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Puppies and kittens are not pet products
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It's that time of year again. Time for the annual flood of puppy mill puppies and kitty mill kittens. It's a sad cycle that I see repeated year after year in my line of work. I know how hard it is to resist that doggy in the window. But as a responsible pet owner, it behooves you to think about where your dog comes from and what that money goes to support. Below is a list put together by the Humane Society of the United States. Most of what they wrote is dog specific but there are mills for just about every kind of pet out there; including cats, rabbits and guinea pigs.
1. Consider adoption. Adopting a dog instead of buying one is the surest way to strike a blow against puppy mills. To find the perfect match, you'll want to choose the right one for you and your lifestyle. Animal shelters have dozens of dogs, many of them purebreds, just waiting for homes. There are also breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog, including "designer" or "hybrids" like Labradoodles and Puggles. Mixed-breed dogs also make wonderful pets.
2. Find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Responsible breeders provide a loving and healthy environment for their canine companions, but don't take their word for it. Never buy a puppy without seeing where they and their parents are raised and housed with your own eyes.
3. Don't be fooled by common claims made by pet stores when pushing their puppies. Despite what they may tell you, pet stores do sell puppy mill puppies.
4. Don't be swayed by a great website or ad. Just because a website says great things about their "home raised" or "family raised" puppies doesn't make it true. Many puppy millers pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads.
5. Avoid the temptation to "rescue" a puppy mill puppy by buying him.
Even though your intentions may be good, don't buy a puppy with the idea that you are "rescuing" him or her. Your "rescue" opens up space for another poor puppy mill puppy and puts money into the pockets of the puppy mill. Pet stores won't leave their cages empty and websites won't leave their pages blank. The money you spend on your puppy goes right back to the puppy mill operator and ensures they can continue breeding and treating dogs inhumanely. If you see someone keeping puppies in poor conditions, alert your local animal control authorities instead of buying.
I'm not one of those people that bashes breeders, because I know there are good ones that exist. I'm not ready to get a dog yet but when I do, I already have a responsible breeder picked out. She doesn't even let the pups go to new homes until they are six months old. She requires a spay/neuter contract as well as a contract stating that you have a fenced yard and will never let the dog go off leash. She raw feeds and follows holistic vaccine schedules. That is the kind of breeder that everyone should be searching out, not just the one with the cheapest price because you do get what you pay for.
If you are looking for a specific breed (of any kind of pet) Petfinder.com is a great place to start your search. There are plenty of fantastic rescues here in New York, Mighty Mutts and the New York Siamese Rescue just to name a few. Remember that pets are not products. By supporting puppy mills you are supporting them being treated that way. They exist soley to make money, not because they love animals or because they want to help you find a loving companion.
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or would like to have your product reviewed; feel free to email me at petproductexaminer@yahoo.com. Become a fan on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
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