BREEDER DIFFERENCES
There is so much talk about WHO is a puppy-mill and WHAT is a puppy-mill, that I wanted to give you some basic FACTS.
In the late 1940’s the post-war boom allowed more expendable income. Farmers in the Midwest were seeking alternative crops. Available money and demand for puppies created the commercial puppy business. Retail giants such as Sears Roebuck sold puppies and pet store chains were born.
Unfortunately, puppy farmers had little knowledge of cainine husbandry and often began there venture with little money and ram shackled conditions. I often still see that today in the Midwest. The dogs were housed in chicken coops, rabbit pens, and vet care was omitted due to expense. Socialization of puppies was nil. That is when the Humane Society was born. Upon investigation of these farms, the repulsive condition of these farms was labeled as “puppy-mills”. Today HSUS and PETA and other animal rights group palnted and cultivated the idea that most kennels are “puppy-mills.” They legitimize themselves to animal lovers to collect millions in donations.
The Animal
Welfare Act was created to stop puppy-farms horrendous breeding practices.
The AWA is administered by the US Dept. Of Agriculture. These are the categories
they list of businesses that handle dogs:
AKC does not license breeders, but inspects those who sell AKC litters.
USDA issues licenses and inspects kennels. The requirements are that ample space, shelter, food, water, proper drainage and sanitary conditions along with vet care be issued at the kennel. USDA licenses more than 4500 animal dealers. That is JUST dealers.
Now lets talk about the different people who consider
themselves breeders:
1. HOBBY BREEDERS have a breed or 2. They work at improving the breed and only
have a few litters a year, basically to show. They socialize heavy and place
dogs in god homes, generally. Breeding does are usually screened for genetic
diseases.
2. COMMERCIAL BREEDERS has several breeds with profit as
motive. Dogs may be healthy, but probably not genetically screened. They may or
may not be good representatives of the breed. USDA inspects for cleanliness, but
not quality of dogs. AKC watch-dogs the breeders with DNA taken from litters,
but most Commercial Kennels go to another registry to omit the DNA testing and
cost to be in AKC. The commercial breeder may only care about puppy head count
over quality.
3. BROKERS are licensed by USDA and buy pups from Commercial Kennels and ships
animals all over the USA by whatever means is approved by the Animal Welfare
Act.
4. BUNCHERS licensed by USDA BUT they get dogs by ANY means and sell to labs, other bunchers or brokers. Bunchers are low dogs on the evolutionary scale. These are the ones that go after the free pet ads and adopt unwanted pets from shelters to sell.
5.AMATUER BREEDERS a dog owner who is negligent and lets his pet get bred because they were not responsible. Lots of these turn into greed mongers and breed whatever for the money.
6. A PUPPY-MILLER is a breeder who produces puppies with NO breeding program, little attention to puppy placement, poor health and sanitation practices and socialization.
Conditions of puppy mills are generally substandard and may be deplorable. Puppies and dogs are fed a cheap diet and it shows. Dogs are usually sickly and skinny.