[Ashley V]

Here are my views on the whole breeder thing: I do think there needs to be a license (not an expensive one) that is awarded once the breeder passes an inspection to say that basically they aren't a puppy mill and that the dogs are kept in good conditions (clean food, water, bedding), are handled with lots of love, and are vet checked regularly (by vet checked, I mean check ups, not vaccines because I know people do them sometimes on their own). I definitely don't agree with counting puppies as "unaltered" but I think they should put some limit on how many unaltered adult dogs are owned (maybe 10 max, puppies NOT included). And maybe not limit the amount of puppies sold in a year, but make a limit as to how many litters that each dam can produce in a year (that way they aren't overbred) and maybe put a cap on the age so they aren't bred until they are like 12 years old. I think if a breeder has a license than a buyer can feel safer knowing that the operation has been inspected and is okayed by authorities by meeting certain requirements (like the ones I've stated). If they limit the amount of unaltered dogs, then there won't be as many puppy mills because they'll get busted easier. If they limit the amount of how many litters a dam can have in a year and a stopping age for breeding, then she won't be overbred. Of course, there would always be room for exceptions. This is JMO from a buyer's prospective. As a buyer that is what I would want to see from a breeding program that I'm thinking of purchasing a puppy from.