Arohagold How to Stop Puppy Mills

How You Can Stop Puppy Mills and Make a Difference

We, the consumer, have the power to change market practice. So choose wisely, all pet shops are not the same. The decision of the consumer as to where they will shop for their pets and pet products will have a direct and far-reaching effect on the welfare of animals, how they will be treated, and how many will die needlessly.

In the UK, you will find that only a small number of pet shops sell dogs and cats. This did not come about by any form of legislation; it was achieved by a public outcry against the sale of pets in stores. The general public decided that they would not support an industry that over bred, sold as mere product, and needlessly killed discarded pets. By the public simply not frequenting shops that stocked companion animals, the shops had to rethink their policies in order to stay in business. Any market must adapt to consumer demand or lose business. If you the consumer decide against a certain market practice it must change to your demands or become redundant.

In Australia it is estimated that we euthanase close to 250,000 dogs and cats annually. In the financial year 2007-2008, the RSPCA alone euthanased a total of 66,503, that is more than 3 times the number killed by their UK equivalent.

SAY NOT TO ANIMALS IN PET SHOPS

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."

Immanuel Kant

What is a puppy mill?

A puppy mill or puppy farm is a large dog breeding facility created to mass produce puppies for profit.

Likened to battery hens, the breeding dogs are kept in cages or pens for their entire life with the sole purpose of producing puppies for the pet shop, internet and overseas markets.

Pet shops require a constant supply of cute, young puppies and individual shops can take more than 20 a week. Multiply that by the number of pet shops found in shopping centres throughout Australia and you have the perfect distribution network for an industry producing hundreds of puppies with little concern paid to quality, health or temperament.

Puppy mills are legal in Australia, as long as the proprietors meet the minimum standard of care. The law is different in each state and territory, but usually requires that the dog can stand up, turn around and lie down and that the pen has a partial roof. The dogs can remain in these cages their entire life - there is no requirement for socialisation, grooming or bathing, human contact, exercise and certainly no requirement for love.

In Australia these farms have anything from 20 to 1000 breeding females who are kept constantly pregnant or lactating in order to keep up with demand. The health, behaviour and temperament problems found in puppies from puppy mills are well documented and for each cute, fluffy litter of puppies seen in a pet shop window their mother is likely to be suffering the fate of a puppy mill dog.

Even if the puppies look cute, clean and healthy there is no guarantee that their mothers aren’t suffering as breeding dogs in cages for their entire lives.

How you can stop puppy mills

1. Spread the word

Let people know that puppy mills exist in Australia and that you should never buy a puppy from a pet shop. The easiest way to effect change is by simple supply and demand. If you and everyone you know no longer considers buying a pet from a pet shop then these breeders lose their main outlet for profit.

Spread the word about puppy mills to your friends, family members and colleagues

Join 'Australia Says No to Puppy Farms' on Facebook

Share this website with your Facebook friend

2. Never shop at stores that sell puppies or kittens

Boycott stores that sell pets and let them know why.

3. Support pet-free stores

Buy food, supplies and toys at shops that do not sell pets; and be sure to tell them why they have you as a customer.

4. Adopt your next pet from a rescue group

Groups from around the country advertise pets looking for new homes on PetRescue. Puppies, pure breeds, designer dogs and mutts all come into rescue. A good rescue group will be able to help you choose the right dog for your lifestyle.

5. Donate

The shelters and rescues throughout Australia do not have the money behind them that the pet industry does. Help rescue by donating your old stuff, your time or your money. Click here to find out more.

6. Ensure that you never buy a dog from a puppy farm, internet or markets.

If the only test you have to pass to get the puppy is whether your credit card charge goes through, that's a pretty good sign the breeder doesn't have the puppy's best interests at heart - or yours. Many animal lovers feel they are saving the puppy in the pet shop window, but in reality you may be condemning the mother, a puppy mill dog, to a life of misery

7. Beware of Back Yard Breeders and Unethical Registered Breeders

Unfortunately there are always people out there wanting to make a quick buck and sadly their are also registered breeders doing the wrong thing. Do you research, ask as many questions. An ethical breeder will be more than happy to help you. Beware of people who will say they will deliver anywhere anytime, or meet you are a service station this is a sign that probably a dog has come from a puppy farm.