The Unique Challenges That Come With Puppy Mill Dogs

Specialists at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) have released advice on adapting to owning a puppy mill produced dog. The ASPCA suggests that owners who have bought a pup produced by a puppy mill need be made to understand the unique challenges they may have to face. Despite much publicity, the average person shopping for a pup still fails to appreciate the unfortunate fact that that if you buy your puppy from a pet shop, it was most likely produced at a puppy mill under atrocious conditions. Puppy mills are extremely abusive places and pet shops purchase the majority of their animals from them. Puppy mill puppies are also sold directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, or at the mill itself. If you are thinking of buying a new puppy, especially with Christmas coming up - take the Humane Society's Buyers' Pledge! The dogs are prisoners of greed. They are locked in small cages where they freeze in the winter and swelter in the summer. The dogs never get out of these prisons or enjoy any form of human interaction. They are bred over and over again until they die. The only way to free them from the misery of these vile puppy mills is to eliminate the demand for their puppies by refusing to buy a puppy in a pet store and boycotting all pet stores that sell puppies. It is likely that the puppy may have been separated prematurely from its mother and spent little time outside a cage for the first eight to 12 weeks of life with little human interaction, which means socialization could be an immediate issue. Owners should be aware that many new elements as basic as walking their pup and meeting strangers can be terrifying for him at first. The ASPCA warn that these pups should not be rushed and that "patience and understanding" is key to helping them adjust to a normal doggie life. "If you take things slowly and go at the puppy's pace, you'll reap the reward of watching your shy dog overcome its fears". For the same reason, the pup should have a "safe area" - a bed or corner of his own where he can retire to get a grip on his new life. In the UK, the Kennel Club has attempted to dissuaded people from purchasing puppy mill pets at all - but once the mistake is made, animal lovers may want to take the opportunity to guarantee a better life for a puppy mill pup. Puppy Mills breed misery, boycott pet stores that sell puppies. Adopt! Don't Shop