| When you go to buy a cabbage, you go to a | | | | issued cautions. They advised never to buy a dog |
| greengrocer. When you want shoes, well, you go to | | | | from a pet shop as they are often supplied by |
| a shoe store. For books, a bookstore. And so on. | | | | 'dealers', who are agents for puppy mills. They also |
| The amazing thing is, you should be very wary of | | | | advise never to buy a dog from "the back of a van |
| walking into a pet store and picking out a puppy like | | | | at a motorway service station or from an airport car |
| this. Animal welfare charities on both sides of the | | | | park, such as Heathrow, as this is how many dealers |
| Atlantic have issued online advice against buying | | | | operate". Advertisers selling multiple breeds may also |
| puppies by picking a nice looking one from a pet | | | | be 'dealers'. |
| store because of the chance it has come from a | | | | Rehoming a dog |
| 'puppy mill.' | | | | In the current economic climate, the time has never |
| What is a 'puppy mill'? | | | | been better to adopt a dog from a rescue centre. |
| These have sprung up in the last half century or so, | | | | For the adopter and the dog, this certain benefits. |
| because of the amount of money they can make | | | | Rescue dogs usually come fully vaccinated, neutered, |
| for those running them. A 'puppy mill' is a breeding | | | | micro chipped and with full veterinary checks. This |
| facility which literally turns out puppies like a factory, | | | | can avoid costly vet fees, and some centres offer |
| without consideration for the puppies or parent dog's | | | | assistance to those adopting dogs with known health |
| welfare. The 'mother' dogs are mated to produce | | | | problems. |
| litter after litter, without adequate recovery time | | | | If you have a favourite breed, you can still adopt. |
| between them. This is very bad for her health and | | | | There are some less well known charities that |
| the puppies' health. The dogs aren't given any | | | | specialise in by breed alongside the general centres. |
| attention, so they are sold unsocialised from just 8 | | | | Breed enthusiast clubs also some times have details |
| weeks old to pet stores, or through adverts. | | | | of even pedigree dogs that need a good home due |
| Indiscriminate breeding practices leads to more | | | | to unforeseen circumstances. |
| genetic defects - puppy mill puppies are known to | | | | People are sometimes wary that a 'rescue dog' will |
| have higher rates and more incidence of sickness. | | | | always come with behavioural problems. This simply |
| This could mean a very sick puppy, who isn't used to | | | | isn't always the case and good centres these days |
| being handled by humans, or one who could need | | | | offer behavioural profiles of their animals and work |
| ongoing care over some years to come. | | | | with potential adoptees to find a dog that will |
| In the USA, the well-known animal welfare charity | | | | perfectly suit their lifestyle. It's worth bearing in mind |
| the ASPCA advises people not to buy from a pet | | | | that in reality. no pet shop, reputable breeder or |
| store unless you can actually meet the dog's mother. | | | | rescue centre can ever give a 100% guarantee of |
| In the UK, although there are laws which should | | | | any dog's temperament or behaviour. |
| prevent puppy farming, the UK Kennel Club also | | | | |