For anyone not aware of what a puppy mill is, it is a place where the dogs living there are required to literally do nothing but breed.

They are forced to live in cages for most of their lives, often wire mesh ones only. Why wire mesh? So that their bodily waste will just drop down onto a pan that can be slid out and cleaned. Their cages are rarely tended to, they have no comfort or bedding, they are given enough food too keep them healthy, but no more.

Worst of all, they are denied the human companionship that helps them thrive. They are also not allowed to associate with one another, and their puppies are taken away as soon as they are ready to be sold.

They are not exercised, and seldom see the light of day. They are not petted, hugged, given a toy to play with. They are serving alife sentence without parole or even an hour in the prison yard.

How is this possible? you might ask. Beccause the fashion for ‘designer dogs’ pedigrees of certain breeds, that become ‘popular’, leads to people wanting to make money, and not only breeding, but overbreeding.

Due to the recent downturn in the ecomony, however, many of the shelters are starting to fill with young adolescent pedigree dogs who have not been sold. They are an expense the puppy mills, or the pet stores that buy them in the hopes of selling that cute little doggie in the window, can’t afford on an ongoing basis.

And what happens to the adult dogs which are not longer desirable breeders, you might ask?
They lucky ones might end up in a shelter, but have all sorts of emotional issues. Many groups are trying to actively rescue them from this cruel and inhumane treatment.

The irony is, that being a pedigree puppy that was paid for does not always ensure that the dog is valued and treasured. Puppies grow up. Pedigrees who might have been purchased for the show ring and not turned out as well as expected will also often be dumped. Doing a survey of our neighbors with pedigree dogs, every single one of them did NOT have the dog as a puppy. That equates with two dozen pedigree puppies cast off.

Breed rescue groups now abound. Why? Because people are basing their decision on what kind of puppy they want by looks or an idea of what the puppy is going to be like. When the puppy fails to meet their expectations in some way, it is abandoned.

Do we do this with our children? Sometimes, but mostly, no. Why should the commitment of raising a confident, happy, cherished puppy be any different from raising the same kind of child?

Some will claim that the puppy was unmanageable. So are infants and toddlers if you don’t train them properly. It is all about TRAINING. It is all about time, attention, affection, and not treating the puppy like a designer accessory.

It is true that a puppy can be like a bottle of wine-you literally never know what it is going to be like until it has matured a bit. Which is all the more reason why we suggest that if you are not sure you can handle all the work involved in raising a puppy, you might consider adopting a young adult dog one to two years old from a shelter or breed rescue group. Most of the issues like chewing and peeing will already be sorted out, and you can focus on bonding with the dog and merging it into your family life.

So how can you know whether or not your puppy is a puppy mill puppy or not? Always make sure you meet its mother. Ideally,you would like to meet both parents, or at least have contact information for the sire of the pups. Never take a puppy less than eight weeks old. If you are given papers, check that they are legitmate by contacting the Kennel Club. With a pedigree puppy, the Kennel Club also often offers insurance for health issues, and even lost or stolen pups, so all the more reason to not deal with unscrupulous puppy mills.

One other essential reason is that certain dog breeds have certain tendencies toward particular health issues, anywhere from allergies to serious heart problems like Mitral Valve Disease In Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. By having the same dogs overbreeding and intermingling, it makes the likelihood of your puppy having health issues that much greater.

Make sure if you do decide to opt for a pedgigree puppy rather than a mixed breed, you research the breed thoroughly online, with kennel club groups for the breed, on forums, or with the vet you plan to take your puppy to for all of its shots. (Also see the artcile on puppy innoculations). Know BEFORE you buy.

And a good breeder will allow you to bring the puppy back after a certain amount of time if it really is not working out for either you or the pet. A good pet store should permit you to do the same. If it is not in the best interests of you or the puppy to persist in a difficult and stressful situation, better to admit it up front than let the situation go from bad to worse.

If people are more realistic about the responsbilities of pet and puppy ownership, the puppy mills will not be able to thrive. If people are educated and responsible, and aware of the need for appropirate dog training, you and your puppy should be able to look forward to many happy and healthy years together.

For more information on different dog breeds and their health tendencies, do your research and make sure you all discuss your wants and take your lifestyle into account before finally deciding on the breed.

Then consider going to a rescue group to find the dog of your choice. http://www.petfinder.org has thousands of puppies and young dogs available for adoption from local shelters.