[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by jeanief

2) As already discussed, USDA licensing does not guarantee humane treatment of the dogs in mills. Also, remember that the USDA licenses and oversees factory farming. What the USDA considers acceptable in factory farms outrage and horrify many people who are made aware of what exactly goes on behind the closed doors of the industry. The animals in these situations are treated as product, and are not given the consideration they deserve. Humane treatment and quality of life are not factors deemed worthy of attention. The situation at puppy mills is very similar. The dogs are merely treated as money-making items.

3) The sales pitch, "AKC registered" has been used repeatedly by the puppy mill/pet shop industry and has duped the public into believing that if a dog bares the AKC registered title, it must be of quality. The fact of the matter is that the American Kennel Club (AKC) is merely a registering body. "Papers" on a dog mean that the animal is certifiably purebred. It does not guarantee anything else. There are no requirements necessary in order for a dog to be registered other than having AKC-registered parents. Health, temperament, or where a dog came from, have no bearing on the matter.
I would say that AKC is a better club than most. However, mills and USDA breeders can register with AKC and do. Petstores sell AKC dogs. Large USDA breeders can pass AKC inspections. We need to find a way that to change the laws so dogs are not governed by the sames laws for treatment as cattle !

I have noticed that the mills, byb'rs, the USDa breeders and the pet store suppliers are ditching AKC as fast as possible. Could that be because of the increasingly tighter inspections?