Your definition of a "Puppy Mill"

[BethPurk]

What is your definition of a Puppy Mill? When we got Sadie, she was inside the breeder's house with her sister pup and we were told that she had never been inside the house before. We went out back to visit the mom and dad and they had them in a fenced in area with a building attached to it with a hole that they could walk through into an inside, covered area. We insisted on having our puppy registered because we wanted to be sure that the puppy we were receiving was a true purebred Yorkie. We have had muttdogs in the past and as wonderful as they've been, you dont always know what you are getting. You could see a personality or behavior develop that you arent expecting because its a mix. With a purebred, we know the temperment and attitude of the breed we have. Especially with us having children, it was important that we have a purebred puppy. Anyway, I cant imagine my pets living outside! I saw photo's of the puppies and the parents before we travelled to pick up Sadie and they were taken inside and outside. I was saddened to see that Sadie's parents lived outside in the heat, even though they had a sheltered area to go to. I have always believed that animals should live in the home and be loved and socialized. Do you believe based on my description that this could have been a puppy mill? They dont just breed Yorkies but also one other breed of small dog too. It felt like a puppy mill type to me and if it was or it wasnt, I believe Ive rescued Sadie from it.

[Nancy1999]

That what I would call a puppy mill too, the main difference between puppy mills and backyard breeders, in my opinion, is that they don't get as much human interaction. I understand you wanting to save the puppy from that enviorment, but you have condemned more puppies to be born there and the parents to continue to have to live and breed in those conditions. Think about it, if you sold something, wouldn't you want to produce more to replace that?

[KimberlySRN]

When I think of a puppy mill I think of a puppy factory, mass producing puppies with disregard for the health or well being of the animals.
On a smaller scale I would think they are backyard breeders that follow the same guideline but on a much smaller scale. Then the hobby breeder who breeds for the betterment of the breed?

[Nancy1999]

Here's what the Humane Society says about rescuing:

Originally Posted by Humane Society of the United States

Avoid the temptation to "rescue" a puppy mill puppy by buying him. Even though your intentions may be good, don't buy a puppy with the idea that you are "rescuing" him or her. Your "rescue" opens up space for another poor puppy mill puppy and puts money into the pockets of the puppy mill. Pet stores won't leave their cages empty and websites won't leave their pages blank. The money you spend on your puppy goes right back to the puppy mill operator and ensures they can continue breeding and treating dogs inhumanely. If you see someone keeping puppies in poor conditions, alert your local animal control authorities instead of buying.

Puppy Buying Tips

[BethPurk]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

That what I would call a puppy mill too, the main difference between puppy mills and backyard breeders, in my opinion, is that they don't get as much human interaction. I understand you wanting to save the puppy from that enviorment, but you have condemned more puppies to be born there and the parents to continue to have to live and breed in those conditions. Think about it, if you sold something, wouldn't you want to produce more to replace that?

Its a catch 22. If I didnt take her, someone else would have and they'd still produce more. I guess I have to think of it positively. I have her now and she's safe. I see what you are saying though, but we travelled quite a few hours to get her and had not seen the living conditions, etc prior to driving there. The website was cute. Even when we got there, the house was clean, the yard was clean. The parents and puppies had food/water, etc. The fenced in area was clean. Its too late now but I will know next time if I decide to purchase another Yorkie what to look out for. Thanks for the definitions because I do think its important to know the difference and although its too late for me now, it wont be the next time.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by BethPurk

Its a catch 22. If I didnt take her, someone else would have and they'd still produce more. I guess I have to think of it positively. I have her now and she's safe.

I'm hoping that forums like Yorkietalk will made a difference and help educate the public about what to do in this situation. I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I just hope if you ever choose to get another pet, you won't fall into this trap. I'm hoping that enough people say "no" and put the mills out of business. If you think this place has broken any state laws, please report them to the proper authorities. I notice you are new, and I haven't welcomed you to Yorkietalk, so welcome and a big welcome to Sadie too, I am glad she has a good and loving home.

[khyorkies]

Sounds bad to me! I couldn't stand sitting inside in the cool house knowing that my sweet little yorkies or any of my dogs were sitting outside in a building 24/7. It kills me to think of other yorkies/dogs having to go through that!

[hmcdowell1]

Originally Posted by BethPurk

Its a catch 22. If I didnt take her, someone else would have and they'd still produce more. I guess I have to think of it positively. I have her now and she's safe. I see what you are saying though, but we travelled quite a few hours to get her and had not seen the living conditions, etc prior to driving there. The website was cute. Even when we got there, the house was clean, the yard was clean. The parents and puppies had food/water, etc. The fenced in area was clean. Its too late now but I will know next time if I decide to purchase another Yorkie what to look out for. Thanks for the definitions because I do think its important to know the difference and although its too late for me now, it wont be the next time.

I know how you feel... we bought our little guy last month from a home similar to what you describe. Of course, I didn't know as much about back-yard-breeders before I found this site (and before I paid for my guy) but now we know Your little Sadie will have a wonderful home now and that's all that matters! (Oh and welcome!)

[yorkiekist]

Puppy mills and BYB'rs are pretty much on the same level except mills have many more dogs. Both do not breed for the betterment of the breed and the only purpose for cranking out puppies is for the almighty $$$$. Neither have any reguard for health issues nor do they do the necessary testing prior to breeding. Puppy mills dont care about a pedigree and now that most are with the baseless "alternative" registries, the pedigrees are probably not accurate and the puppies may not even be purebred. But mills dont need a pedigree to sell their puppies as most are already contracted out to pet stores and brokers. Byb'rs, on the other hand, really depend on the pedigree as even one champion in a 4 generation pedigree gives them some sort of bragging rights as to how wonderful their dogs are compared to all the other Byb'rs advertising in the local paper. I also imagine that both have cleanliness issues.
Hundreds of dogs are almost impossible to keep in sanitry conditions and the Byb'r that keeps the dogs "out back" are not much better. Kind of like "out of sight, out of mind" until its time to show them on weekends.

[cesar49]

Originally Posted by BethPurk

What is your definition of a Puppy Mill? When we got Sadie, she was inside the breeder's house with her sister pup and we were told that she had never been inside the house before. We went out back to visit the mom and dad and they had them in a fenced in area with a building attached to it with a hole that they could walk through into an inside, covered area. We insisted on having our puppy registered because we wanted to be sure that the puppy we were receiving was a true purebred Yorkie. We have had muttdogs in the past and as wonderful as they've been, you dont always know what you are getting. You could see a personality or behavior develop that you arent expecting because its a mix. With a purebred, we know the temperment and attitude of the breed we have. Especially with us having children, it was important that we have a purebred puppy. Anyway, I cant imagine my pets living outside! I saw photo's of the puppies and the parents before we travelled to pick up Sadie and they were taken inside and outside. I was saddened to see that Sadie's parents lived outside in the heat, even though they had a sheltered area to go to. I have always believed that animals should live in the home and be loved and socialized. Do you believe based on my description that this could have been a puppy mill? They dont just breed Yorkies but also one other breed of small dog too. It felt like a puppy mill type to me and if it was or it wasnt, I believe Ive rescued Sadie from it.

this was a bad breeder.. doing it for money only.. using dogs like livestock.. good breeders have better dogs because they are loved from day one.. only good breeders keep these dogs in their homes.. if they keep them outside, they are greeders and should stop torturing these animals