want to deal in puppies anymore, and I heard that some of the large puppy farms moved elsewhere like over to Ireland.

Edited in as I just found this and it is what applies today in the UK and the following from this address:-

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/domestic/index.htm

The Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended in 1983) protects the welfare of animals sold as pets. The Act requires any person keeping a pet shop to be licensed by the local authority. Before granting a licence the local authority must be satisfied that the animals are kept in accommodation that is both suitable and clean; that they are supplied with appropriate food and drink; and are adequately protected from disease and fire. The local authority may attach any conditions to the licence, may inspect the licensed premises at all reasonable times and may refuse a licence if the conditions at the premises are unsatisfactory or if the terms of the licence are not being complied with.

Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the law in this area and anyone who has reason to believe that a pet shop is keeping animals in inadequate conditions should raise the matter with the local authority who will decide what action to take within the range of its powers.

Under s.2 pets cannot be sold in the street, including on barrows and markets.

The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, The Breeding of Dogs Act 1991 and the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999

'Puppy Farms'

Anyone who is in the business of breeding and selling dogs will require a licence from the local authority under the 1973 Act as amended by the 1999 Act. The local authority has discretion whether to grant a licence and must ensure that the animals will be suitably accommodated, fed, exercised and protected from disease and fire. It is for local authorities, who have extensive powers to check on the standards of health, welfare and accommodation of the animals, to enforce the requirements of the Act.

The 1999 Act provides that bitches are not mated until they are at least one year old and that they give birth to no more than six litters in a lifetime and no more than one litter per year. Accurate breeding records must be maintained by the establishment for tighter controls on the sale of dogs by dealers and pet shop; for identification for traded dogs; and stiffer penalties, including imprisonment.

In addition, the Breeding of Dogs Act 1991 extended the powers of local authorities to obtain a warrant to enter any premises, excluding a private dwelling house, in which it is believed that a dog breeding business is being carried out. All outbuildings, garages and sheds are open to inspection. Previously local authority inspectors could enter and inspect only premises which were already licensed.