Avoid purchasing a dog from a puppy mill**
A puppy mill is defined by the National Companion Animal Coalition (NCAC) as a high-volume, substandard dog-breeding operation, which sells purebred of mixed-breed dogs to unsuspecting buyers. Some of the characteristics common to puppy mills are:
- Substandard health and/or environmental issues;
- Substandard animal care, treatment and/or socialization;
- Substandard breeding practices that lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders;
- Erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background
**article taken from the DOGS ANNUAL IN CANADA magazine
Puppy Mills. They're a very hot topic and one that people should be fully aware of before they purchase a pet. Take note, a LOT of pet stores who sell their dogs as 'golden retriever type' usually means, PUPPY MILL. Be aware that the word 'type' is most often used for dogs bought from puppy mills. I personally will not even go look at the dogs in these pet stores when I see that kind of wording. I avoid them at all costs. If you really want to know what a puppy mill is all about, please, do the research on the internet and find out. You would be horrified at the injustices done to these poor animals. If you are NOT looking for a purebred, you are much better off adopting an animal from a shelter, or the pet stores that have 'in-house' adoption pets available.
This by no means is an assurance that you will not run into some of the same problems with other breeders. Sometimes small-scale breeders or 'backyard breeders' as some are known, do not test their dogs for hip dyspasia or known eye diseases within their own dogs before breeding them. That is why it is imperative that you find a registered breeder that can prove to you that the important health tests have been performed and are 'good'. You may choose to take a dog that comes from a breeder that may have some health issues in their line, as long as you are aware of the faults and understand that you are liable for the dog and it's possible health problems. But, if you want to be sure the puppy you are choosing is going to have a better likelihood of good genes, be sure to find a breeder, research that breeder, check out other dogs from the breeder's previous litters and ask LOTS of questions.
My collie comes from a very dedicated breeder who breeds only for genes she wants in her lines. Occasionally that comes along with some 'not perfect' faults. I bought my collie KNOWING that his eyes were listed as only 'fair' for Collie Eye Anomally. It was my decision that I would bear that cross IF his eyes ever deteriorated beyond fair. Diego is now 8 years old and his eyes are still fine, no issues with them at all. My male aussie has had his hips and elbows tested for dysplasia so that I know I will be able to breed him in the future. Tests came back with no signs of dysplasia in both (yahoo).
Please, make everyone aware of the perils that are attached to puppy mills!
