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What Is a Puppy Mill?

A puppy mill, also known as a puppy farm, is an appraised commercial dog breeding facility that relies on pure profit rather than animal welfare. They often have poor living and health conditions and routinely over-breed dogs with genetic defects. Puppy mills are usually characterized by a lack of medical care, abundance of overcrowding, unsanitary living conditions for the breeding dogs, and inadequate diet.

The Puppy Mill Industry

Puppy mills are in business to breed and sell large numbers of dogs for profit. These mills breed for quantity rather than quality, meaning many puppies have genetic defects, behavioral problems, and may have been exposed to diseases and illnesses from their parents or environment.

Puppy mills are commonly found within commercial pet stores, online marketplaces, and newspaper ads. They can be a popular and profitable business but rarely do they provide humane conditions for their breeding dogs. Puppy mills often keep their breeding dogs in overcrowded cages with no exercise or enrichment, and no access to adequate veterinary care. The dogs often experience malnutrition, a lack of socialization and physical neglect.

The Welfare of Puppy Mill Animals

Puppy milling is a cruel and inhumane business. Animals in puppy mills suffer and endure terrible conditions and a lack of adequate care. Puppy mills produce many puppies and attempt to make large profits by prioritizing high numbers of puppies, rather than the quality of life for the animals.

Animals in puppy mills are kept in cramped and overcrowded cages. The floors of these cages usually consist of wire or mesh, and the unsanitary conditions can lead to infection and illness. Breeding dogs may remain at the mills for their entire lives and live in isolation. Females are bred constantly until they can no longer produce litters, at which point they become considered useless and are usually sold at auction or put down.

Puppy mill puppies may also be sold with little information about their background or health. Puppies may also come with a range of health problems, including hereditary conditions, viruses, and parasites. As a result, people can end up spending large amounts of money on veterinary bills.

Alternatives to Puppy Mills

Fortunately, there are many more ethical alternatives to purchasing a puppy from a puppy mill. For example, you can seek out a reputable breeder and ask questions about the breed and the breeder’s standards before making a purchase. You can also look into adopting a pet from a local animal shelter or rescue, as there are often hundreds of healthy, friendly animals in need of new homes.

Conclusion

Puppy mills are a cruel and inhumane practice and one that needs to be stopped. Puppy mill dogs suffer greatly and have very limited opportunities to experience proper veterinary care, socialization, and enrichment. If you are looking for a new puppy or dog, always seek out a reputable breeder or rescue by asking questions and researching online. Adopting an animal from a shelter is also a great option and a much more humane one.