What Can I Do? People often ask, "What Can I do about Puppy Mills?" The answer is very simple. Do not buy from a Pet Store. Do not buy from a BYB, (Back Yard Breeder). If a store employee tells you their puppies came from a reputable breeder, that is simply not true. Ask the employee to provide you with the name, address and phone number of the reputable breeder, and I guarantee you they will make up an excuse!! If you are going to purchase a puppy, do your homework!

How to find a Reputable Breeder

A Reputable Breeder will ....

 

1) Breed only one, or maybe two breeds

2) Not breed to make money - in fact they will probably be lucky to break even

3) Probably have a waiting list, but definitely NOT have puppies available all year-round

4) Ask you a lot of questions, such as where you live, if you have children, other pets etc. This is not to see if you are "worthy" of one of their puppies, rather to make sure the breed is right for you, and even to match a particular puppy specifically to your family

5) Provide you with a pedigree for both the puppy's parents

6) SHOW you your puppy's parents while the puppies are STILL NURSING

7) Guarantee your puppies health - make sure they guarantee that  if your puppy becomes ill within the first 2 years of it's life, they will refund your money NOT make you return your beloved puppy and replace it with a new one.  Read the contract carefully!!!

8) Not place a puppy in a new home before 8 weeks of age

9) Often keep a puppy for his or her own breeding/showing program, otherwise what was the point of the breeding???

10) Take back one of their puppies or dogs AT ANY TIME - in fact they will ask that you return the dog to them if for ANY reason you cannot keep it

11) Be responsible for each and every puppy they bring into this world, for its entire life

12) Offer you continuing support and training advice throughout the puppy's life

13) Insist that buyers of pet puppies spay/neuter their puppy, and have some method of enforcement

14) Do not sell their dogs by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Paypal) and "fly" or "deliver" the dog to you

15) Do not sell their dogs without meeting you in person at their home, so you can SEE where the dogs are living.

If the breeder does not contend to ALL of the above, DO NOT buy that puppy! Please DO NOT be fooled by cute pictures over the internet and on websites…..behind those cute pictures on the internet can be a puppymill waiting to sell you a puppy.

Kimberly Thomas

Kismutt Rescue