Puppy Mills!

[HopeShelties]

I'm so sorry to hear this. :/ Others are right though, you didn't know. We don't all know what we should be looking for when we go puppy shopping, and the last thing on our mind is a dishonest breeder.
There is the nice thing about this forum- it is a good way for people to ask questions, and learn. I like seeing new puppy buyers coming here, and asking what they need to ask/look for. It gives them a better chance of finding pups from good, reputable breeders, and not BYB/puppymill types.
I think we often apply what we look for in our everyday lives to puppy shopping, and just don't think about it being different for this situation. We look for deals all the time... a way to spend less, a way to save some money. We see those ads for $300-$400 pups, and we think we're getting a heck of a deal, and there's no need to pay for that $700 pup when there are perfectly good cheaper ones available. Those cheap ones are the ones who's parents aren't shown. Those cheaper ones are the ones who's parents weren't tested.

 

[BarbV]

I'm so sorry! It's sometimes very difficult to weed out the good from the bad. And for the authorities, it is even harder to weed them out, unless there is obvious neglect. Unfortunately, caging dogs does not necessarily point to neglect but it can point to poorly socialized animals.

Fortunately, you got Smudge very young, so you should be able to overcome any socialization issues.

When I was looking to get a new pup last year, I came across a website that acted like a broker....which in some ways was even worse because you never would know where the puppies were raised. They also claimed to "foster" out the pups. Well months later I finally found them again (unlisted phone number and no address of course) but I got the by-law people onto them. They've been watching them ever since, but can't find any reason to shut them down.

 

[Smudge]

I'm so sorry! It's sometimes very difficult to weed out the good from the bad. And for the authorities, it is even harder to weed them out, unless there is obvious neglect. Unfortunately, caging dogs does not necessarily point to neglect but it can point to poorly socialized animals.

That's the terrible thing about it. It's so hard for police to arrest people for these types of things, because they have to follow so many steps and go through so many procedures. It's just WRONG to keep an animal locked in a cage for that long, and in extreme weather conditions as well! It's 89 degrees today. No pet should be outside, especially not in a cage with no air and probably no water. I didn't notice if the dogs in the cages had water or food.

 

[Caro]

Let me say, smudge is such an adorable little boy that you have obviously made a huge difference to him overcoming what was probably a pretty bad start.

A friend got a puppy mill rescue dog that at the age of 3 had been bred 5 times! She is the sweetest little dog, but has a few problems with house training and men. It is appalling the way these dogs are treated and yet many dogs have such amazing personalities that they pull through.

Just think how lucky smudge was to get you!

 

[davemize]

Be thankful that Smudge was lucky enough to be picked to share a home by someone like you. He's infinitely better off now than he would have been otherwise. You can't save the world, but you can (and did) save a little piece of it.

Unfortunately, as you've learned, all it takes to get AKC papers is money and a nebulous bloodline. The most squalid puppy mill hell hole will have AKC papers for its pups, due to the enormous difference this means in wholesale prices. Missouri and Arkansas have had reputations of being puppy mill states for some time. Missouri passed, or tried to pass, legislation making it harder for mills to operate there. Also, the Amish areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania have bad reputations in this area. But the reality is, most states have puppy mills operating in them, due to the large amount of "easy money" that can be made in a short time.

Well, enough of my rescue-fueled grumbling.

 

[Sheltie4Life]

It's not your falut, how could you have known? But know he has a good home. I also got a puppymill puppy, we didn't know at the time, now we do. The thing I'm surprised about is that this woman wanted you to go to where she was keeping the dogs, usually they make arragments to go somewhere else th give you the puppy, so you don't see the parents horrible conditions. if you wanna learn more bout puppymills here is a website that will help. Its a very sad yet informative website.

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/

 

[Smudge]

Missouri and Arkansas have had reputations of being puppy mill states for some time.

I was not aware of this, either. I never even knew what a puppy mill was until I saw something about it on the Sheltie Nation page. I thought that puppy mill puppies only came from pet stores. When I went to go look for a puppy, I was advised by my mom not to get a dog from a pet store, because they "don't live very long". After reading that page at Sheltie Nation I understood why! There's only one pet store in my area that sells puppies, and I refuse to even step foot in the door. It's a locally owned pet store, and they advertise that they have "adorable poodles onhand often". I emailed them earlier today to ask where they get their puppies from, but they've never emailed me back. This has to stop. It's got to start somewhere, and it's going to start with me. I might look into calling somebody tomorrow to see what I can do. Maybe nothing will come of it, but at least people can be on alert.

The thing I'm surprised about is that this woman wanted you to go to where she was keeping the dogs, usually they make arragments to go somewhere else th give you the puppy, so you don't see the parents horrible conditions.

What I'm afraid of is that the little room/building I went into was not the only one. It was in an area with a LOT of trees, so it's possible that there were more somewhere else. None of the dogs barked at all, which I thought was odd at the time. The adult shelties in the front where the only ones barking. She advertised on her website as selling min-pins, but I never saw any. She also had labs, but she didn't say that her on website.

 

[Sheltie4Life]

The reason you probably didn't hear any barking was because these cruel idiots debark the dogs, and not the vet way, (get ready for this) they jam steel rod down the dogs throats to break the vocal cords That pisses me off so bad and I feel so bad for these poor animals.

 

[king buddy]

Around 10 years ago I was in indiana with my son! We went to a pet store and they had this Chihuahua pup. She was so cute and wanted to play with us! When we left my heart was breaking for the puppy in the small wire crate. My son who was 10 at the time was in the car sobbing all the was to the hotel. He wouldnt stop. I asked what had him so sad. He said he couldnt stand for the puppy to be in the cage. Well that did it! We went back and I bought that puppy not knowing I had just supported a puppy mill! I am very glad to have saved the puppy who is still with me to this day( Rosa) But I will never support a puppy mill again. Makes me sick! On her registration papers it says she came from a breeder in Arkansas . She has no health problems but has some behavioral problems but I can tolerate that. Not too bad! Her daughter is more well balanced and it shows being home raised by loving care is the right choice! If I could Id have all puppy mills shut down! I also cant stand people who let their dogs breed and drop the pups at the pound heat after heat instead of spay and nueter. I have much hate for this practice!

 

[Ania]

The reason you probably didn't hear any barking was because these cruel idiots debark the dogs, and not the vet way, (get ready for this) they jam steel rod down the dogs throats to break the vocal cords That pisses me off so bad and I feel so bad for these poor animals.

OMG that infuriates me! I wish I could stick a steel rod up their throat and see how they like it. I just don't get it, really, I don't - how can anybody be so heartless?? I wish we had hard line laws against these puppy mill owners - an eye for an eye is what I feel with these 'people'.

God bless all those who run shelters and try and save the ones that come to their doors. Your work is invaluable.