What Are Puppy Mills?
A puppy mill (often known as a puppy farm) is a commercial dog breeding facility that is operated with an emphasis upon profits above animal welfare and is often in substandard conditions regarding the well-being of dogs in their care. Similar types of operations exist for other animals most commonly kept as pets or used as feed for other animals.
Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without enough veterinary care, food, water and socialization. Puppy mill dogs do not receive sufficient love, attention, exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste clean up, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs, this can also cause the dogs to limp, and sometimes, can stop them from walking. Often, cages are stacked up in columns. Breeder dogs at mills might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements, or kept inside indoor cages all their lives. Often, after the breeder dog has reached the age of 4 years, it is no longer needed and killed.
The Consequences
Sometimes the puppy mill owners will have a contact person who collaborates with rescues. The rescue will receive a phone call with the number of breeder dogs and types. The rescue then can save the breeder dogs from death. Once adopted, it can take a year or more for the dog to relax and allow human touch.