Do you believe that "puppy mills" should be legal?

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   cheryloneposted 12 years ago

   Do you believe that "puppy mills" should be legal?
   
   Do you think they are inhumane?  Would you report one to the authorities if you knew that was what they were doing?

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   SJmorningsun25posted 12 years ago

   The very term "puppy mill" brings to mind abuse, negligence, and generally inhumane methods. Anything that fits such a description should be illegal. If, as iburmaster suggests, what someone is doing is "safe and humane," they should be described as a breeder--a licensed, AKC (or the kennel club of your nation)-approved breeder.

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3. 66

   Amy Bechererposted 12 years ago

   Beyond a shadow of a doubt, puppy mills are obscenely inhumane. They serve no purpose other than a money-making venture that isn't even good at that. With the huge numbers of homeless dogs, I believe puppy mills should be illegal. Missouri is one of the states that has perpetuated the horrific conditions that comprise the lives of dogs bred in puppy mills.  Regularly, I see situations where dogs are seized from abominable living conditions that makes selling them out of the question.  Many of these animals have never set foot outside filthy, over-crowded wire cages. They are malnourished, suffering from conditions that leave them permanently afflicted, often with skin ailments that render them miserable, sick and scarred. Some go blind from easily treatable eye infections, some are afraid to step out of their prisons into the light of day and some die never knowing anything other than misery.

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4. 82

   Melissa A Smithposted 12 years ago

   No, I feel animals should all come from breeders that will take the time and commitment to raise proper stock, and this will also result in a better quality pet for the potential owners. I can't think of any reason why we should be allowing animals to be in a situation where money is more regarded than their welfare. No one truly wants to buy animals from these situations, and people shouldn't have the 'right' to be in a business with animals if they do not care about their well being. Such people should get involved in businesses that involve inanimate objects.

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   tmtharpposted 12 years ago

   I do thing they are inhumane, and I would report one in a second if I knew of one. With the price of vets today there should be a limit on how many dogs or any animal one should be able to raise or breed.The problem in Missouri is there isn't enough inspectors to find all the puppy mills. I saw an segment on TV on it. I think they have only 2 or 4 inspectors in the whole state. Maybe there should be volunteers that are trained to be inspectors. Maybe then we could get it in the public eye more and shut them down if they are not able to afford to properly take care of all the animals.

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   R. J. Lefebvreposted 12 years ago

   All animal breeders should be registered within each county and subject to non-routine inspections for adequate accommodations and animals health care. Taxes should be according to each animal sold with a record of the patron and address. Each county should be subject to state penalties for dereliction of proper animal care by breeders or patrons.

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7. 80

   JayeWisdomposted 12 years ago

   There is no such thing as a puppy mill that is operated for any reason other than greedy profit, with no regard for safety or good treatment of what the owners consider "the breeding stock." All puppy mills, by definition, are the perpetrators of extreme animal cruelty, and should be illegal.
   
   I believe there should be a national law in every country making puppy mills illegal and establishing harsh punishments for animal cruelty. Leaving this matter up to the individual states (in the USA, where I live) is ridiculous, as is much that is left to "states rights."
   
   This only means that some states have better laws about what constitutes "animal cruelty" and penalties for non-compliance, while other states barely give the issue a thought and certainly don't try to end it.
   
   I believe in animals' rights, which makes me (according to many of the people who live where I do) a " silly tree-hugger." Okay, I'll gladly accept that label, only stop animal cruelty with a strong, unambiguous national law. (Not that I expect that to happen in this country where the criminal justice system for humans is broken and not enough people seem to care.)

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   Charluposted 12 years ago

   They are not only inhumane but a disgrace and the thought they merely exist is revolting. 
   
   But reality is this, if we researched the breeders where the puppies came from (even from a pet store) and the complaints or citations they had received. they would not make the money and would have to move on to another  criminal activity to survive
   
   There was a large chain pet store who unknowingly (hmmm) was buying puppies from just such  mills and when it was brought to their and the medias attention stopped immediately (imagine that) Different counties began shutting the mills down or citing them, (Yes! One for the puppies)
   
   The investigation and report was in 2008 involving Petland, dozens of breeders, The Humane Society, and MSNBC and took months of long hard work. Great job guys and all due to one person trying to make a difference.
   
   FYI some of these mill puppies were selling for as much as $3500 so don't think for a second that just because they cost more means they must be from a good breeder (total misconception)
   
   People assume that because the puppy comes from a "known" pet chain that it is a good breeder (totally not true)  Remember companies large and small are usually in it for the money.
   
   So the moral of this "should have been a hub"  DO YOUR RESEARCH!

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      JayeWisdomposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Charlu said it marvelously, and I hope any reader thinking of getting a pet will follow the sound advice given.

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   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 12 years ago

   The short answer is yes. If people don't have the morals and ethics not to abuse and mistreat animals, then yes, it needs to be legislated.

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10. 80

    clairemyposted 12 years ago

    Puppy mills are an aberration against all that is humane. NO, they should not be allowed, they are simply there to make profit for the people who open and run them.The dogs are not a consideration only money making machines.

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11. 83

    renee21posted 12 years ago

    Puppy mills should never be legal.  They are abusive, inhumane operations.  I would most definitely report one to the authorities for abuse if I knew if that was exactly what they were doing.

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    Wasteless Projectposted 11 years ago

    
    
    I fully agree with my fellow hubbers and don't need to repeat the facts about the inhumane practices of puppy mills and the need of them to be shut down. But I would even go further and question the practice of breeding certain dog breeds altogether. In the past my family acquired a pure bred White Shepherd which no doubt was a beautiful animal to look at and a sweet soul by nature. The dog came from a small breeder just raising the female's second litter right in their house and garden - a dream scenario compared to contemporary breeding practices. Nevertheless the poor dog suffered all her life from ailments related to prolonged in-breeding that usual can't be fully avoided due to the limited amount of dogs with the papers that make them eligible for breeding. Eventually, after a few gruesome deaths the breeder couldn't stand the thought of the dog's suffering and stopped the breeding on her own (hats off to her). The question is - do we really need to fullfill our selfish desires of creating certain dog-looks on the cost of the health of man's best friend? While they are nice to look at and under some circumstances might have certain traits that could be important for certain tasks, over-all there is no necessity to own a breeded dog with an usual shortened life-span. Ever since our one and only pure bred dog died we have been adopting mixed breeds from animal shelters. These dogs have been beautiful, intelligent, mostly healthy (if not sick due to their fromer neglect) and more loyal than anyone could have ever wished for in a dog. Seeing the current situation of unlimited amounts of animals in need of care and loving homes it seems irresponsible to 'create' new puppies when it could be avoided. While street dog populations still explode uncontrollably and innumerous dogs end up traumatized in animal shelters after being abandoned in the holiday season, neglect, abuse, rescue from the dog meat trade or from starvation I seriously question the practice of planned breeding at all until unless all animals in distress are being taken care of. In this light 'puppy mills' are the last thing anyone could want - a place where puppies are mass-produced by incarcerated tortured parents to live a life of poor health in a world where they weren't needed to begin with - only in the name of fast, immoral money.

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    1. 86

       cheryloneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I agree 150% with you.  Puppy Mills are the worst and why should we even breed these dogs when we have 100's of dogs available in shelters and local animal pounds.  Thank you for you extensive answer and powerful insite.

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