Q. What is The SDPM web site doing about puppy mills?
A. We are a dedicated group of individuals, some who work in the pet industry, who see first hand the results of pet store puppies and other means of poor/irresponsible breeding.
Armed with this knowledge we felt compelled to educate the public of what puppy mills are and list all of the avenues that are used to sell their puppies. Through our web site, billboard, newspaper ads, brochures, bumper stickers, billboard and our dog bandanas we are able to warn and educate a large number of people regarding puppy mills and how to avoid contributing to their existence. read more
It's important to know that, in most cases, puppy mills and commercial kennels are not illegal. In every province/state, a commercial/breeding kennel can legally keep dozens, even hundreds, of dogs in cages for their entire lives, as long as the dogs are given the basics of food, water, shelter and veterinarian care. While The SDPM is opposed to puppy mills, we can not shut down or raid legal businesses. The Shut Down Puppy Mills web site is not a government, law enforcement, or regulatory agency. We are an information site only.
Because most puppy mills are not illegal, we need help from the public to put an end to the consumer demand for their "product." Since there are no regular checks performed on every single breeder or breeding facility, we cannot stress the importance that every person looking to buy a puppy must take full responsibility for their decision and personally check out their breeder prior to purchasing. Remember, an experienced puppy miller/broker will go to great lengths to hide their horribly abused and neglected animals from you.
Help put a stop to puppy mills by getting your next dog from either:
1) an animal shelter or pet rescue group
2) a well-screened, responsible breeder.
Q. There is a puppy mill in my area. How can I get the authorities shut it down?
A. First, please be aware that operating a commercial breeding kennel may not be illegal in your area . . . but if you have seen specific evidence of cruelty or neglect, such as animals without food and water, sick dogs who are not being treated, or dogs without adequate shelter from the elements, the first agency to contact is a local agency with law enforcement powers, such as your local humane society, animal control agency, police or RCMP department.
Prepare specific details of your complaint in advance, and get a case number or contact information related to your case. If you do not hear back from the local authorities within a week, please call them back to ask for an update.
Q. I bought a puppy and she got sick. What can I do?
A. Step 1. Please take your puppy to a veterinarian as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. Save all records and receipts.
Step 2. Prepare your complaint. It is imperative that you put together as much information as possible to support your case. Please gather as many of the following items as possible:
- Name, address and phone number of breeder or pet store
- Name of kennel (if any)
- Copies of your veterinary bills . . . read more
- Copies of your purchase agreements or bill of sale
- Copies of any registration papers given to you at sale
- Photographs or other documentation of your dog's medical conditions
- A necropsy report from a veterinarian, if the dog has passed away
- A brief timeline of events related to the dog's sale and health problem
Step 3. Contact the breeder or pet store where you purchased the dog. Your purchase agreement or store or breeder policy may provide you with some financial recourse. Please note that many sellers will encourage you to return the puppy for an exchange or refund, but that may not be in the best interests of your puppy. You may have other reimbursement options that do not require you to return the pet. For specific advice on how to handle your particular case, consult a local attorney or consider going to small claims court.
Step 4. If you bought your puppy through a business facility such as a pet store and your puppy becomes seriously sick (such as from a preventable hereditary disease) then lodge a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB); all complaints made are kept on file which may help to raise an alarm against this particular business for selling sick pets.
Step 5. Contact a T.V. news station/newspaper reporter explaining your story. The media has the power to reach a large scale audience and allowing others to hear your story is just one way you can help prevent someone else enduring the financial burden, mental stress and stress of seeing a beloved pet in pain, suffering from a preventable hereditary disease.
Step 6. Contact us! We are alsways looking for real life examples to include on our web site. This helps to raise awareness of the puppy mill atrocities and how it effects everyone. It also helps the public to fully understand the importance of either adopting or going directly through a responsible breeder.
Q. My local pet store might be selling dogs from puppy mills. How can I find out?
A. Most pet store puppies come from puppy mills. However the smaller stores which have 1 - 2 litters may be acquiring their pups from back yard and/or inexperienced breeders. The larger pet stores that sell several litters at one time are getting their puppies either through brokers or directly from commercial kennels and/or puppy mills.
Ask the pet store employee to show you the paperwork identifying the puppy's breeder and origins. If he or she refuses to do so or is reluctant to show you the paperwork, consider it a "red flag". If you inspect the paperwork, you may notice that the puppy has been shipped from out of province or country; often by a "broker" service . . . read more
Currently there are no laws that pet stores or breeders need to follow with regards to buying or selling their puppies. No laws stating that every pet store and breeding facility should supply the prospective buyer regarding information on the breeding parents and the breeding kennels to ensure/guarantee the health and well being of not only the puppy but all the animals being bred.
There are no regulations to ensure all breeders and breeding kennels to be registered and inspected by either a Veterinarian and/or animal control agency. So it is extremely important to personally check out every breeder you intend to purchase from. The responsibility falls on the purchaser to personally go to the breeding facilities and inspect them for quality, cleanliness and integrity.
Note: These are just a few indications that the pet store's puppies may have come from a puppy mill. The bottom line is that responsible breeders WILL NEVER sell their puppies through a pet store. Responsible breeders will personally meet with and interview every person, carefully matching their puppies with the right family. Responsible breeders encourage open communication with the selected family to ensure that if a problem should arise with their puppy they will be contacted and informed of the situation so that the appropriate action will be taken.
Q. Where can I find a list of known puppy mills?
A. For many reasons, the SDPM web site does not publish a list of known puppy mills. There are literally thousands of puppy mills in existence all over the country, and most of them are not required to register with any one agency. There are so many unregulated puppy mills that to publish a list of the known or "problem" mills may give the public a false impression that any establishment that is not on the list is "safe." Nothing could be farther from the truth, however. In fact, some problematic puppy mills have been known to change their names and locations frequently to evade their reputations.
ATTENTION: If you know or suspect a breeder or breeding facility who is neglecting or abusing their animals please contact your local S.P.C.A. and/or Animal Control Agency immediately.
Questions regarding our web site or about the Puppy Mill industry? Please contact us. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and will respond to your question(s) as soon as possible.