How to Spot a Puppy Mill

  The one sure way to avoid buying from a bad breeder or supporting the inhumane practices of our nation's Puppy Mills is to adopt your new dog or puppy from your local shelter or rescue organization.  A third of all dogs in shelters and Humane Societies are purebred dogs.  The other two thirds are incredible mixes that will often be healthy, smart and incredibly thankful to have second chance to become part of your family.

• ALWAYS ask to see the parents of the puppy you are buying.  If the seller refuses to show you the parents, chances are they are operating a puppy mill

• NEVER meet the breeder away from the place he/she breeds the dogs (i.e. gas stations, parking lots, etc.).  If the breeder refuses to let you see her/his place of operation, they are probably running a puppy mill.

• Beware of breeders selling their puppies over the Internet and are willing to ship puppies anywhere in the country. And again, offering multiple breeds on multiple sites.

• Beware of ads in newspapers with phone numbers starting with 717 area codes. Some of the most infamous commercial breeders in the country can be found in Pennsylvania's Dutch Country.

• Good breeders, reputable breeders who breed to improve the standard of the breed, would NEVER sell their dogs to a pet store. They are far too careful about screening potential buyers to ensure their dogs are going to good homes, and they would NEVER put their seven week old puppies on a tractor trailer with hundreds of other dogs and transport them across the country to be sold in a pet store.

• NEVER use a broker or a middleman who promises to "get you anything you want" and who works with numerous breeders. These people will often insist that they meet you away from the breeder's kennels, a sure sign that he is distributing for a Puppy Mill.

• Many people feel that if a dog has "papers" then the dog is a "good" dog. AKC papers DO NOT guarantee good health or sound temperament. The American Kennel Club is simply a registry for purebred dogs, even if the dog is from a puppy mill or has health problems. "Papers" increase the asking price of a dog by $300-$500 and this registry helps many breeders barred from the AKC sell their puppies to consumers who mistakenly think that  any papers mean that they are buying a puppy free of disease and without behavioral or genetic problems. THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.