When you are purchasing a puppy, the main thing you want to avoid is getting a puppy mill dog. But it’s very difficult to say no to one of those adorable pups that you always see in the pet store. As much as you may want one of those puppies, you may need to make a statement regarding puppy mill dogs.
However, if you are unaware that the puppies you see at the pet stores are puppy mill puppies, you may purchase one and unknowingly play right into the hands of the puppy mill breeders.
One way to avoid purchasing a puppy mill dog is to follow the recommendations that we are providing below.
Don’t buy a dog you have never met: There are many ads on the internet advertising the sale of dogs. Puppy mill brokers, who sell through the internet, will tell you that they do not have the dog available but will get it and deliver it to you if you pay for the dog right away. Before buying or adopting a dog, it is important that you meet the dog and connect with him. To play it safe, never buy a dog through the internet.
Avoid scams like “free to good home”: This is a method that puppy mill brokers use to sell puppy mill puppies. In this scam, they will post an ad saying that the puppy needs a good home and they would give the puppy to a good home for free. They might say that there was a death in the family or that the owner is moving across the country and the dog needs somewhere to stay. They might also say that he is cute, healthy and that all his vaccinations are up to date.
These are tactics that puppy mill brokers use to encourage you to purchase a puppy mill dog. It is very difficult to place a puppy mill dog in a good home because they are usually unhealthy. Therefore, brokers would rely on these methods, which are more popularly used for selling dogs rather than puppies, even before a potential owner can meet the dog.
Even though brokers will tell you that the dog is free, they will also tell you that it costs $400.00 or more to ship the dog to you. Before you pay all that money just for shipping expenses, we suggest that you meet the dog first before you commit yourself.
Research “rescue” groups: If you are looking for a specific breed of dog for example, a Labrador Retriever, you can go to a lab rescue group to find the dog you want. Be careful however, how you get a dog from a “rescue” group because puppy mill brokers take advantage of the organization and use them as a scam. So, if you do not want to buy a dog from the pet store or a puppy mill, you may be influenced by this scam.
Also, be very careful when you see an ad from a rescue group that is offering dogs or puppies for adoption. Do a proper research about the group to ensure that it is a local group and that you can meet the dog before you adopt him. Find out from them what the adoption fees would be.
If their response is that it would cost you anything up to $1,000 because the dogs were rescued from puppy mills and from dangerous situations, discontinue negotiations immediately. A true rescue group will only charge for any vet care that they may have incurred and they may also ask for a little money so that they can defray some of the group’s expenses.
Do not be fooled by “AKC-registered” dogs: Most dogs born at puppy mills are registered by the American Kennel Club. Many people are surprised to hear about this because they believe that dogs registered by the American Kennel Club actually come from reputable breeders only and are not aware that they also come from puppy mills. The truth is that any dog whose parents were registered by the American Kennel Club and have papers to prove it, is eligible to register with the American Kennel Club.
However, there is no guarantee that dogs that are registered by the American Kennel Club are quality dogs that are well taken care of and are in good health. If you come across an advertisement stating that there is a dog available, is registered by the American Kennel Club and has proper “papers” to show, exercise caution before you get seriously involved. Do the proper research and ask questions and make sure that you meet the dog. You need to be certain before you make your final decision to ensure that you are getting a quality dog.
Avoid pet store puppies: By now you probably know that most of the dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills. As more negative information comes to light about puppy mills, many pet stores will boast that they do not sell dogs that come from puppy mills. Yet, if you ask them to show you proof, they may not be able to provide you with the proof you want. This alone should be a very good reason for you not to get a dog from a pet store.
So, how do you avoid getting a puppy mill dog? Well, the best suggestion is to do a proper research about the type of dog that you want, get to meet the dog and buy your dog from a reputable breeder. The chances of you ending up with a puppy mill dog is always there because dogs are very big business. Puppy mills are the commercial factories that produce the puppies to stimulate business and will always push hard to sell their dogs.