Beware of Puppy Mills

Animals that come from puppy mills can be unhealthy and they can also exhibit behavioral problems. Their lack of contact with people and their early removal from their mother often result in unsocial behaviors which surface as the puppy grows up.

Puppy mills are rarely, if ever, monitored by state governments. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for monitoring and inspecting kennels to make sure they are not violating the housing standards of the Animal Welfare Act. Unfortunately, kennel inspections take low priority at the USDA and kennels are not regularly inspected.

On the whole, it appears that small "mom-and-pop" operations are worse than large-scale concerns. Although they can breed large numbers of pets, the smaller facilities have limited funds to make necessary corrections. If called to account for inhumane condition, they often win the leniency of local judges who are prone to let them off.

Transportation is another aspect of pet abuse that needs attention. The manner in which cats and dogs are shipped from breeding kennels to retail outlets is frequently scandalous. Shipment from puppy mills can cover hundreds of miles by pick-up trucks, tractor-trailers, and/or planes without adequate food, water, ventilation, or shelter. These transport firms are supposed to be subject to USDA inspection, but it appears that a more rigorous application of the regulations is in order.

It is the position of the National Humane Education Society that the breeding, transportation, and sale of pets be done only under humane conditions to prevent needless suffering. This means requiring pet wholesalers, shipping companies, and pet shop retailers to maintain standards that will guarantee the humane well-being of the animals in their care.

The Society agrees with those who hold that inhumane conditions in the pet industry continue to be widespread and scandalous. We believe that education will help redress those wrongs, but we are convinced that strict enforcement of federal and local regulations is also essential. We think that more, not fewer, inspections are called for, particularly in the transportation and retail sale of pets. It is unrealistic to assume that the pet industry can regulate itself.

The Society hold that humane individuals and groups have a major role to play in preventing animal abuse. We suggest the following actions to stop the atrocities cause by puppy mills:

Adopt a pet from your local animal shelter or humane society. We believe that it is unwise to breed many more hundreds of thousands of pets each year while the nation's shelters are overcrowded with unwanted and unclaimed pets destined for euthanasia.

Refuse to shop in pets stores that sell puppies. If enough people stop purchasing pets from pet shops, profit loss could compel store owners to reconsider their trade.

If you are intent on purchasing a special breed, locate a reputable breeder who provides references and welcomes visitors.

Ask for increased monitoring and inspections of kennels in accordance to the standards set in the Animal Welfare Act. Insist that repeated violators have their license revoked. Write to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, 14th Street & Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250.

Puppy mills are commercial kennels where animals are bred for the pet store market. Pet shops use the natural appeal of puppies to sell these animals at a high price, usually several hundred dollars for a "purebred" animal. Breeding kennels are located across the United States, but many are concentrated in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Approximately 5,000 puppy mills are believed to exist but pinning down the exact number is difficult since many pf these operations are not licensed.

Puppy mill kennels usually consist of small wood and wire mesh cages kept outdoors. Female dogs are bred continuously, with no rest between heat cycles. Mother and their litters often suffer from malnutrition, exposure, and lack of adequate veterinary care. Continuous breeding takes its tolls on the females, and they are killed when their bodies give out and can no longer produce enough litters.