Backyard Breeders
Friday, October 26th, 2007 by Mike CronkArchived from “The Paw Report:” Issue #16.
We’ve used this term before–backyard breeders. It is estimated that 2/3s of the 50 million dogs in the US have come from backyard breeders. It is a term that is typically derogatory because it denotes careless breeding. A professional breeder will put quite a bit of money into the prevention and detection of genetic diseases. Dogs with physical or emotional health issues will not be bred. A backyard breeder will breed their dog with any other dog of the same breed (or even of different breeds) without researching the health and temperament issues that the breed is susceptible to.
Typically it is recommended that a puppy buyer look for a show dog breeder and buy one of the puppies that isn’t quite show quality. AKC registration alone does not mean that a breeder is reputable because AKC staff do not visit breeders–the registration is done through mail and all puppies in an AKC litter—regardless of faults—are eligible for AKC registration. There are certainly some disreputable show and working breeders. In this case, their breeding focuses on augmenting one aspect of the breed (usually physical) without regard to maintaining temperament. Careless breeding also involves inbreeding that produces genetically weak animals that may have debilitating physical deformities.
A breeder who breeds massive amounts of dogs, usually in poor health and social conditions, is the owner of a puppy mill (called a puppy farm in the UK). These commercial operations are typically where pet shops get their puppies. Aside from poor breeding practices, puppies from puppy mills do not get the individualized social attention that they need. They also typically live in unhealthy conditions and when they are shipped from the puppy mill to a pet shop, the stress of heavy travel at a young age makes them susceptible to disease, infections, and parasites from other puppies at the pet shop. Pet shop puppies are particularly prone to distemper and parvovirus. Parvovirus symptoms may be dormant for several weeks–enough time for a puppy to look healthy and be taken to a new home. Pet shops do not typically offer the fresh air, exercise, play, and socialization for a puppy to become well-adjusted.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:29 am
Kudos for helping to spread the word: NO PUPPY MILLS!
Largely depending on the “awwww” factor to sell their puppy inventory, pet shops represent the final link in the despicable puppy mill chain of horrors and consumers are frequently taken advantage of both financially AND emotionally.
Due largely to homelessness, the United States euthanizes in excess of 5 million (that’s 5,000,000!) companion animals every year. With 99% of all pet shop puppies coming from puppy mills, please check with your local breed specific rescue or shelter BEFORE buying a puppy.
To think that every dog or puppy in rescue or a shelter has health or behavioral problems would be a mistake. Many times dogs are surrendered due to: job relocation, new baby, death of an owner, divorce, inability to care for a litter of puppies, home foreclosure and the list goes on and on. Rescues and shelters are filled with many wonderful dogs - including purebreds - who are seeking their new forever home.
Even if you’re lucky enough to find a healthy puppy in a pet shop, please take a moment to think about where the pup comes from and where the mother still remains: a permanent hostage in a cage where she is bred repeatedly until she can produce no more and dies at a young age - usually at age 5 or 6…..
Remember: if YOU don’t buy, the puppy mill business WILL die. Help put a nail in the puppy miller’s coffin and BOYCOTT STORES THAT SELL COMPANION ANIMALS. Please help put these pet profiteers OUT OF BUSINESS!!
Visit stoppuppymills.com OR nppmwatch.com for more information on puppy mills and to learn how you can help shut down this heartless industry.