The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more people wanting pets than ever before. For someone like me who works in animal welfare, that’s been the best news to come out of all of this. The demand at shelters has been so high that for the first time Marin Humane has a waiting list, especially for puppies.
Many people who didn’t want to wait to adopt a puppy opted to buy them. I’ve seen more puppies in my neighborhood than ever before. I understand the eagerness, but it saddens me to learn that many of these people not only bought their puppies from breeders but also had them shipped from ones they knew little about — and certainly didn’t visit in person. They simply ordered them online (oftentimes from several states away) with the click of a button.
Sept. 19 is National Puppy Mill Awareness Day, so it’s a good time to remember that while there are reputable breeders, many puppies still come from what are known as puppy mills. In fact, the Humane Society of the United States estimates there are 10,000 puppy mills operating in the United States.
Puppy mills are inhumane dog breeding operations where the health of the dogs is disregarded to maximize profits. The dogs are confined to squalid, overcrowded cages exposed to the weather and often neglected because the breeder can’t handle as many dogs as he or she has. Adult dogs are continuously bred until they are of no use and are simply discarded or destroyed. Disease is prevalent and little to no veterinary care is given. Many dogs suffer from genetic problems affecting the kidneys, hips, eyes and even their personalities. Finally, shipping a puppy across several states either by air or car can be traumatic, if not dangerous.
These puppy mills masking as reputable breeders have become quite adept at creating websites that show happy, healthy dogs and spin stories about their “family-run, happy farm.” There is almost no oversight of dog breeding operations, and labels such as “USDA-inspected” or “American Kennel Club approved” mean little. In fact, the AKC vigorously lobbies against legislation to help put puppy mills out of business.
The truth is, unless you visit the breeder in person, you can never be certain that there’s any truth to what they’re saying.
Contrary to popular belief, you can find purebred dogs, even puppies, at animal shelters or through rescue groups that focus on specific breeds. And because shelters and rescues aren’t in it to make money, they’ll work to match a pet with an adopter based on the adopter’s lifestyle and the pet’s personality and characteristics.
If you still want to buy a puppy, please consider these tips to ensure you’re not contributing to puppy mills and to lessen the chance you’ll end up with an unhealthy dog:
• Never buy online.
• Avoid pet stores. Puppies sold at pet stores generally come from puppy mills.
• Visit the breeder yourself. While that may mean a long road trip, reputable breeders will be happy to show you their facilities.
• Meet the parents of the puppy you want. It’ll tell you a lot about your new puppy’s health and temperament.
• Ask for and check references.
• Expect a contract that includes breed papers, vaccination information and a provision for you to return the dog if it doesn’t work out. If you’re told there are no refunds for a sick puppy, you’re most probably dealing with a puppy mill.
But remember, adopting a dog or cat from your animal shelter or rescue group will give you a loving companion, reduce the tragedy of animal overpopulation and help put the cruel industry of puppy mills out of business.
Lisa Bloch is the director of marketing and communications for Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes questions about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, Twitter.com/marinhumane or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.”
