What are Puppy Mills and How to Avoid Getting a Puppy from One?

A Puppy mill, also called a puppy farm, is a breeding facility with the goal of producing the most dogs for the least money. Substandard breeding conditions and inbreeding are rampant and widespread and can lead to health and behavioral problems in the puppies bred there.

The puppies bred at these facilities are then either shipped to pet stores around the country or sold directly through newspaper and online ads to the public.

So the quickest and easiest way to fight puppy mills is to avoid pet stores, newspaper ads, and supposed great deals online.

Below are other tips you can do to stop puppy mills:

Adopt a dog from your local shelter or rescue organization 

Many people aren’t aware that purebreds end up in shelters just like any other dogs. Plus, there are rescues that specialize in certain breeds.

With hundreds of animals in shelters and rescues, that perfect pet won’t be hard to find. You just have to be patient.

Visit the breeder

Don’t buy from a breeder without seeing the entire facility where the dogs are bred and kept. Is it clean? Is there enough space? Ask to see the parent dogs as well. Does the breeder show hesitation to let you see the facility or to let you meet the other dogs who are being kept there? Or is the breeder willing to just sell one of his puppies to anyone who walks in off the street? Reputable breeders will want to make sure their puppies are going to good homes.

Spread the word by educating friends and family

Friends and family looking to obtain a pet should know about the cruelty of puppy mills and the joys of pet adoption. Share adoption websites, such as adoptapet.com, and breed rescue websites with people who are looking for purebred dogs.

Support legislation that regulates and reduces breeding of animals

Legislation is an effective way to protect innocent animals from being throwaways or money crops.