Puppy Mill Revisited

In the first of a four part series on breeding, the practice called "puppy mill" will be defined in this post.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) uses the puppy mill model as the tool to weaken and try and destroy the other forms of responsible breeding. 

 Notice the difference the estimated puppy mills in the Wikipedia write-up (4.000 operations and 1/2 million pups) and the HSUS write-up (10,000 operations and  2 million pups).   So who does HSUS count that Wikipedia does not?
Responsible breeders including both ethical large kennel breeders and small hobby breeders.

 True "puppy mills" are the lowest form of dog creation in my opinion.  Wikipedia does a nice job of defining some of the characteristics of the  practice.

From Wikipedia

A puppy mill, sometimes known as a puppy farm, is a commercial dog breeding facility that is operated with an emphasis upon profits above animal welfare and is often in substandard conditions regarding the well-being of dogs in their care.
There are an estimated 4,000 puppy mills in the U.S. that produce more than half a million puppies a year.  Commercial kennels may be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture which may inspect the kennels routinely.
For-profit breeding on a smaller scale may be referred to as backyard breeding,^[ although this term has negative connotations and may also refer to unplanned or non-commercial breeding.

Although no standardized legal definition for "puppy mill" exists, a definition was established in Avenson v. Zegart in 1984 as "a dog breeding operation in which the health of the dogs is disregarded in order to maintain a low overhead and maximize profits."  The ASPCA uses a similar definition: "a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs."

The Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club state that responsible breeders raise their animals with the intent to produce healthy dogs, and to ensure that all animals are provided responsible homes and socialization.

In puppy mills, females are sometimes bred every time they are in heat to increase profits, resulting in gradually decreasing sizes of litters.  As puppies, mill dogs are also often weaned from their mothers well before the eight to ten weeks recommended. Bark Rescue in Belleview, IL also explains, “Puppies are taken from their mother when they are 5 to 6 weeks old and sold to brokers who pack them in crates for resale to pet stores all over the country.” Only half of the puppies survive during this exhausting travel only to make it to the pet shop until they are sold.
 Dogs in puppy mills are often bred indiscriminately. While the puppies produced may come with pedigrees, the pedigree itself is neither an indication of quality nor authenticity.

Treatment at puppy mills

Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. Puppy mill dogs do not receive adequate attention, exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs. It is not unusual for cages to be stacked up in columns. Breeder dogs at mills might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements, or kept inside indoor cages all their lives. Oftentimes, after the breeder dog has reached the age of 4 years, it is no longer needed and killed. Sometimes the puppy mill owners will have a contact person who collaborates with rescues. The rescue will receive a phone call with the number of breeder dogs and types. The rescue then can save the breeder dogs from death. Once adopted, it can take a year or more for the dog to relax and allow human touch.

In a 2005 investigation conducted on pet shops and puppy mills in California, 44% of the locations visited had sick and neglected animals, 32% of the animals were confined in unhealthy, cramped, or crowded conditions and 25% of the animals did not have adequate food or water.

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Today in Vermont, HSUS claimed victory over "puppy mills"
http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2013/05/vermont-h50-dog-breeding-bill-passes-050713.html

May 7, 2013

Vermont Legislature Cracks Down on Irresponsible Dog Breeding

Gov. Shumlin urged to sign legislation to protect dogs and consumers

The Vermont state legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill to help crack down on irresponsible breeding. H.50, sponsored by Rep. John Bartholomew, D-Hartland, is now awaiting Gov. Peter Shumlin’s signature.
H. 50 will require commercial breeders of three or more litters per year to comply with the state’s animal welfare regulations to ensure basic animal care standards are being met. Breeders will also now come under the “pet lemon law” so consumers who purchase sick puppies will have additional remedies for reimbursement for reasonable veterinary expenses.
“This long overdue legislation provides both breeders and enforcement officials with very clear animal welfare standards to help prevent animal suffering,” said The Humane Society of the United States’ northeastern regional director Joanne Bourbeau. “Our goal was to protect the welfare of animals here in Vermont as well as protect Vermont consumers who purchase puppies from substandard facilities.”
The passage of H. 50 falls during The HSUS’ seventh annual Puppy Mill Action Week and comes nearly two years after The HSUS assisted Vermont state police with the seizure of more than 60 Labradors from deplorable conditions at a breeder’s home in Bakersfield, Vt. Karen Maples later accepted a plea agreement and was given a year’s suspended sentence and two years’ probation.
Bourbeau was part of a special committee commissioned by the Vermont House Committee on Agriculture and Forest Products to work on the proposal after efforts on a similar bill failed last year. The Vermont Federation of Dog Clubs and the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association were also represented. The legislation was also supported by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, the Vermont League of Cities & Towns, the Vermont Town Clerks Association, the Vermont Humane Federation and the Vermont Sportsmen’s Federation.
Puppy Mill Facts:

• Puppy mills are inhumane, large-scale dog-breeding facilities in which the health of the dogs is disregarded to maintain low overhead costs and maximize profits.
• The HSUS estimates there are at least 10,000 puppy mills operating in the United States, churning out more than 2 million puppies per year for the pet trade.
• Puppies from puppy mills are sold in pet stores, online and through classified ads.

European Puppy Mill?

Liter of  pups bred by hobby breeder (Bailey was sire)

From a member of Hungarian Vizsla Forum:  This information should be shared.

Shining light into the shadows wherever they are only makes for a stronger breed.

"We got our pup from the company "Europuppy".

In all honesty, I'd never do it again, I now know how shady they are and I'm upset I was never able to contact the breeder myself. It's basically a third party that sets breeders up with buyers. A lot of people on base recommended it to us, but I'm pretty miffed at them. I'm actually trying to find a way to get it out that nobody should ever do business with these people. My puppy is beautiful and I love him, but he was not very healthy when I picked him up, which makes me believe that these people care more about the money than the dogs.

They met me at the border between Slovenia and Hungary, because I was vacationing in Slovenia. They were four hours late, and when they arrived, my puppy had been sitting in his own poo and pee for WHO knows how long. He was the only dog in the car, so I can't imagine why he wasn't clean. It was only an hour's drive from Budapest, where the breeder was. He's had an intestinal parasite from day one and was quite thin when I picked him up. We're going on two weeks with him here, and he's been sick every single day. The vet has high hopes that he should be fine by next week, though. 

All in all, I feel very stupid for doing business with these people and I hope that at least one person will read this and NEVER use that company.
 Go directly to a breeder yourself!!!!!!! I didn't, because I was having a tough time finding one and it was so easy to go through the third party company. BAD IDEA."

Internet Vizslas - Beware!

Please don't buy Vizslas over the Internet.

 People can make themselves sound so good!  Buyer beware.


Example:

Frank Popolizio issued a press release today, entitled
 "South Side Dogs Owner Frank Popolizio Announces Rise in Vizsla Ownership".

Except: Worcester, NY, May 26, 2012 --(PR.com)--" Owner and founder of South Side Dogs, Frank Popolizio has recently announced that his organization has seen a great surge in demand for Vizslas. The Vizsla breed’s popularity stems primarily from their highly affectionate nature, which makes the animal the ideal family pet for those with small children, in addition to those looking for a robust dog that just loves to run with their owner.

The Viszla breed originated within the greater Hungarian Kingdom, and is one of the oldest dog breeds emanating from that region of the world. Vizslas are extremely rare in modern day because they were previously held closely by nobility due to their statuesque physique and calm nature. In fact, until the early 1940s, few of these animals ever left Hungary. But as more and more dog lovers discover the breed, Viszla ownership levels are rising across North America...."

________________________________________________________________________________

RBD note: The press release by PR.com goes on with a glowing report of the South Side Dogs operation.  I will not pass on the rest of the article but you can Google South Side Dogs or Southside Farms.


People may actually call or e-mail them.  
___________________________________________________________________

Four short months ago:

http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Dogs-removed-from-kennel-amid-investigation-into-neglect-138000833.html
Except: January 24, 2012
WORCESTER, N.Y. (WKTV) - A veterinarian, members of the Susquehanna SPCA, and a New York State Trooper removed 19 dogs from Southside Farms in Worcester on Tuesday.

Just last week, another 26 dogs were taken from the kennel.

"What concerned me was the weight and size of the animals," says State Trooper Walter Schliermann. "Quite noticeable were the ribs of the dogs and their bones were very defined and you could see the structure of the animal very easily."

At the end of December, State Police received a complaint of malnourished dogs at Southside Farms. When law enforcement first investigated, they gave the owners a deadline to make improvements. As of Tuesday, the conditions had not changed.

Now, clinicians and police are bringing the dogs out of the kennel and into a veterinarian's office to be evaluated and treated. After being examined, the animals find temporary residence in a number of other local shelters.

"What they are doing is examining the dogs, taking a look at the dogs and any issues with their weight or size or any injuries, the veterinarians are looking at and determining what dogs will be removed at that time," says Trooper Schliermann.

As the dogs were removed from the kennel, spines and protruding ribs were visibly noticeable. Clinicians pointed out that some of the tails are infected.....  (see rest of story on link)

___________________________________________________________________________


From Yahoo Vizsla Talk Listserve: May 26, 2012


"The next court case is June 5. Please DO NOT contact the local shelter, as they are a small
organization and do not have the time nor manpower to be deluged with phone
calls again, as they were back in December. The shelter manager was sent this
article by me when it first appeared and asked what we, as a vizsla community can do. 

The dogs that were seized back in December were only the ones in medical need. This is the law. Most of them are living a wonderful life as fosters in homes.

He has been selling puppies all along advertising on many different websites. 


Horrible, yes.  Illegal no. 


Hopefully with all the press releases by the local papers, people interested will Google his name or kennel and be aware.

I will update the yahoo groups when I hear the outcome of the next trial.

These trials take place in the afternoon at about 4:30.

Again, we need to support the SPCA in their efforts with all the dogs seized. Donations are still needed. Lets not take time away from their care with the animals to have to answer calls and emails.


I will do my best as the appointed point person to keep everyone up to date.

Thank you,"

Stephanie Fischer
President and Rescue Chair
Vizsla Club of Long Island

I find it ironic that sandwiched between two stories of abused Vizslas, on my blog, is the post of how Bailey's pups are going to their new homes. 

 Hobby breeding vs. Commercial Internet selling breeding.  

Quite the difference. 

 Please support hobby breeders and avoid commercial "puppy mill" breeders. 

 If you get anything from ever reading this blog, this would be the most important part to take away, in my opinion.  

Petland USA relies on Puppy Mills

A happy hobby bred dog going to happy family  NOT A PUPPY MILL DOG

Like any other retailer, Petland USA relies on the holidays to bring in profits -- but the pet store chain makes its holiday profits by encouraging cruelty to puppies.

Mary Haight started a petition on Change.org to get Petland USA to stop selling puppies from puppy mills -- those breeding factories that churn out scores of puppies from the same mothers, over and over again. But rather than engaging in a real dialogue with Mary, Petland USA threatened to sue her.

More than 54,000 people have already signed on to Mary’s campaign. As the country's largest retailer bets on a jump in puppy sales in December, Petland USA needs to hear from you, too. Will you sign Mary's petition telling Petland to stop supporting puppy mills?

December is a huge month for puppy sales. Some industry sources report that puppy sales go up as much as 60% in December, compared to monthly averages from throughout the year.

Cruel conditions within puppy mills remain the same, despite the holiday sales -- dogs are bred again and again while living in cramped and unsanitary conditions, and without adequate vet care. When mothers reach five years of age, they're killed. And although the puppies from mills may arrive with a bow around their necks for the holidays, they are as likely to carry congenital defects from generations of forced breeding, as well.

When tens of thousands of people signed on to support her petition, Petland USA executives agreed to a dialog with Mary -- a hopeful sign, as Petland Canada stopped selling puppies last year after engagement by animal protection advocates. But hope for a real conversation with Petland USA quickly fell apart when the only answers Mary got to her questions about the franchise's puppy sales were either copied and pasted from the company's website -- or were personal attacks against her.

“More than 50,000 have joined this campaign since I started it,” Mary says. “This is great proof that people want the suffering of puppy mill dogs to stop. Petland's response? They're proud of their cruel business model.”

Petland USA has heard enough national outcry about its support for puppy mills to take offense. But it needs to hear an even louder chorus of concerned voices in order to take positive action. Please sign Mary's petition calling on Petland USA to stop selling puppies from puppy mills now:

http://www.change.org/petitions/petland-usa-stop-selling-pets-fire-puppy-mills-petland-canada-has

Thanks for being a change-maker,

- Stephanie and the Change.org team

A hobby-bred Vizsla  Healthy mom, dad and pup

Dear friend,

While the puppies in Petland USA stores may look cute in their cages,

chances are the puppies have led miserable lives that threaten their health

from the day they're born.

Petland USA is the country's largest chain of stores that sell puppies. *Most

of Petland's animals come from puppy mills*, where thousands of dogs are

bred again and again to supply the pet trade. Dogs are kept in cramped,

unsanitary conditions, and they often lack adequate vet care.

There's hope to stop puppy mill sales at Petland stores. Last month Petland

Canada ordered its stores to stop selling puppies, in part due to

continuous pressure from animal protection advocates. So Mary Haight, a

Change.org member from Chicago, wants Petland USA to do the same. *She

started a petition on Change.org asking Petland USA to end puppy mill sales

in its stores.

Walk into any major pet store like Petco or PetSmart, and you won't find

puppies for sale. Those stores work with local animal shelters to find

homes for the countless animals waiting to be adopted across the country.

Yet Petland stores prioritize profit by selling animals from puppy mills,

propping up this cruel business.

Puppies bred in puppy mills are often plagued with poor health. Kept in

cramped conditions and often housed outside in all types of weather,

animals in puppy mills lead a pitiful existence. Puppy mill operators are

also known to in-breed puppies, leading to other health and behavior

problems.

Each Petland store in the US is an individually-owned franchise, meaning

Petland USA's corporate headquarters can't ban puppy sales in stores on its

own. But Petland USA can stop any new stores from selling puppies, and a

strong statement from the corporation would go a long way to putting a stop

to its existing stores that buy animals from puppy mills.

*Please join Mary Haight in calling on Petland USA to support adoption and

speak out against its stores doing business with puppy mills.

Sign the petition:

Petland stop selling puppy mill dogs petition

- Cristina and the Change.org team

What Is A Commercial Breeder?

  Family News Story - WSOC Charlotte  - March 14, 2011

http://www.wsoctv.com/family/16211342/detail.html


"One who usually has several breeds of dogs breeding for the commercial market and has profit as their primary motive to breed. Many times the bottom line is their only concern, cutting corners where ever possible.




The dogs may be healthy or not and the kennel may be clean or not. They may not raise the puppies with plenty of environmental and human contact and are not socialized. The dogs are probably not screened for genetic diseases, and the breeding stock is probably not selected for resemblance to the breed standard or for good health or temperament.

Their puppies usually have many genetic diseases and are not considered to be the healthiest.  Their dogs do not compete at dog shows and do not have their championship title.  Commercial breeders sell their puppies to brokers whom then sell the puppies to pet stores all over the world or to research facilities."

 

 

(from the article) OUR MISSION: To inform and educate people about the differences between an ethical/responsible breeder, a commercial breeder, a puppy mill, a broker, a backyard breeder and where pet store puppies come from. Our hope is to emphasize the differences between a planned well-bred dog verses a dog that was just bred to have puppies and make money.

 

Our goal is to help make a difference and put an end to the misery suffering of millions of dogs locked away."




Back in July of 2010, I posted "Purchasing a Vizsla so it doesn't end up in rescue." 

http://redbirddog.blogspot.com/2010/07/purchasing-vizsla-so-it-doesnt-end-up.html

Purchasing a Vizsla so it doesn't end up in rescue

We had the book Right Dog For You on our living room bookshelf for five years before we chose our Vizslas.

www.vizslaclub.com/Library_club/Misc/puppy mill.doc

The below article was taken from the above website (edited for clarity):

"If you are planning to purchase a Vizsla puppy for your family, there are a few things you should know and consider.

The first is words you should be aware of.

 These are Family, Loyalty, Energy, Tail, Intelligent, Patience, Persistence, Rewarding, Trying, Versatile, Love, Exercise, Creativity, Surfing, Nose, Vet Bills, Food, Toys, Bedding.

We get our fair share of Vizslas into rescue from people who had researched information on the internet, which I understand is good.

The Vizsla can be a wonderful pet.

 To clarify something, like people, all Vizsla are not created equal.

That is why a good Vizsla breeder will "temperament test" puppies and try to place them into a home that matches the test results.

Picking your own puppy from a litter is not always the best idea. Be honest when a breeder ask you questions. These questions are asked to protect you and the dog.


Taking a Vizsla into your home is a large responsibility, as their life span can be up to 15 years.

Living with one is like having a child.

 Vizslas are typically slow to mature. You could end up with a 2-year-old puppy.

They are family oriented.

Don’t stick them in the back yard and expect to have a happy life.

Don’t get one if everyone in the house is not excited about having it.

Expect the dog to be loyal and full of energy. To live peaceably with a Vizsla you must find some way to channel that energy.

The tail, while relative short, starts wagging around mid body and can unintentionally knock a small child down or deliver a series of sharp whacks to your hand or legs.

Intelligent is a common word used to describe a Vizsla. I am a firm believer there are people out there that are not smart enough to own one.

 Patience, persistence, and rewarding are words that could be used to describe the training of a Vizsla. They do not respond well to heavy-handed training, but can be quick learners. Some are very head strong.
 Watching them execute their training can be rewarding for both their master and others.

Versatile is another word used to describe a Vizsla. The breed can be used for hunting, retrieving, conformation, agility, fly ball, tracking, obedience, search and rescue, seeing eye dog, couch potato and last but not least lap dog.

While they could probably be taught to wave surf they are best suited for counter surfing.



We, as humans, sometimes have hereditary problems that are passed from generation to generation.
While many people know of their hereditary history, some choose not to pass their problems on to their descendants.
Some people only find out of hereditary problems too late and those problems are passed on to their children.

Many people, who breed animals, are in the second group of people I just described, except that they just don’t care. After they get your money any problems they have bred become your problems.




Over the years, pure-bred animals have evolved into many different lines.

 Each line depicting assets and traits admired by the breeder of that particular line.

 Although descendants from the many lines may look similar, believe me they are not.

There are thing in these lines of animals that may clash with or enhance the offspring of a breeding.

 It takes much investigation and ancestral research on a breeders part to satisfy themselves which individuals in the hereditary lines of animals are most likely to produce desired effects when bred.

Even with such research results are not always quite as desired.

What you want in a dog for your family is a loyal and loving animal that is
protective, smart and economical to care for.

While health and temperament problems are some of the problems we see in our rescue program that is not the biggest problem.

The biggest problem is the unscrupulous breeders that are the largest contributors of dogs to our rescue program.
 They will acquire several bitch puppies and in five short years will have had four litters with the bitches.
With little care and the lack of vitamin and calcium supplements for the mothers, by the end of 5 years the poor females are worn out and then they are dumped into the dog pound or worse yet dumped onto the street to fend for themselves.

This abuse of dogs will continue as long as puppy buyers continue to support this kind of activity.

 If you do your research, have patience in getting your puppy and assure yourself the breeder you pick has the welfare of the puppy at heart, you as a puppy buyer will have done the breed you pick a huge favor.

We can continue taking in and placing rescue dogs, but only you, as a puppy buyer, can stop this cruelty to animals.

Dog Blessed: Puppy Mill Survivor Stories

Some breeders, "puppy mills," are only into breeding animals for the quick and easy money to be had. They find a popular breed and systematically start to destroy that breed with complacency and lack of knowledge." 

Very interesting video from the author of the below book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m2OE5QL4XWR58W

Saving Gracie: How One Dog Escaped the Shadowy World of American Puppy Mills