In my opinion, a puppymill is a place that is filthy, and disgusting and where dogs are mistreated and abused and there is rampant disease, sickness, and untreated injuries.
If breeders care properly for the dogs, they not mistreated or abused, then they are not a puppymill in the negative sense of the word. I think it is great that someone can make money doing something they love with animals, I have no problem with cross breeding (we have yorkies because of cross breeding) and I think in the real world the law and most people treat animals like property, not like people. That is what society has determined is acceptable. Would i want my dogs to live their lives in a kennel? No, but that is no reason for me to judge someone who does when he is not breaking the law or mistreating the animal in any way.
I have said repeatedly that my dogs are priceless to me and I like them more than most people (they are more honest for sure) and I would pay any amount of money to have them in my lives as they bring me and my family such joy, but I do not feel that I should be vilified because I do not think we should be trying to shut down places who breed dogs where the dogs are treated well. I think there is enough animal abuse in this country which is a far bigger emergency than these breeding operations that care properly for the dogs. JMHO. |