Puppy mills

A puppy mill is a commercial dog breeding facility that focus on increasing profit with little overhead cost. Puppy mills will breed a female dog every time she is in heat. For example, a 5 years old dog could have given birth to 10 litters of puppies. In puppy mills, animals spend most of their lives in cramped cages, with no room to play or exercise. Often times, the water and food provided for the puppies are contaminated, crawling with bugs. Puppies can even be malnourished. Also, puppies in mills are found with bleeding or swollen paws, feet falling through the wire cages, severe tooth decay, ear infections, dehydration, and lesions on their eyes, which often lead to blindness. Almost all pet store animals come from puppy mills. At time of purchase, consumers are given incorrect line age about the dog’s health and breeder.
What can we do?
There are several things that you can do to help put an end to puppy mills and the cruelty, neglect and abuse. What we can do is do not purchase puppies from pet stores. If you are consider purchasing or adopting a new puppy or an adult dog, adopting from a shelter or rescue. If you have your heart set on a purebred puppy, purchase from a reputable breeder. Or better yet, consider adopting from a breed rescue. There are breed rescues for all breeds of dogs. Consider fostering or adopting a dog rescued from a puppy mill. Many of these dogs have never seen the light of day, have had inadequate care and are in tough shape. These rescued dogs need safe homes with patient owners.