Puppy Mill

Ok, Im a victim of falling in love with that puppy in the window...at a pet store, and of course a Maltese. I admit to having no knowledge of "puppy mills"..but after searching the net regarding the Maltese Breed, I've run into this term several times. I'd like to know the specifics of what constitutes a puppy mill (the term conjures up horrendous images), and how I can find out if "my" puppy was once a resident of one.

Upon purchase, I was presented with a pedigree, that went back 4 generations, and included coat colors. The names of the various champions of this particular puppy's geneology were typed in red. Does this sound legit, or have I been duped?

At any rate, the puppy is spectacular, and to my novice eye, fits every standard of the breed.... Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Also I have a name of a "breeder" on the pedigree as to where the puppy is supposedly from, though I'm not sure posting it here would be appropriate...
Kymberli

• In all probablity if you bought your puppy from a pet store it came from a puppy mill. Stores themselves are not the breeders so buy thier puppies through brokers who in turn get them from the puppy mills. Many of these are located in the midwestern states -- Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota.

  If you would like to privtely email me some details on your puppy -- ie name of breeder, pedigree (sire, dam, grands and great grands) I can maybe help you understand more of your puppies background.
  Bobbie Linden - Bhe-Jei Maltese

• You can bet all the horror stories, pictures, are all true about puppy mills. Many times these so called "breeders" will have several breeds of dogs. Just because you have papers either AKC or with lineage doesn't mean the dog is "healthy" or up to the true breed standards. Many times you will find cages stacked up oe on top of each other in the backyard with the sun beating down on them. Or you will find these dogs in sub zero weather with frozen water, no food and shivering. These dogs are bred over and over again. Many times the female will die of exhaustion or other problems like their uterus falling out literally, no milk left and pups will die. But the "breeder" will ship these lost souls off to various places for profit. Many do not last the trip to the pet store. These puppies are left in a freezer until the breeder comes again so the store will get credit for the next bunch. The ones that do survive will be thrown in a window for all the suckers to oooh and ahhh over. This dog is underfed, most likely has worms, ear mites, and so screwed up emotionally that if you have what resembles a dog you are lucky. Just pre- pare yourself for problems down the road. They may not show up for years.

  I would say your dog is most likely from a puppy-mill. Sorry to say getting a dog for a pet store is not a good choice. Looking for a breeder that really cares about "their" breed. There is so much health defects in each breed that it really takes a dedicated breeder to wean them out of their breeding line. Most breeders will only breed 1-2 litters a year if that. Usually you will have to be on a waiting list and answer lots of questions. Many reputable breeders will also help their breed with rescue groups, or have some dogs that are shown in conformation etc. They are hard to find but well worth the trouble. Make sure you see the site before you even put a deposit down on the pup. Both parents don't necessarily have to be on the property. They will have info on stud services and pictures of the father or mother to show you.

  I wish I remembered the link to the horror story/pictures of a show breeder and his collies. Many pictures of not being able to recognize it was a collie let alone a dog. Barrels of dead dogs and puppies, frozen water, no food, no shelter, these dogs were on the back of his property to basically die. They were of no value to him (not show quality, too many problems). There are pictures of dogs walking over their DEAD littermates that were stuck in the mud. Try to remember things like these the next time you get the urge to buy that cute little puppy in the window. I would not support these breeders if my life depended on it.
  PUG

• Next time you see puppies in a store, ask the store owner how many times they exercise the dogs. Most dogs in the pet stores are never exercised, and in turn, never socialized. They stand on the "d***" wire bottom cages usually all the time. If I see a pet store that sells pets I intentionally go in and ask how often the animals are exercised. I never buy any- in those stores. I will not spend one dime in a pet store that sells pets and I let them know why. I have on occasion been asked to leave or told other things. In all my years of asking, about 15 years ago, I found one pet shop in Gettysburg, PA that hired local kids to come and play with all the animals and walk the dogs. But that is extremely rare.

  Also, by going to a breeder, you sometimes actually pay less because you are cutting out the middle "man", so to speak.
  Rebecca J.

• The AKC has done things about the puppy mills that are in their control -- specifically this is records violations. With the AKC Regs that were passed about keeping accurate records, identification, etc. they were able to go into a number ofuppy mills and shut them down. Every month in the AKC Gazette in the Secretary's Page area you will see lists of people that have been suspended for 5 to 10 years. (see a note about this further down). However, its not unusual to see these same puppy mills back in business under a "cousin or other family members name". AKC is powerless to do anything about conditions. Remember AKC is ONLY a registry body and serves to santion performance events (conformation, obedience shows etc). If the AKC inspectors find something that is related to conditions during an inspection they will report it to the local authorities and or the USDA (which licenses some of these.) It's up to the local authorities to handle the abuse issues.
  Bobbie Linden - Bhe-Jei Maltese

• Fighting the war against puppymills is no different than fighting the war against drugs in this country. As long as money is being made, nothing will shut down these factories from breeding dogs for huge profits. Nothing. Legislation or not. Loop holes in the laws will always be found when it comes to profit.
  Jay