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Originally Posted by kjc  Welcome to YT! And, no, you are not stupid....
Basically, anyone who breeds dogs just to make money and not in the interest of improving any particular breed. |
I understand that lots of people use this definition; however you’re downplaying the real damage done by real puppy mills. Your definitions would cover every commercial breeder and all backyard breeders. While I don't suggest that anyone support these types of breeders many do keep the dogs in humane conditions and at least the dogs are not suffering. Most states have some type of minimum laws where as they are supposed to get regular exercise and if not living in the family dwelling have regulated temperature. Commercial breeders who sell to pet stores have to be inspected, and this offers some level of protection for the dogs.
What most people don't know or understand is that there is no protection or laws that cover breeders who sell directly to the public because they don't need to have any inspections. Some of the worst puppy mills are breeders selling over the internet, right now there is no regulation for these types of facilities. When the laws were made, the internet did not exist, and lawmakers thought people buying from a breeder would visit the kennel and see for themselves how dogs were raised, but now with shipping, buyers never see kennels. Kennels in themselves are not inhumane, but wire bottom kennels where the dogs defecate through the wires (often stacked over other cages) are inhumane as they damage the dogs feet. The list goes on and on, there is often no vet care, dogs are bred until they die, cages are rusty and dogs aren’t' given proper nutrition. Dogs have been known to eat another dogs leg off, and there is no grooming at all. While grooming may seem frivolous to some, a dog with 6 inch nails is in pain, and I've seen pictures of dogs who are so matted that they can no longer walk. So let’s not call commercial breeders puppy mills, unless they haven’t passed inspections, or unless they sell directly to the public and aren’t inspected at all, if we do, we are doing a disservice to all those dogs who are truly being tortured. I don’t want people to think this is about bettering the breed, that’s a whole different topic.
To the OP, if you are considering buying a dog over the internet, please visit the breeder in person. Don’t rely on the breeder having a nice voice or seeming nice from your conversations. Sales people know how to reassure you that everything’s okay, and they are treating their little breeding dogs wonderfully. Here’s a video I made on puppy mills, these are NOT the worst pictures I could find, but it is graphic.