- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Adding a puppy to your family is a big decision. You have to ensure the time is right, prepare your home, get the whole family on board with caretaking and training, and find the perfect puppy.
Unfortunately, some places selling puppies are bad news for dogs and people, like puppy mills. What is a puppy mill? Puppy mills are large-scale, commercial dog breeding facilities. They aim to make money by breeding and selling as many dogs as possible. The puppies available in pet stores often come from puppy mills.
We spoke with Dr. Nell Ostermeier, DVM, CVA, FAAVA, and veterinary advisor at Figo Pet Insurance to learn about puppy mills, discover how to spot them, and get tips on how to find a puppy from a safe, responsible source.
Why Puppy Mills Are Red Flags for Pet Adoption
People sometimes say, “I bought my puppy from a pet store, but she’s a wonderful pet.” While this may be true, unfortunately, the problem of puppy mills extends far beyond the individual dog.
Because of poor breeding and care conditions, puppy-mill puppies will end up in pet stores and new homes with parasites, kennel cough, pneumonia, and other illnesses. They may also have behavioral problems, fear, and anxiety from being separated from their mothers and littermates too soon.
In addition to harming individual dogs, puppy mills injure the breeds they reproduce. Because puppy mills are focused on making money, they often breed dogs without regard for genetic quality. That makes puppies prone to congenital and hereditary conditions, like heart disease and respiratory disorders.
Lastly, puppy mills also take homes away from animals in shelters, rescue groups, and reputable breeders. Although an individual puppy mill puppy can grow into a happy, beloved family member, puppy mills harm many dogs. Puppy mills place profit over animal welfare.
Are puppy mills illegal in the US?
Most puppy mills are not illegal in the US. The Humane Society of the United States, an organization helping to stop puppy mills, says in most states, it’s legal to have breeding kennels that keep dozens to hundreds of dogs in cages for their entire lives, as long as they are provided with basic necessities, like food, water, and shelter.
Some states, including California, Maryland, Maine, Washington, Illinois, and New York, have banned the retail sale of puppies in pet stores. This is an important step in stopping puppy mills because it’s estimated that close to 90% of the puppies sold in pet stores come from them.
What percentage of puppies come from puppy mills?
A 2021 study from the Humane Society of the United States estimated that there are close to 10,000 operating puppy mills (both licensed and unlicensed) in the United States. They estimate that about 2.6 million puppies are sold annually that originated from puppy mills.
Signs Your Dog Came From a Puppy Mill
Dr. Ostermeier lists these signs as some of the key indicators that a puppy may be from a puppy mill:
- You aren’t allowed to visit the puppy’s home or kennel where they were raised.
- You aren’t invited to meet the puppy’s parents.
- They are being adopted out earlier than 8 weeks of age.
- No veterinary records, or vaccines were not administered by a veterinarian.
- No testing for genetic diseases that are common for the breed.
“There are many signs that a dog is originating in a puppy mill, but it isn’t always obvious,” said Dr. Ostermeier. Many online retailers and commercial pet stores that sell animals offer papers as “proof” of humane sourcing and can be very convincing. However, there’s no legal definition of “puppy mill” and no agency regulating the sale of puppies. So, even if a seller claims their puppies come from humane sources, they may come from puppy mills.
Look for red flags in their advertisement
If you’ve found your dream puppy through the Internet or a classified ad, here are some things to watch for:
- The puppy is priced very low. To grab the attention of prospective buyers, puppy mills will often slash prices. Generally, good breeders don’t offer sales or discounts, because there is always demand for their puppies.
- They’re sold online. Most reputable breeders don’t need to advertise online. It could be a puppy mill if you’ve found an ad on Craigslist, eBay, or an online forum. Similarly, if you’ve landed on an online store that lets you browse and add puppies to your cart with a click, you can bet it’s a puppy mill.
- The buying process is rushed. It’s also very telling if a “breeder” is trying to make a quick sale. Good breeders care about their dogs and are more interested in finding a good match than making a profit. This means you can expect a lot of questions about your family and lifestyle. So, if you can click and pay for a puppy without screening, it’s probably a puppy mill.
Other signs of a puppy mill
- The puppy comes from a pet store. Sadly, most puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills.
- The seller wants to ship puppy. If a seller or breeder is located in another state and will send a puppy without an in-person meeting first, it could be a puppy mill.
- The seller doesn’t provide a contract. All ethical breeders will have a contract to protect their puppies. Usually, this will include a spay/neuter agreement and return-to-breeder clause should you become unable to care for the dog.
- Puppy brokers are involved. These middlemen make money by sourcing and transporting dogs from puppy mills to pet stores. Working under the guise of “puppy finders,” they may also sell the puppies themselves through dressed-up online stores.
- There’s zero follow-up. Many reputable breeders will stay in contact to see how their dogs are doing. Puppy mills want to move puppies through quickly with no additional check-ins.
What Are the Impacts of Puppy Mills on Dogs?
There’s a medley of concerns when it comes to puppy mills, from the health and treatment of the dogs to them being socially deprived and used solely for profit.
“Puppy mills typically have inadequate healthcare, lack of good nutrition, poor living conditions, and no genetic testing for inherited defects,” explains Dr. Ostermeier. Each one of these can have an impact on the long-term health and behavior of a dog.
One issue she sees with many puppy mill dogs is having trouble with potty training because they’re used to going to the bathroom in their cages, where they also eat and sleep.
Overall health
Dr. Ostermeier also notes that the lack of care and nutrition can also cause health issues down the line, including inherited genetic defects such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, ocular or immune diseases, cardiac disease. These can all be passed on and show up later in life.
A poor diet and inadequate grooming and veterinary care can also lead to dental disease, parasites, respiratory problems, and urinary infections.
In addition, puppy mill dogs are socially deprived, which can manifest as anxiety or fear. They may be overly shy, aggressive, or afraid of new things.
If you suspect your dog came from a puppy mill, remember they’ll need extra patience and care. These dogs can still lead happy, full lives. To give them the best chance of adjusting, ensure they receive proper preventative care and consider enrolling them in puppy training classes.
Fear and anxiety
Most puppy mills don’t let the dogs have a life outside of their cages and only use them for breeding and profit. “A few of the saddest things about puppy mills are the dogs don’t have a life outside of their kennel and the dogs used for breeding, once they are no longer considered ‘useful,’ are often discarded in ways that are not humane,” explains Dr. Ostermeier. “If you happen to adopt a rescued adult dog, it can be very difficult for them to adjust as they have never lived in a normal household and may require extensive training.”
While it’s important to avoid helping puppy mills profit, rescuing dogs from this life is an extraordinary act of kindness. “There are many dogs suffering daily in puppy mills,” says Dr. Ostermeier. So, while it is not good to support the mills by purchasing puppies, adopting a dog who has been rescued from this situation gives them a whole new life.
How To Make Sure You’re Dealing With a Reputable Breeder
A responsible breeder will welcome questions, let you meet the parents, and want to know about you. Here’s what you should expect:
- An introduction to your prospective puppy’s parents and a tour of their space
- Documentation of your puppy’s vaccine and medical history, plus contact info for their vet
- Small litters and limited availability of puppies, with a waiting list of interested adopters
- Answers to a wide range of questions about your puppy’s breed, background, genetic health screenings, and care
- Questions for you about your lifestyle, preparation, and plans for puppy care
- A narrow focus on just one breed, with a dedication to furthering its health and wellbeing
Good places to find reputable breeders are national breed club recommendations, local dog shows, and the AKC breeder referral site. You can also look for certifications like the AKC Breeder of Merit and the Better Breeder Certification.
What To Do If You Think You’ve Found a Puppy Mill
It’s hard to resist an adorable puppy. But before you take a puppy home from an online ad or pet store, consider the source.
There are also ways you can help make puppy mills a thing of the past. If you encounter a puppy mill with evidence of cruelty or neglect, you can report it to your local animal control agency or police. Additionally, you can file a report with the Humane Society of the United States, which is helping to stop puppy mills, by calling 1-877-MILL-TIP.
