Thank you for sharing on your f/b. Here is a link to a very good explanation of what exactly it means to be a USDA Regulated Commercial Kennel. The requirements that these mills must meet to be compliant are a joke. For instance, a cage must have only 6 inches room on all sides of the dog, and up to 12 dogs can be kept in one cage.

If a breeder/kennel advertises that they USDA licensed, that is usually a very good indication that you are dealing with a commercial dog breeder and not a reputable breeder.
The USDA and Puppy Mills

Very sad website, I am assuming Mad you are Kelly. Are your running this organiztion by yourself or do you have a board and a group of people that are regularly involved. It certainly would be a big task on your own.

I said to myself I wouldn't post on here again...but no a USDA kennel isn't a pup mill...it's a a serious red flag it might be but not a direct implication that's going a bit far.

I got Princess from a very large USDA AKC kennel.
I don't regret it bit probably wouldn't again.
They breed for show and working lines to support their showing. They beleive everyone has the right to get a happy healthy purebred, and to breed if they so choose to. While I think their religion dictates many if their practices they don't push it. I don't agree with the above having become more well rounded in education, however they take excellent care of their dogs, very clean, healthy, well groomed, excercised trained and loved. I doubt many could run such a tight ship, so they maybe usda but they are not a pupmill they lovingly care for the dogs and pups, I feel they are an acception.

Perhaps what they are is what a pup mill should ve then we can complain solely on tge breeding beleifss business aspect etc.

Teapup.com

Btw tgey have 6'x6' kennels and runs. They just started a 2whiner walk a day policy via their own min requirements not including open area play time.
This should be the USDA MINIMUM TOO!

Teegy can anyone join this group as the link says it is a closed group? As you may or may not know...lol...i'm in Whitby, about half hour from T.O.

just click on join group and I am sure when one of the admins get your request then they will put you in the group, unless LOL you are a really bad person and your reputation has perceeded you. Hope you know I am kidding, I sent a request to join just so I could get ideas, hopefully they let me in since I am going to steal some of their ideas. Teegy PLEASE vouch for me:D

The way the laws read now, the only reason a kennel/breeder/mill must be USDA licensed, is if they do not sell directely to the public (i,.e., pet shops or third party brokers). A humane breeder has no reason to be USDA licensed.
A puppy mill breeder may have many breeds of dogs for sale at the same time. A humane breeder will work with one breed at a time.
A puppy mill breeder usually will not allow customers to view their property or kennel. A humane breeder will welcome you into their home and kennel area.
A puppy mill breeder may offer to ship a puppy to the new owner without meeting you first. A humane breeder is eager to meet you and your family first.
A puppy mill breeder won’t require an application or references from a buyer. A humane breeder will require a completed application (contract) and possibly additional references.
A puppy mill breeder does not ask buyers to return the dog or contact them if at any point in the dog’s life the owners cannot keep the dog. A humane breeder will tell you that if there if ever a reason that you cannot keep the dog, contact them and they will take the dog back.
A puppy mill breeder has a very large kennel, usually owning 50 to several hundred dogs or more. A humane breeder will have sufficient kennel space with a limited amount of puppies available at one time.
A puppy mill breeder breeds females every time they come into heat. A humane breeder will skip heat cycles and give enough recovery time as necessary.
A puppy mill breeder is USDA licensed (in many cases) so that they can sell puppies to pet stores. This is a red flag that a breeder is in the “profit only” business. A humane breeder has no reason to be USDA licensed.
A puppy mill breeder will not screen their puppies for genetic defects. A humane breeder will have all the appropriate screenings completed on all the puppies for sale. They will present screening certificates to the new owners.
A puppy mill breeder will not tell you of any health problems the puppy may have. A humane breeder will be upfront and honest.
A puppy mill breeder prefers to deal with cash and will not offer you a payment plan. A humane breeder will not insist on only a cash deal. And they may offer a payment plan beginning with an initial deposit.
A puppy mill breeder does not put the welfare of the dogs/puppies first. A humane breeder's main focus is the welfare of the dogs/puppies.
A puppy mill breeder will buy and sell dogs at a dog auction. A humane breeder would never step near a dog auction.

Yes, that is me. Right now, it is myself, husband, and three daughters. Our goal is to be an organized, nonprofit within the year. Unfortunately, it takes quite a bit of time, money, and expertise to become one; but we are working towards it. Right now, our main focus is on educating the public and fundraising for rescue groups who are recognized nonprofits by sponsoring the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption expenses of puppy mill dogs that they rescue.

Someone needs to reread USDA regulations.

Im personally very aware of what a pup mill is and isnt some of your definitions are off in determination.
You're too general many pup mills offer the same innitial responses a responsible breeder would.
Several responsible breeders here breed and show more rhan one breed.

Also raw hide kills dogs, please do not give it away in prize packages anymore.

There is an exception to every rule, and I'm glad that you know of a large scale, USDA licensed facility that is well run! Would you mind sharing the name of them?

Reread my post I clearly put their site there, in fact they are in your side of the country. They offer tours

Of course i know your're kidding!!! i'm a good girl...most of the time....:D

Are you absolutely sure they are USDA licensed? I don't see it anywhere on their website (although could be missing it), but most importantly, I cannot find them anywhere on the USDA Inspection Report site, either by the kennel name or their last name. Actually, there is not a licensced kennel in that town/state at all.

While looks can certainly be deceiving, their operation looks top notch, and I'd be very surprised if they sold to pet shops, etc.....

Again, exception to every rule; however, this is a good beginning for someone who is trying to find a reputable breeder to refer to, and 9 times out of 10, is spot on.

Yours may be a good breeder I dont know but most USDA breeders are operating large scale operations and are puppymills

I dont see it now either they changed the site a lot. They used to have their inspection reports posted. Maybe they are no longer required to be USDA after the regulation changes 3 years ago...I'll shhot an email out to Amber and ask about it. Feel free to contact thwm.Many dont like their practicea or choices in breeding but I like how they are so honest about it and respectful of critism.

I'm going to assume that you are already aware of this, but for those who are not, under the Freedom of Information Act, we are entitled to view a breeder's name, address, as well as all of their inspection reports by clicking the link below.

I feel like I have to qualify everything that I say to you with "I know there are exceptions, but" the overwhelming majority of the time, if a kennel is USDA licensed, the reason they are is because although they may sell directly to the public, they also sell to pet shops and third party brokers. There really is no other reason to take on the additional expense, and "bad conotation" that comes with being licensed.

One of the projects that I am working on is a visual "what you see versus what you get" campaign, where I visit websites of USDA kennels and document what they advertise themselves as being, and then pull up the report and document what they actually are, If I'm lucky I can even get my hands on photos of their actual kennels that were taken by the inspectors.

If you look at the reports and see that a particular kennel has zero violations, another thing to remember is that all that means is that they have met the minimum requirements to be in compliance, which we already know are a joke. The only way to be 100% sure, is to visit the kennel ourself. Also, less common but definitely happening, the kennels have two addresses, one where they "show" they dogs, and one where they actually keep them.

USDA - APHIS - ANIMAL CARE - SEARCH - WARNING

I would never buy from anyone who mass produces puppies. I realize that those who breed larger breed dogs do use the larger outdoor kennels but even they are breeding on a larger scale than I feel comfortable with . These are dogs not cows. They deserve a better life than living in a pen all their lives in order to produce money for someone. Even if they are not over crowded it is no life for an animal that is meant to bond with humans. A dog that has lived it's life in a kennel produces puppies that are not properly socialized as well. They are not farm animals. I don't even agree with the veal producers much less those who use dogs as their means of living.

http://www.thepuppymillproject.org/new_home.html

Im a supporter of this group they did the same thing having volunteees wear hidden video cameras.
I hope you pist yours here, watch your legalitues, pup mills BYB and greeders love to threaten law suits so get some sound legal advice.

Please enlist any help needed here, this group of people can be very proactiv and generousin lending help.

Uh...how many AKC and YTCA members use kennels?
Did that standard change?
btw the Beers only breed females a few times then they are pettes out, dog breeding for oets supports their showing not their personal livelyhood.

here's a good story, a friend in my yorkie group saw an ad for a family that was moving and had to surrender their 7 year old yorkie. She posted on our FB and my breeder has contacted them and told them she will take the dog and find it a new home

Moving along....
 

So, I'm going to move over to the rescue threads, as I can hopefully make more of a difference there. Just wanted to leave you ladies with a pic of a beautiful silky that is looking for a home, if anyone from the Colorado area is thinking about adding a new dog to their family. She is a mill survivor, and thus, not for everyone - but when the right person comes along, Liza Jane will change their life. There are many more like her available at milldogrescue.org
Have a Wonderful Day Everyone!
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And you gave me a hardtime repeatedly posting about the fact that I choose to buy my puppies from a responsible breeder??? While, you are directly responsible for supporting a puppy mill!

To quote the eloquent rapper 50 Cent, "You shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house, and if you've got a glass jaw, you should watch your mouth."

Kazzy, I think you have me mixed up with someone else. I have never given anyone a hard time, or posted anything at all about whether or not they have purchased from a breeder or pet shop. I have said from the very beginning that, in my case - I purchased from a pet shop (going back 13 years or so ago) and a byb, because I had no earthly idea that puppy mills existed, never mine what they were. I recently lost my princess (yorkie) but she was the love of my life and I couldn't imagine my life without her. That being said, because I now know the truth about puppy mills and pet shop/byb connections, I will never purchase another pup. So, please take care to read all of a thread before you make accusations. k? My goal now is to make sure that people know about puppy mills and how they can make sure the pup they adopt/purchase is not the product of one.

KAZZY just made me apit tea on my smart phone by quoting 50cent...hope it doesnt kill it went right in the speaker grid...
In all fairness manu of us do not learn the reality of suppoeting bad breeding until we realize our own mistakes.

My first dog I got myself lived 2 days with me a puppy I got from a pet store on the ride home from Oregon it became very ill I thought it was car sickness, the following morning it became worse after about 28the hours in critical cobdition at the vets it died before I had even named it.

So I got a pup mill dumpee from the pound major issues I wanted to get an older dog from a personal breeder well about everyone here knows or can read jow Elvis' adoption went, I supported a hobby greeder.
Derik chose Princess and we love the Beers but again they are a huge multi breed pet quality kennel.

Ihave never went to a responsible breeder...however I'm the first to help education others on how to not make my mistakes.
Responsible breeders abd rescues are the only way to adopt.

The puppy I got tested positive for parvo and parasites. I chose it because it seemed so mellow and snugglie I didn't even know what parvo was then.

so have we heard if anything has moved forward with this China any word from greeder/broker central

broker
 

She has spoken again, I'm a theif, blah, blah, blah! Won't give her puppy back, and I'm the bad guy. But who's not advertising for puppies anymore? Hmmmm

ugh
 

Spoke to soon, I think she's back in business!!!!!! Just so her ad in local paper.:thumbdown

Is this the same woman who had to surrender all her pups??:confused: