| No
Puppy Mills or Pet Stores
Don’t support puppy mills. Puppy mill dogs are sold
even in the swankiest of pet stores and through the most picturesque
of web sites. The truth is, unless you personally visit the
place where your dog is born and raised, you have no real
way of knowing whether you’re supporting a puppy mill.
Puppy millers have devised slick new methods for hiding their
cruel businesses. They regularly place newspaper ads that
hawk one specific breed (instead of the old approach of exclaiming,
“We have over 20 different breeds!”) to fool consumers
into thinking the mill is actually a small operation. Rule
No.1 is always: Never buy a puppy without personally visiting
the breeder’s premises.
Five Easy Steps to Avoid a Puppy Mill
How can you make sure that your next dog won't come from a
puppy mill? Avoiding pet stores is a logical start, of course,
but it's only part of the solution. You must gather information
and conduct a little investigation of your own. Follow these
five easy steps from The Humane Society of the United States,
and you'll be far more likely to secure a dog who doesn't
drain your emotions or your pocketbook. One, in other words,
who doesn't come from a puppy mill.
Know thyself: The first step on the road to pet ownership
is to ask yourself some tough questions: Why do you want an
animal? Can you afford one? Are you prepared to take care
of the dog every day for his entire life?
Find the perfect match: Once you've decided you're ready
for a dog, you'll want to choose the right one for you and
your lifestyle. Part of that process is deciding whether to
go with a purebred or mixed breed.
Get the facts: Forewarned is indeed forearmed. Puppy mills,
those mass dog-breeding operations which are known to thumb
their nose at Animal Welfare Act requirements, routinely supply
pet stores. They're also behind many online dealers and breeders
who advertise in newspapers and magazines. Read horror stories
about buying a puppy from a "professional breeder."
Check your list: Those who buy from breeders need to know
how to rate breeders. We've developed a checklist to help
you identify reputable ones. It's designed specifically for
breeders, but the checklist will help you rate anyone who's
selling dogs.
Visit a shelter: Your safest route when searching for a new
dog is to head directly to your local animal shelter. Shelters
have dozens of dogs, many of them purebreds, just waiting
for homes. Shelter workers typically screen animals for sound
health and temperament, and they'll help you find the right
pet for your lifestyle. Purebred rescue groups are ideal outlets
for your next pooch, too. Adopting a dog from either place
is the surest way to strike a blow against puppy mills.
|
