Avoiding Puppy Mills Washington DC

Puppy mills are large breeding facilities that have little or no regard for the safety and health of the dogs in their care. They mass produce purebred puppies and, as a result, do not have the ability (or the desire) to properly care for and raise the dogs. I'm sure you've heard of puppy mills and the horrific conditions that the dogs and puppies inside are subjected to, so I won't go into much detail regarding that. However, if you're considering getting a dog, you need to be aware of what a puppy mill is, how you can recognize one and what to do if you come across one. This will help you avoid inadvertently supporting puppy mills and prevent you from purchasing a potentially sick, unsocialized, genetically defective puppy that may require much more attention and care than an average dog.

Here's what you can do to avoid puppy mills:

1. Adopt your puppy from a shelter or breed rescue group! Animal shelters and breed rescue groups typically spend the most time trying to ensure that the right dog goes to the right home. They are not out to make a profit, so you can be confident that their main motivation is the dog's health and happiness. You'll be working to combat the overpopulation problem that exists with both dogs and cats and you'll be avoiding the puppy mill problem all together. Keep in mind that many animal shelters advertise online on sites like PetFinder and many also team up with pet stores on weekends and during high traffic times to show off their animals and pique public interest in adoption. However, if you're looking for a puppy at a pet store, make sure that the display is in fact in conjunction with an animal shelter or breed rescue group and not simply the store's own display (see point 2).
   
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Author: Liz Smith