Puppy mill
 

I think I found what appears to be a puppy mill online. I've never seen the place and I don't know the people but the website leads me to believe this is a mill. They offer 7 "purebred" breeds including yorkies and 23 "mixedbreeds". In their Q&A section it says they don't allow people to visit the dogs, they don't post pics of the parents becuse the dogs don't like their picture taken, they ALWAYS have litters available, they ship 90% of their puppies, the dogs are not raised in their home - they have a separate kennel for them and employ people to take care of them during the day, the dogs are not potty trained in any way, and they even put on there that they breed females EVERY heat cycle because it is healthier!

Anyway, I have no experience with puppy mills so I'd like another opinion. Here is the link to their website North Country Kennels - FAQ's and information about purchasing a non-shedding puppy. - make sure you look in the Q&A section - that is where they state some pretty suspicious stuff.

Yep, looks like a puppy mill to me. :(

Wow - they sell 30 different kinds of dogs :eek:

I'm not buying from them or anything. I was wondering what I can do about it, though. Is there someone this can be reported to? Like an organization or something that will investigate? It seems wrong to just know it is there and ignore it...

I don't think there's much you can do, but I noticed when I did a search on the kennel with the word "review" after, I pulled up some negative reviews from their previous customers. So that's a good thing. At least those that can do something are. All we can really do is spread the word, which you just did in this post. Thank you :thumbup:

OMG, They have cross breeds I've never heard of before, what is with people and so called "designer dogs"!?

Eww
 

With sooo many breeds and mixes (only intended to sell, not anything else) I would say this is the definition of a puppy mill (may not be a substandard kennel, but I think a "puppy mill" is a place where dogs are bred en masse for the sole purpose of making a profit)

it's become a witch hunt!
 

None of that makes them a puppy mill. It makes me sick when people can claim puppy mill on a place they have never even seen. I have a bought a puppy from them and they have a very nice, clean set up. A puppy mill is a place where dogs are kept in disgusting conditions, unhealthy and not cared for. I can say I never saw any of that there!!

Just because they have many breeds means nothing.. a breeder can breed one or 2 breeds and be what is called a "puppy mill"! North country is a large breeder yes, but they are not a mill in any sense of the word. Where is it written that only good breeders have their dogs in the house?

Stop judging people like this. I can assure you she has a 100% clean record because i personally checked her out when i bought my puppy from her.

When did you buy a puppy from them?
According to ripoff report, they stopped allowing visits in 2005 after over 30 of their puppies, died in a month! This makes me ill!
-They do NOT take pics of parents, why??
-They do NOT allow visits
-They have well over a 100 puppies listed for sale right now on their site
-They have over 30 breeds, the majority of which are mixed breeds
-They keep their dogs in kennels
:thumbdown:mad:

Fact Sheet - Online Puppies - Companion Animal Protection Society

Ripoff Report: NORTH COUNTRY KENNELS IRONTON MINNESOTA PUPPY MILL - We are doing this for the love of Maggie Mae our Yorkie Poo who died after 7 months with us Ironton Minnesota

I wouldn't depend to much on ripoff report dot com, haven't you ever heard the saying to not believe everything you hear, believe only what you see with your own eyes, not through someone elses.. the owner of that site is an extortionist..just look up his name on google.. Now some of those reports might be true, but do you realize how easy and how often they are made up to get back at someone.. Breeders report other breeders on there to get them shut down or get a bad rep.

and if you look, most breeders these days do not allow visits. However, their rule for that is not set in stone. I flew there to meet them and pick up my puppy. you have to go through a lot to get a puppy from them. You do not even get to pick out your puppy until they are at least 6 weeks old. I sat on their waiting list 3 months!

YES she has a lot of breeds, but look through there, she doesn't have a lot of puppies. I have been waiting for her to have another yorkie litter for 4 months!

People, get over the designer dog issue, it is not going to go away. And you make it sound like making money is a crime, I see less upset of people selling babies and children. in haiti children are given away (slaves) and sold (to ANYONE) for 100.00 and up depending on how hard up the people are it could be for a can of food. 80% of the people there make an average of $1.00 a day.

It makes me sick when people abuse and neglect animals as much as the next person. but this witch hunt has got to stop, it is hurting people who are not puppy mills, i have seen it so many times now.

See, you are the kind of person who judges and hates breeders. it is LEGAL to have that many dogs and pups.. USDA breeders are considered commercial breeders. You may not like it, but it is their RIGHT to have these animals, to breed them and to make money from them. people will never stop buying from breeders, or even pet stores.

And she tells you the answers to your "questions".. call them, the owner and her staff will answer ANY question you have and give you 100 references if you ask. They have MANY staff caring for these dogs and pups and they are well socialized.. mine sure was when I got her.

Most breeders do have kennels, they may say they don't but they do. Her kennels are very nice. You have the right to free speech but not the right to call someone a puppy mill without proof. that is infringing on the breeders right. And breeders have the right to their property, and animals are property. we own them, that is just a fact

This is sad! It breaks my heart for those poor lil guys:thumbdown
I Hate it when I see something like this, a lot of dog breeds is usually a warning sighn.

I have to disagree with you....a puppy mill is a facility that breeds a lot of dogs, PERIOD! Just because you say this kennel is not flithy (like most are) does not make it any less of a mill....just maybe a clean one. :rolleyes:

You also said that it is not a mill in any sense of the word. :confused: Really?? Please explain this to us because if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...well, I'm sure you can finish this saying.

your wrong.. you are only going by your opinion on what a "puppy mill" is.. There isn't even a real definition for this "word phrase"... Look up online what is a puppy mill.. even the HSUS and ASPCA say what I just said about what a puppy mill is.

to be clear...
 

Agreed. Let me make myself very clear. My definition of a puppy mill is a place where dogs are bred for profit, with no intention of doing anything with the puppies except selling them. That's what this place is. They have mixed breeds with no purpose other than to be a pet. They don't consider the betterment of the breed when breeding pure dogs, and they have so many puppies, that just drives home my point.

Not all puppy mills are substandard. The USDA still has regulations (minimums of care). Maybe it is clean, but still a puppy mill.

Ontario SPCA - Cruelty Glossary
Puppymills
What is a Puppy Mill anyway?

:thumbup:

So you are truly saying that you feel this is an excellent breeder with the dogs' best interest in mind?? Hypothetically speaking, if you were a dog...is this the place that you would chose to live? Too bad it's just hypothetical. :rolleyes:

How in the world can you be on a chat board that is all about the love of Yorkies (not to mention, other dog breeds) and boast about how wonderful this type of breeder is?! :thumbdown I'm done with this thread....I have other things to do and not only that, but I am sure that other people are capable of seeing right through all of this.

If there isn't a "real definition" of the word puppy mill, then it can have many definitions and interpretations and if you google enough, you will find plenty of descriptions that will apply to this particular case.
I don't know if you are an employee, related to or otherwise connected to this "breeder" and I question that in part because you mention your observations of the facilities and it seems pretty clear, they haven't allowed visits in at least 3-4 years, but also I would question such a strong support of someone with obvious red flags!
Does this kennel breed for NO other reason other than mass profit? I'm not sure how that could be denied given the mass numbers of breeds and puppies for sale on their site, that alone is how many would define a "puppy mill."
It's hard to say really how clean their kennels are, since would be buyers aren't allowed to see them.
It's hard to know if the breeding dogs are clean & healthy, since one isn't allowed to see them or even be provided photos (since they are so shy and don't like to be photographed)
I don't know this breeder, I don't have any dealings with her, but if I were looking for a puppy, she wouldn't even be on my radar!
I would NEVER buy from someone with that many breeds and massive numbers of breeding dogs and puppies available. I would NEVER buy from someone who houses them all in kennels and not in their homes.
I would NEVER buy from someone who would not allow me to see the parents, facilities, etc..
People need to put more effort into their search for a puppy beyond what breed is right for them. They need to research breeders as much as possible and make informed choices based on the best info they can obtain.
They need to stay clear of obvious red flags, complaints, etc.. and move on!
JMO

:thumbup:

The term puppy mill has nothing to do with the conditions of a kennel, but the large volume of of puppies that are churned out for profit in a factory-like style.

Here is the definiton of "mill":


# an organization, establishment, etc. where things are done, produced, issued, etc. in a routine, rapid, mechanical way

# a building or group of buildings with machinery for manufacturing or processing something; factory


Because of the high volume of puppies produced in these commercial kennels, the living conditions are often substandard, though.

VERY well said, my friend! When I found this site online I knew right away it was a mill. I do hope more people can see through places like this.

Wow. Good post Reese !

The term Puppy mill is REAL. How can someone say it isn't ? Have you actually ever looked at all the pictures of mills ? Been to one ? I have. It wasn't even the worst of the worst that we see on the net and believe me - It was horrible

what would you suggest they be called ? Breeders ? That's an insult to real breeders who love dogs and know what they're doing.

so much for their 'clean' record.

I didn't bother clicking the link - maybe they aren't a disgusting dirty place to you but.......... anyone who won't allow people to visit has something to hide which says to me - maybe it IS a disgusting place.

When dogs are sold in volume - it's all about the $$$$$$$

Something that I learned a while back from another member here is to NEVER link to your threads~these is a way for websites to track a link hence you get defenders like the above posts.

So my lesson here is when you want to expose something like a possible mill and don't want a "satisfied customer" like Mommadog1 posting to defend it just don't link the site.............instead just type out the site
YorkieTalk.com and this will solve this type of issue. :cool:

haha - didn't know that - I have no problem reading from people who have good experiences - BUT - when they start defending those types of 'places' saying they're just fine then I think it's a whole different thing. They aren't fine and never will be.

They just busted a place yesterday near me in Houston - the news article even called it a PUPPY MILL - they took 75 dogs -

They were kept in 'outside' kennels along with other types of animals - They found poor dead puppies in CAGES .....and guess who they claimed they were selling to ? They were selling to PET STORES.

NICE. Really nice.

I heard about that too~it just never seems to end.

That statement infuriates me. Dogs are not meant to be kept confined to cages, whether it's in a factory or outdoors. If they have 30 breeds of dogs, and over 100 puppies, you can pretty much guarantee that they are living confined and not getting enough interaction with people. I really don't think that a toy breed dog belongs anywhere other than inside a house.

It's blatantly obvious that the poster that is defending this puppymill is affiliated with them in some way.

That's quite understandable, would YOU want your photograph taken if you were stuck in a small dirty cage, with matted hair, gunged up eyes and most likely only one or two teeth left?

Hi Rachel!
PLEASE dont get a puppy from this site. Honey, it screams puppymill and it wants crazy $$$ for mutts. Someone can adopt from a shelter for that. I went tthru the entire site and am enraged. You can get an awsome yorkie from YT. That is what I am doing . Good luck.
Vicki from2007-2009 vviccles1:aimeeyork:animal36