Puppy Mills, Essay Example

Most people would never imagine that the cute little puppy sitting in the pet store window once came from a puppy mill.  Although it is true that this is not true for all pets from all pet stores, a majority of puppies bought and sold in America come from irresponsible breeders who use puppy mills to breed dogs.  A puppy mills is a “large-scale commercial dog operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs.” (ASPCA.org, n.d.)  Responsible breeders raise each puppy with conscious consideration, giving them proper food, love, shelter and medical attention when needed, something that puppy mills do not.  There are many laws that punish those who try to raise animals in inhumane conditions, however, due to lack of funding, many operations continue unabashed.  Puppy mills, that are essentially illegal under the true nature of the law, should not be allowed to continue to function because they provide immoral and unethical treatment of dogs primarily by basing their operations solely on profit seeking behaviors.

Puppy mills regularly use small, poorly constructed cages in which to house the puppies.  “Puppy mill kennels can consist of anything from small cages made of wood and wire mesh to tractor-trailor cabs or simple tethers attached to trees.” (PETA.org, n.d.)  Responsible breeders allow dogs the freedom to roam about, either in specially built pens or, in the case of family breeders, in their own home.  Puppies are living creatures that need space to move in order for proper muscle development and general happiness. Puppy mills have been discovered to have all sorts of horrible living conditions for puppies. One Arkansas facility had “cages hanging from the ceiling of an unheated cinder-block building…” (PETA.org, n.d.)

Another problem with puppy mills is that the animals are often kept in filthy living conditions.  For example, in a recent puppy mill bust “Two men faced charges after 38 puppies were found to be confined to a feces filled van without food, water or space to exercise.  The men were transporting the animals from Oklahoma to Florida when a passerby noticed the dog’s distressed barking and the foul stench emanating from the van, which was parked at a Daytona Beach motel.” (PETA.org, n.d.) This type of neglect is common in puppy mills.  From the time they are born, the puppies are denied space in which to play , or even a toy in their kennel.  As puppies are extremely social creatures, this type of neglect can have a harmful psychological effect on the animal.  In addition, without proper exercise, their muscles can atrophy, leading to health conditions later on in life.

Puppy mills are run by large companies for the purpose of making money, not because they particularly love animals.  This makes a huge difference in their attitude towards the animals.  In order to cut costs and make more profit, the animals are denied adequate bedding, medicine when needed and food.  Animals that become infertile are often killed, since they no longer bring a profit. The United States has passed the Animal Welfare Act in 1966 to protect animals from abuse and neglect. “The USDA is supposed to monitor and inspect kennels to ensure that they are not violating the housing standards of the Animal Welfare Act, but kennel inspections are a low priority.  In the U.S., there are more than 1,000 research facilities, more than 2,800 exhibitors, and 4,500 dealers that are supposed to be inspected each year.” (PETS.org, n.d.) and (ASPCA.org, n.d.)  In 2008, the Farm Bill was passed which “Prohibits the importation of puppies under six months of age for the purpose of resale” (ASPCA.org, n.d.) However, in order for puppy mills to be stopped, they must first be caught.  The authorities rely on individuals to report puppy mills so that they can be shut down.

Puppies from puppy mills generally do not make good pets.  “Constant confinement and a lack of adequate veterinary care and socialization often result in animals who are unhealthy and difficult to socialize. As a result, many are abandoned within weeks or months of their adoption by frustrated buyers – further exacerbating the tragic companion animal overpopulation crisis.” (PETA.org, n.d.)  In order to avoid supporting puppy mills, it is up to the consumer to find out where their puppy came from before purchase.  There are many responsible breeders out there.  They offer customers the chance to come to the kennel and meet the puppy’s parents.  This is a great way to understand the personality of the pup you are buying, as well as for customers to assure themselves that they are not supporting a puppy mill.   Though puppy mills are illegal, those who wish to profit off of the suffering of animals will continue to do so until there is no longer a profit to be made.  Stricter inspections and controls of pet shops by government agencies will need to be enacted in order for puppy mills to be shut down for good.

References

ASPCA.org (n.d.) Laws that protect dogs in puppy mills. Web. Retrieved 31 May, 2010 from http://www.aspca.org/figh-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/laws-that-protect-dogs.html

ASPCA.org (n.d.) What is a puppy mill? Web. Retrieved 31 May, 2010  from http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/what-is-a-puppy-mill.html

HumaneSociety.org (n.d.) Puppy mills: The human society of the United States. Web. Retrieved 31 May, 2010  from http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/

PETS.org (n.d.) Puppy mills: Dogs abused for the pet trade. Web. Retrieved 31 May, 2010 from http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=45