A puppy mill , sometimes known as a puppy farm , is a commercial dog breeding facility that is operated with an emphasis upon profits above animal welfare and is often in substandard conditions regarding the well-being of dogs in their care.. Similar types of operations exist for other animals commonly kept as pets or used as feed for other animals.
The term can be applied to operations involving other animals commercially bred for profit, e.g. "kitty mills.". There are an estimated 4,000 puppy mills in the U.S. that produce more than half a million puppies a year. Commercial kennels may be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture which may inspect the kennels routinely.
For-profit breeding on a smaller scale is sometimes referred to as backyard breeding .
Differences in breeding conditions
The American and Westminster kennel clubs state that responsible breeders raise their animals with the intent to produce healthy dogs, and to ensure that all animals are provided responsible homes and socialization
In puppy mills, females are sometimes forced to breed every time they are in heat to increase profits, resulting in gradually decreasing sizes of litters. As puppies, mill dogs are also often weaned from their mothers well before the eight to ten weeks recommended. Dogs in puppy mills are often bred indiscriminately. While the puppies produced may come with pedigrees, the pedigree itself is neither an indication of quality nor authenticity. Pet stores selling these dogs may be unaware of breeding conditions. The American Kennel Club is by law not held responsible nor do they guarantee the health of the dogs they sell.
Effects
Due to the frequently poor breeding conditions in puppy mills, puppies bred there often suffer from health and/or social problems. Puppies raised in a cramped environment shared by many other dogs become poorly socialized to other dogs and to humans. Dogs are then transported over long distances in poor conditions, sometimes resulting in animal stress and death. As the surviving mill dogs grow older, they are more prone to developing respiratory ailments and pneumonia, as well as hereditary defects such as hip dysplasia. In addition, mill dogs are more prone to have problems with their temperament. Puppies from mills are usually sold as purebred dogs in an attempt to attract the higher prices associated with purebreds. However, due to the indiscriminate breeding practices of puppy mills, the dog may not actually be a purebred puppy.
The vast majority of puppy mill animals are sold to pet stores by "dealers". Some puppies are sold by dealers masquerading as authentic breeders.
History
According to Canis Major V. publications, puppy mills originated in the post-World War II era. Midwestern farmers looking for an alternative crop reacted to a growing demand for puppies, resulting in the development of the first commercial puppy business. As the business grew, both small and large retail outlets began to sell puppies through pet departments. At around the same time, the first pet store chains were born.
Through indifference or ignorance, many puppies were left unsocialized or exposed in existing chicken coops or rabbit hutches. In addition, veterinary care for these puppies was often overlooked because of an inability to pay. As a result, organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States began to investigate breeding kennels, leading to the passage of the Animal Welfare Act of August 24 , 1966 .
According to the Humane Society of the United States, thousands of puppy mills are located around the country. A high concentration of both puppy mills and breeders has been reported to be in the states of Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.
Hobby breeders
The term "puppy mill" has been widely used by animal rights groups in protests against breeders who have substandard breeding conditions. Such breeders, sometimes labeled hobby breeders, are often cited by animal rights groups as puppy mills. Hobby breeders claim that emotional rhetoric, sensationalism, and pictures of dirty kennels are used to justify additional legislation or additional restrictive licensing that travels well beyond the initial goal of removing dogs from truly deplorable conditions.
Some hobby breeders argue that many attempts to legislate puppy mills would put them out of business. Many hobby breeders argue the laws, which often require extra paperwork and inspections, would be more of a nuisance than help in shutting down puppy mills. Such breeders often cite existing lemon laws for puppies as sufficient protection for both dogs and prospective buyers.
Media coverage
On May 29, 2008, MSNBC aired a report about puppy mills, in which Oprah Winfrey revealed an industry fraught with problems and apparent cruelty. The broadcast showed puppy mills with small cages, with chicken wire floors, stacked in rows from floor to ceiling, and stated that many dogs spend their entire lives within these tiny cages. Many of these dogs are sold on the internet or by pet retailers to buyers who are unaware of the dogs' backgrounds. The report claimed that customers who object to this treatment of puppies unknowingly allow the industry to thrive. It also pointed out that many of the puppy mill bred dogs suffer long-term health problems. Matt Mills, Michigan co-owner of 'I Heart Dogs,' noted that he was unaware that his company was purchasing animals from puppy mills in Ohio. "I would never put any animal - whether it be dog, cat, rat, chicken, or ant - in any harm. I love animals. I love them more than life itself." - Matt Mills
Legislative response
United States of America
In the United States, some elements of the dog breeding industry are regulated by the Animal Welfare Act of August 24 , 1966.
Australia
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has responded to the problem of puppy mills in Australia by proposing the Animals Regulation of Sale Bill. It would ban the sale of dogs through pet shops, the internet or newspapers. The aim is to crack down on impulse purchases and shut down unregistered backyard breeders. These breeders should no longer easily profit from the sale of the dogs and the number of unwanted and abandoned animals could drop.
Opposition to the bill comes from the Australian Veterinary Association and the Pet Industry Association. They say that the bill makes no difference to shelter admissions or euthanasia rates.
Some claim that the bill will only serve to push unregistered breeders further underground.
In New South Wales alone, more than 60,000 animals are put down each year. Australia-wide the number is over a quarter of a million.
United Kingdom
In 1999, Britain passed the Breeding and Sale of Dogs Act which requires annual veterinary inspections for anyone breeding five or more litters in one year. Breeding females are restricted to one litter per year and six per lifetime.
Breeders who choose to be members of the UK Kennel Club are required to register purebred puppies for sale with that organization and must certify the conditions under which the puppies were raised. Breeders who sell puppies by misrepresenting these standards may be liable to prosecution under the Sale of Goods Act 1979.
See also
- Factory Farming
References
- ^ Farr Introduces Bill to Regulate Puppy Farms
- ^ a b c ASPCA (2007). "Fight Animal Cruelty: Puppy Mills" . http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_puppymills . Retrieved 2007-12-13 .
- ^ Swartz, Tracy (2007-11-19). "Buy or adopt? Where you get your pet is a big decision -- and a big controversy". Chicago Tribune RedEye Edition . http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CREB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11D0B2F033A603F0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 . ...
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