Comments on: Puppy Mills and Commercial Breeders Defined

By: ellen green

ellen green — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 04:29:01 +0000

I didn't realize that even puppies for sale by breeders were considered "puppy mills" – I guess there are still some breeders that do socialize their puppies and provide them with a proper environment instead of a cage to live in but I do think in the end it is on the buyer of these puppies for sale, that should insist on seeing the puppy in its living conditions, with the mother, before they spend a cent on buying one.

My 2 cents
Ellen

By: MaryHaight

MaryHaight — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 05:44:08 +0000

And you can get a puppy for less than $200 at an animal shelter or rescue in your area. My adopted dogs have lived to be 15. I find it hard to figure out why anyone would pay thousands for a dog from places like Petland. It's really a puzzle! Thanks for stopping by, Jon.

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:54:09 +0000

I'm sorrY i maY make some people mad but who has thousands to paY for a new puppY. not everYbodY can and not me. im not for puppies stuffed in overcrowed crates in bad conditions but but a puppY for 200 and 2000 is a big different to us middle class working people. EspeciallY when these top breeders breed their dogs to have bad hips and other defects that leads to these dogs having short lives. i have had manY dogs in mY lifetime and have found that the ones that cost less live longer.

By: 200 Dogs Rescued Tennessee Puppy Mill | Dancing Dog Blog

200 Dogs Rescued Tennessee Puppy Mill | Dancing Dog Blog — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:02:15 +0000

[...] articles: Puppy Mills and Commercial Breeders Defined To All Pet Shop Shoppers – [...]

By: MaryHaight

MaryHaight — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:59:18 +0000

I don't know who "Eddie" is, but your position is that commercial breeders are not always "puppymills"? While opinions in Animal Welfare vary widely, I think you'll find more rather than less in the field would vehemently disagree. This is not only an AW or Animal Rights concern. It's a general public concern looking at a complete lack of compassion coming from commercial breeders/puppy mills. Commercial breeding is the antithesis of the care and work responsible breeders put into hand raising one or two breeds. Turning the breeding of sentient beings into a factory output endeavor is ridiculous. It makes such facilities a factory farm. Mass production of family pets turns the whole laudable endeavor of maintaining breeds on its head. Like something that belongs in a creepy science fiction piece, not reality.

And as to the idea that the term puppymill should be expunged from language, well…while whitewashing the truth may be an exercise popular in some circles, I have no intention of living in delusion or allowing this notion to stand unaddressed. What is suggested in this article is frankly disgusting and cowardly…sticking our collective heads in the sand pretending that commercial breeding is okay because they are legal or clean, providing fresh water and food, does a deadly disservice to the animals we love. The concept of such a business must absolutely be put into the spotlight.

People who do this kind of work need to stop looking at this from a "free market" perspective. Millions of animals are killed for no reason every year. Are commercial breeders seriously going to pretend they are not culpable in all this death? The culture is changing, as it always does, usually imperceptably. Commercial breeding, like the pet shops they serve, are hopefully running out of favor and time.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:03:12 +0000

Hi Eddie, there seems to be some confusion about the definition of the term "Puppy Mill" and some people and organizations like deceive the public by inferring that puppy mills and commercial kennels are one in the same. Here is an article that defines the term.

DISPELLING THE TERM "PUPPYMILL"

There is no legal definition for the term "puppymill".

The term "puppymill" is a phrase coined by animal rights activists and supporters against anyone who breeds dogs, regardless of the care the animals receive. The name-calling is a means to turn the unknowing public against all dog breeders and to raise endless funds for continuous propaganda and money-making schemes by animal rights activists and organizations.

There is a difference between professional kennels and sub-standard kennels.

Substandard kennels are illegal, unlicensed facilities that produce animals with no regards to their health and well-being.

No one supports neglect or abuse of animals. Calling legal, licensed, professional breeders "puppymills" and claiming that they abuse their animals is grossly unfair and unjust, and is not acceptable.

The term "puppymill" is a derogatory word used by animal rights activists and supporters against anyone who breeds dogs, and is no more acceptable than using slur names for those of different ethnic backgrounds. It is as degrading and offensive to professional breeders to call them "puppymills" as it is to call our fellow man slur names. It is not socially acceptable to call our fellow man names, nor is it acceptable to call breeders slur names.

Animal rights activists use the term to garner support for fundraising, and those funds are being used to eliminate all agriculture, use and enjoyment of animals. Please help us to stop the spread of animal rights issues. Let's all begin by eliminating the term "puppymill" from our vocabulary.

By: Amy@GoPetFriendly

Amy@GoPetFriendly — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:26:58 +0000

I agree whole-heartedly with Amber. These animals are not a "product," they are someone's new family member. I guess these commercial breeders are trying to protect their business investment – what they need to understand is that our society is moving forward and this industry is will be reformed. They should accept reality and move on.