Warning to pet owners on National Puppy Day

A dog trainer has warned prospective pet owners about the dangers of buying a furry friend from a puppy mill ahead of National Puppy Day today.

National Puppy Day has been observed by dog ​​lovers across the United States since its inception in 2006 and is celebrated annually on March 23rd. You'd be forgiven for thinking that this day is simply a celebration of the joy of cute animals, but it was actually started to raise awareness about puppy mills and the inhumane treatment of dogs.

Puppy mills (also known as puppy farms) are intensive dog breeding facilities where profit is more important than the welfare of the animals. Irresponsible breeders often cut corners to maximize the number of puppies they sell with minimal effort and cost.

Puppies purchased from factories often spend their first few weeks of life in cramped conditions with little interaction and often suffer from preventive health conditions due to poor hygiene. Puppies can develop serious behavioral problems due to lack of care and attention.

Alexandra Bassett, a Los Angeles-based certified dog trainer with more than 25 years of experience, has seen firsthand the devastation puppy mills inflict on both pets and owners.

“I've worked with many clients in Los Angeles who, unbeknownst to them, were selling dogs from their homes while claiming to be 'reputable breeders' who were working in puppy mills behind closed doors. I was buying the teacup variety,” she said. newsweek.

According to The Humane Society, there are an estimated 10,000 puppy mills in operation across the United States, with approximately 500,000 dogs kept solely for breeding purposes. Mothers are often forced to conceive with little interruption. Dogs are often abandoned or killed when they can no longer breed.

Mr Bassett said prospective owners often paid a “premium price” for dogs that were “so fearful or aggressive that they became their nightmare companions”.

Bassett explains that the cause of these pets' poor behavior, especially in the case of small “teacup” dogs, is the way they are raised.

“In many cases, this is due to unreputable breeders breeding large numbers of dogs to suit their size, rather than carefully selecting stallions and dams for more desirable qualities, such as good temperament.” “It's a direct result,” she continued. “Many of these dogs do not respond to training due to genetic factors, and this results in a sharp decline in the quality of life for many people.”

How to identify a puppy mill

There are some red flags that puppy owners can spot and be aware of if they are putting a new puppy on the market.

When looking at online listings, check how often they post puppies for sale and how many breeds they have for sale. Reputable sellers often only carry one or two breeds and don't sell puppies every month or every few weeks.

Puppy owners often try to keep prospective buyers away from their puppy locations, preferring to hand over their puppies in public places or at the buyer's home. Lifetime Pet Cover explains, “Legitimate breeders have no problem with individuals walking around their premises because they have nothing to hide.”

However, there are some places where puppies can be observed. In that case, the buyer should inspect the condition of the kennel to make sure it is clean and that the puppies are happy, socialized, and well cared for.