Dogs in Puppy Mills
- Brian Meehan
- Mar 7, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 29, 2024
The Truth Behind a Dog
By Michelle Lai ('24)
Chihuahuas, labrador retrievers, bulldogs, and German shepherds are all dogs we think of when we think pets and cute. However, the sources where these dogs come from are far from cute. When you see these dogs in the windows of a pet store, consider the possibility that they may be from unethical breeders and puppy mills.
According to popular media, we are immediately ethically condemned when anyone mentions commercial breeding because we use them interchangeably with puppy mills. However, commercial breeding and puppy mills are completely different things. Commercial breeders have to be regulated by governmental agencies, such as the USDA, and all aspects of the dog’s life have to pass strict regulations along with veterinarian care and inspections. However, that is not to say all commercial breeders are licensed and operating under regulations. But, is it ethical to breed certain dog breeds for commercial use? That is another issue we should consider.
So, what exactly are puppy mills? They are essentially businesses that produce litters and litters of puppies of a certain breed or breeds in order to make a monetary profit from selling them to pet stores or to individuals looking for a specific breed of puppy, and they are characterized as being abusive and unhygienic. Typically, these dogs that come from unethical sources are known to have recurrent and constant illnesses and genetic diseases due to the unsanitary, filthy, and abusive environment in which they are conceived and born. Dogs are typically kept in tiny kennels, and infertile dogs are typically killed in order to make space for more fertile dogs. Inbreeding is also commonly seen in puppy mills, causing lots of genetic defects and a lack of welfare for the dogs if they make it past the puppy stage. The dogs that do make it past infancy would be fed poor-quality food, kept in cramped spaces, and not brought to veterinarians in order to drive down their expenses.
Knowing all the dark secrets behind a puppy mill’s operation is highly important for us to contextualize the impact of our decisions and choices. This is not a conversation of privilege. Puppy mills would not sell their puppies for anything lower than a fortune in order to drive up their profit margin, and supporting an animal is nothing less than a financial responsibility. So, if you have the privilege to own a pet, consider your source. Some ways to make your contribution include supporting your local animal shelter by adopting rather than purchasing an animal, doing your research on your breeder source if you do want to purchase, never supporting a puppy mill or a backyard seller, and reporting any puppy mills or unethical practices you encounter.
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