Puppies at a mill awaiting their freedom. |
The Truth behind Pet Shop Purebreds
By: Kayla Burgess
Every puppy mill is different
though they all have the same thought in mind, money. Once a female goes into a mill, it is most
likely that they will not be coming back out. As to those breeders females are
the money makers, the more puppies they produce the more puppies they can sell.
When the number of babies per littler start to deteriorate the mothers are euthanized.
This is because in the eyes of those people they are only commodities. Many
mills attempt different methods in order to save space, time and money. Each cage has multiple dogs in them, and none
of the cages used are humane enough even for one. Stuffed in tiny rabbit cages
stacked on top of each other for their entire lives, or in a muddy chicken pen
so small that the mothers end up walking on their own litter until they are
either sold or killed. These pens are used to save money as they are much
cheaper than professional dog kennels. Certain breeders choose to keep their
dogs outside requiring the dogs to overcome the both the boiling summers and
the harsh winters each year, many dogs end up dying due to this cruelty. I find
it ironic how many of the farms or mills that are investigated own acres of
land far out into the country side, yet they keep these animals cooped up in cages,
never letting them feel the touch grass on their paws.
Legal, when you hear of things being
legal you think of safety. Not puppy mills. It may be hard to believe but these
horrid places are allowed to be in our world. These environments are run by
sick people so blinded by their greed for money that they ignore the animals’
rights to a safe, loving and healthy life. These dogs are considered cash crops
to these breeders and in the eyes of the law they are live stock, or property
not a living organism. Specifically in Canada there are no laws to prevent
puppy mills, what little laws we do have in place, the mill owners can easily
pay their fines and return to their work. Disciplinary actions for cruelty to animals
varying between each province, in Manitoba the fine for the first offence, is
no more then $10 000, imprisonment of up to 6 months or both. The second
offense has a fine of $20 000 or imprisonment of up to a year or possibly both.
These laws and punishments were last updated in 2009, and there are no mandates
in place to change the laws. The inhumanity presented towards these animals are
uncalled for, and their needs to be and change with harsher action taken place
to put a crack down on to puppy mills and the terrible crimes committed there.
These places may be legal, but as humane people
we know that they are wrong and need to be put to an end. Puppy farms are active everywhere due to us
unknowingly supporting them. You’re probably thinking, “I would never support
such a sickening place” though the truth is that you may, even without
realizing. If you've even bought a puppy from a pet store; or if you have ever
had an online breeder deliver to you its almost guaranteed that the puppy came
from a place much like this. There are a few tips that you can follow to ensure
you are not contributing to a mill in anyway. Skipping the pet shops is the
best way to do this. If you wish to add a member to your family adopting from a
local shelter is a great choice, not only is it certain that you are not
supporting commercial breeding but you will get knowledge on the animal’s
history as well. Knowing where a pet came from can greatly assist with
training. Also when buying from a breeder, make sure they are licensed, a good
breeder will allow you to see the area where the puppies are kept and raised as
well as the mother. If when you ask it see either of those important facets and
they deny you access, your red flags should be going off take it as a sign that
it is time to turn to another breeding.
The same rules apply when buying off on online website such as Kijiji,
make sure to visit the mother and where the puppy grew up. Knowledge is the
best defense; inform yourself and others of these facts and precautions to help
put an end to animal cruelty and puppy mills everywhere.
I completely agree with everything you're saying here. Puppy mills really should be stopped as soon as possible. Maybe if I could really make a difference, I would do something to change this. I just have to think of myself in a less fortunate situation and think, what would I do?
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