LEARN MORE ABOUT PUPPY MILLS. PRESS PLAY.

Puppy Mills in Ontario

Kimberly Thomas/Kismutt Rescue on T.V. speaking about Puppy Mills in Ontario

​Understanding Puppy Mills In Ontario

So you want to buy a puppy from a "Breeder"/"Kennel"??

Important Steps:

When looking to purchase a puppy from any "breeder", the FIRST STEP is to email them and ask them if they guarantee their puppies to be FREE and CLEAR from Coccidia, Giardia,  Parvo and Distemper.  Ask them if they will sign a contract that you will write up saying that purchased puppy will be free and clear of Coccidia, Giardia,  Parvo and Distemper for 30 days from purchase date.   They must sign and date your contract.  If puppy tests positive,  the "breeder" is responsible for ALL veterinary costs and price of puppy if puppy dies.

If they say they will not guarantee against Coccidia, Giardia, Parvo and Distemper, do not go any further.  Do not buy that puppy.  Do not let them give you ANY excuses.

Reputable breeders will guarantee against Coccidia, Giardia, Parvo and Distemper.

Secondly, if their is no Mother to the puppies on site,  do not buy that puppy.  These are "brokers" selling puppies for the puppy mills at an inflated price.

Thirdly, if you go to a "Kennel" make sure you see INSIDE the kennels or INSIDE  the shed or house where the puppies and Mothers are being kept.  If the "breeder" gives you ANY excuses as to why you can't view the environment where the puppies are being raised, WALK AWAY.  If there are more than 2 or 3 Mama dogs, do NOT buy that puppy.   A reputable breeder will only breed 2 or 3 litters per YEAR.

Do not ever meet someone in a parking lot to pick up your puppy.  Breeders that deliver your puppy have something to hide.

Lastly, BEFORE buying/paying for  that puppy,  ask what vet they use to vaccinate the puppies.   If they use Dr. Terry Fried from Bright Mobile Services, OR Dr. Tejwant Chahal DO NOT BUY THAT PUPPY.

1. Please define the term "puppy mill".

Mass breeding of dogs, living in substandard conditions, for profit only. Puppy mills are not showing their dogs, they are not bettering the breed, it is strictly for profit. They breed many different breeds of dogs, not for quality but for quantity to make money.

2. Approximately how many puppy mills are there in Ontario and where are they located? Approximately how many dogs pass

    through Ontario puppy mills each year?

I can't tell you for sure how many puppy mills there are in Ontario. From my experience and the puppy mills I rescue dogs from, there are over 100 Amish Puppy mills in Ontario that I know of personally. They are located in Milverton, Millbank, Linwood, Dorking, Elmira, Brunner, Wellesley, Topping, Moncton, St. Jacobs, Wallenstien, Springfield, Ostrander, Aylmer, Lucknow, St. Helens, Kincardine, Blythe, Mount Forest, Proton Station, Harriston, Tara, and Chesley.

3. What conditions do the dogs live in at these mills? What are the main health and safety issues present at these puppy mills?

The dogs live in small kennels and cages. Most of the puppy mills have a thin layer of shavings for bedding. No other bedding whatsoever. Underneath the very thin layer of shavings is either dirt floors or cement. These are old barns. Most of them rustic centry old barns. They clean the kennels out with a shovel and put down another thin very thin layer of shavings. They only clean out every two or three days. There is no hot running water in these barns as they do not have hydro. Therefore, the kennels are not cleaned/disinfected with hot water and bleach or hot water and virkon like a proper kennel. Typically, they feed in stainless steel bowls and use large hamster style bottles with a stainless steel nipple for water. The dogs lick the nipple to get water. Some just use stainless steel bowls for water. Because these are old barns with no hydro, there is no ventilation, there is no cooling in the summer, and no heat in the winter. Because the Amish have no hydro, they can't clip the long haired non shedding dogs. These dogs look like matted sheep. These dogs are NOT treated as pets. They are there for one purpose and that is to mass produce puppies. These dogs are livestock to the Amish and treated as livestock. Because there is no hydro, no running hot water, no drainage, no septic tanks and drainage of any kind for these old barns, disease and parasites are ramped. Coccidia, Giardia, Parvo, Kennel Cough, Sarcoptic Mange severe skin infections, eye infections are very very common.

4. What are the physical and emotional effects of these health and safety issues on the dogs?

These dogs are not pets. They are treated as livestock. They are not handled by humans in a loving fashion. Most of them are almost feral. They run from human hands. They will not take a treat/food from a human hand. They have never been petted, so they are fearful and very under socialized. They have never stepped outside their cages and kennels, so they have never experienced sun on their backs, grass under their feet, and all the normal things a dog has experienced. These dogs will crawl up a wall or smash into a wall of their kennels to get away from you. Try putting a wild fox in a kennel and then try to catch him. That is what most of these dogs are like when I get them. The most common physical health issues are: ulcerated/perforated eyes, glaucoma, severe skin infections, huge umbilical hernias, inguinal hernias, cherry eyes, cauliflower ears, hematomas, pyometra, mange, severe eye infections, bronchitis, lung infections, Coccidia, Giardia, urine burn, urinary tract infections, bladder stones, broken limbs, missing limbs, broken jaws, severe mouth disease and large abscesses and urine burned feet.

5. You have mentioned that many dogs are killed at these puppy mills. Why? How? and How Many?

Yes, many dogs are shot behind the barns at these puppy mills. If they are not producing large enough litters, are getting old and spent, are very sick or injured, not coming into heat or not "catching" they take them behind the barns and shoot them. They use a regular 22 caliber gun. Some do overdose their dogs with antibiotics or de-wormers, but for the most part they shoot them. I have been to farms where there will be 5,6,7 dead dogs lying in the manure pile. There is no way for me to know how many get shot each year. I would only be guessing, but I would definitely say hundreds.

Kimberly Thomas

St. Marys, ON

Kismutt Dog Rescue