Yup pretty much!!

This is me today lol

You're right - that makes no sense. Besides being unethical - think of all the puppies that are in pain because someone chooses to not change their breeding practices knowing there's a problem.

Anyone in charge of bringing life into the world should KNOW what they're doing and be responsible....nice or not.

and thank you regarding Chanel. This was quite a few years ago that this happened but I'll never forget it. Hope your girl is ok with her knees.

ok. Now THAT was funny.

Darn I just took a quick peek to catch up and just had to say this..

The video clip with the Amish dude, I don't think he was heartless or crazy, I think it has to do with scripture. Not to bring religion on here but...Their scripture gives them power over all animals that God has "given" them and I think they would look at you confused if you suggested something as silly as giving an animal respect. I have a quote for this too...

Personally, I would not give a fig for any man's religion whose horse, cat and dog do not feel its benefits. Life in any form is our perpetual responsibility. ~S. Parkes Cadman

I lived for years in what is called the "bible belt" here is BC, and the attitude that animals are nothing(all animals) but a product to be used and given by God was the norm. It disgusted me and I am glad I do not live in that area any longer.

Someone said (I think it was Rachel) that these ideas were part of their upbringing. It is true and therefore next to impossible to change unless it starts with the children.

Ok back to housework :)

Thanks she was okay with them, sadly she is not here with us any more but watching over us in heaven now :rbyorkie: Won't ever know if it was because of where she came from or if it was an accident, she passed away very suddenly last month.

Oh my, see I was taught that we are stewards of God's animals.

oh no ! I'm so sorry - I just now saw where you have her in your signature. I'm sorry....

it's ingrained in a lot of farmers this attitude about animals as well,

personally i was always taught that certain animals (deer, turkey, cattle, ext) were put here on earth for our use as food and nourishment and clothing, but we were taught the humane way of taking that life and that we were thankful to God for giving us the food and you didn't treat the animal with disrespect by shooting it too many times, just one clean shot in the proper place and you made darn sure that you took the life on the first shot or don't shot at it. it was the way i was raised and my father is a taxidermist, which some are really not okay with, but you just have to understand that it was how i was brought up.

now with dogs and cats that's an entirely different story, yes we view them first as dogs not as people, but they are pets as well and sort of members of the family, they are not to be treated badly or harmed in any way and animal abuse in any form in not tolerated.

Rachel, you seem to be suggesting that somehow Amish puppy mills are worse than Missouri puppy mills.

As the Humane Society officer says, if you buy a puppy from a pet store or a newspaper ad in Missouri, this is where he most likely came from:

Thanks for posting that! I was hoping she woudl click on the link that was given a page or two back but having the youtube right in the post makes it more likely that everyone will really look at it. I knew puppymills were a bad thing but I never had a clue HOW BAD until I saw some of the videos here on Yorkietalk. Then I really had my eyes opened to the horror these poor dos go through their whole lives. No one sees this, they see a cleaned up puppy that looks cute. They find it easy to think, the breeder must be a good person, look how cute this puppy is! You can't know unless you really research the breeder and see where the parents and puppy live. The worst ones will still sound nice over the phone -- the first Step of the Sale is to Establish Rapport.

Absolutely! If they didn't sound nice and honest, they couldn't stay in business.

She saw it and posted about it.

If more people only knew how common this is. Many clean a few up and send to a broker who has a buyer. Many include shipping costs in the price so no one comes near. Hollybelles Maltese had ads in dog magazines for years offering Maltese with a 5 yr. grarantee @ $1200 and when they finally got into her house there were 250 some dead or almost dead dogs there. Members wonder why we ask you to go to the breeder and look at the conditions they live in and ask questions. We will help you to alert you to things we might see as problems but seeing with your own eyes is best.

ABSOLUTELY FREAKING AWFUL!!!!! Those poors dogs!

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Another huge red flag is breeders who offer to meet you somewhere rather than having you come to their house.

They are called the "exit kings and queens" and will give you the most plausible reasons for meeting you on the highway. I've heard family visiting, remodeling, will be in the area anyway, etc.

Bottom line is they don't want you to see where your puppy came from.

How often have we had people tell us of terrible conditions when they went to the home and still bought their puppy.:mad:

I have said for years that nothing will change until the people (we) want a change. We have to get the laws changed and I believe it is everyone responsibility to do this. People will say OMG how awful but then will move on and do nothing. They can write letters to their congressman/woman. They can donate $$$ and they can do rally's against puppy mills in their states. If everyone who went to buy just one cute little dress for their Yorkie would donate that $$ to Prisoners of Greed maybe a change could come about..

You're right. Then they claim they are rescuing or saving them. :mad:

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: and the laws must be changed.

Have been doing this for months.....Congressman/woman aren't listening.....what their main goal is to line their own pockets......The fines and punishment the impose are doing nothing to the PuppyMills, Pet Stores, Wholesalers.....These people are backing them and can afford the stiff fines....

I believe in grassroot organization and I do believe changes can be made if people will write letters. I believe you could make a difference if you went after AKC and demanded they do something to protect the dogs instead of profiting like everyone else.

I believe breeding laws must change and I am starting to see more states add lemonlaws to their regulations.

I believe people have to be more concerned about the animals then about "hurt" feelings. I know that we have puppymill breeders right here on YT but because they are members people don't want to hear the truth.

I know most people talk about reputable breeders but lets be honest..just how many is that in the US? Not many. Look how many people are breeding to breed..not going to dog shows and learning as much as they can about their breed. I would love to see more laws in regards to breeding but I always see AKC and the breeders saying NO...as pretty soon you won't be able to buy a pet. I don't have the answers but I do believe we have an oversurplus of dogs on a daily basis and it continues day after day. Look at how many new breeders come to YT every single day.

I will say when I first joined YT I was just about the only person who talked about rescue or even did rescue and look at how many people are here today and are helping these animals.....Things are changing and I believe everyone of us can make a change for these wonderful animals.

AKC, YTCA and Kennel Clubs in California are in a fight against stupid laws that are attempting to be imposed....When you have a Majority Congress, that isn't listening, even though you're flooding them with letters and faxes every day.......Go on to AKC and see some of the legislature that is out there ready to be put into law. What most of it is doing is wiping out the Reputable Breeder, The Dog Fancy and Pets in General. The fight isn't given up. But, when you have PETA and HSUS finacially backing these Congressman/women.......it makes it tough.

you do realize that over half the people on that one list about who is puppy mills are amish people from MO and Iowa and surrounding states right???!!! i'm not saying amish mills are worse than MO i'm saying amish mills are IN missouri

I do read AKC and I disagree with what they are really interested in. I don't see them protecting the animals but the breeders as it is in AKC's best interest to keep on having litters registered with them. I do not believe it is everyone's rights to breed as much as they want and then the taxpayers pay the burden of too many pets. AKC lost my respect when they seriously wanted to support the Hunt Corporation.

I think we have to believe that we can help. The economy itself is helping so if people are not buying and we can help by educating people about puppy mills and can continue this trend of less sales it will help.

New laws come only with lots of effort and lots of time involved and there is more power in numbers. When I email my senator I always mention in a nice way they I really want to vote for him again and he has to help me.

Here are eight more ideas to help.

How to Help Shut Down Puppy Mills | eHow.com

Thank you
 

I am so glad that I came across this thread. I did not know that that is what APRI was all about. I feel so much smarter and more aware of how bad things really are at puppy mills and I will do all that I can to raise awareness and not support these evil people. The videos that were posted on here were so horrible to watch but a very useful tool to show people what they are supporting when they buy from pet stores and puppy mills. Those poor poor animals :(

Thank you! You are just what these dogs need. A voice for them:thumbup:

Well, I have really learned a lot on this post.

A few comments: It seems like it is a "catch 22" of sorts. To stop the mills, we have to stop purchasings their "products". But what do we DO with all the pups if someone does not take care of them (buy them)?

It seems like the problem goes higher than the breeder and buyer. In the puppy mill video, the man states that the inspector turned their head to the conditions. Someone should get fired over doing a sorry job of inforcing the inspection laws. Also they didn't bring charges because (I guess) a jury of his peers would not convict him? What about tax fraud?

How could anyone, breeding in this manner, look into the eyes of a pup, straight to their sweet little souls, and not be ashamed of the mistreatment.

I looked in shelters for a yorkie before I got Fancy and I found out that the majority of the time a rescue was called when a yorkie or certain other pure breed dogs came.

I usually tend to keep my nose out of drama like this but I really agree with Rachels point that this post was not about puppy mills in any way shape or form. She was announcing her puppies new name and was looking for a response to the name. It's possible that she didn't know that APRI supports puppy mills, it's an honest mistake, I didn't know untill this thread. But instead of getting a huge lecture about how bad puppy mills are and why would you waste your money, it could have been put in a less abrasive, more tactful way. Maybe like "cute name rachel but did you know that APRI supports puppy mills? maybe you could try _____ (fill in the blank) instead." I do notice that many many posts get out of hand like this all over an innocent post from someone that is maybe younger and maybe hasn't had a bunch of dogs throughout their life. If you want to help these people you need to be welcoming and be willing to take them by the hand and teach them not just dump a whole bunch of information out like that. My step dad used to lecture me about everything and it got to the point where I would automaticaly tune him out as soon as he started. I learn by simple explinations and someone taking my hand and walking me through it. I'm sure other people are the same way. Next time if you want to inform someone about puppy mills (or anything really) don't come at them like "how dare you don't know this" teach them like they are your child and they are learning something new.

If you ask me I think there should be a limit of breeding dogs any breeder can have. I also think it should be mandatory that the dogs arn't allowed to be kept in an outside kennel . to Me most breeders are no better than BYB or puppymills..If you have a bunch of dogs and they spend their life in a kennel..to me you are apuppy mill. I don't care if you show your dog or feed them top dog food..groom them daily or what you do..if your dogs spend their lives in an outside enclosure to me you are a glorified puppymill..