When I volunteer at events to spread information about puppy mills, one of the most common questions I get is “why do puppy mills still exist?” It’s a great question because, for anyone who adores dogs, it’s difficult to think about why anyone would purposely hurt them and why laws would still allow these places to exist.
Unfortunately, there are several reasons puppy mills still exist. I personally don’t think they’re good reasons, but they explain why our world still allows these cruel places to operate. So, I wanted to dive into the topic of puppy mills and explain why they’re still around.
What Defines a Puppy Mill?
I’ve seen many people define puppy mills differently, but when asked “what is a puppy mill?”, I usually define it as “a commercial breeding facility where profit comes before health and well-being.” These facilities typically operate at a large scale, making it impossible to make a decent profit without sacrificing some of the necessary care of the dogs. That’s why puppy mill dogs are typically kept in cages 24/7 or not given vet care.
Not all puppy mills are exactly the same. I’ve heard of some that keep up with the bare minimum for medical needs while avoiding socialization entirely, leading to dogs that fear humans. I’ve heard of ones where the dogs are socialized but don’t receive proper medical attention. And, of course, there are some puppy mills that neglect both areas of care, which I consider the worst of the worst.
Why are Puppy Mills Bad?
Puppy mills are bad because they treat dogs like products instead of living things. They typically over-breed the dogs and ship the puppies off somewhere to be sold rather than treating the dogs like family and carefully choosing the perfect home for each puppy. Everyone has different opinions on how they think a breeder should operate, but I think most dog lovers can agree that neglecting a dog’s care and well-being is no way to treat dogs.
I’ve fostered several dogs that were rescued from bad breeding facilities before, and they’re often in rough shape physically and/or emotionally. Many of them cower in the corner of the room for weeks before they’ll let anyone touch them. Others have injuries that were never addressed before. No dogs should have to go through that, which is why I think puppy mills are horrible.
Why Do Puppy Mills Exist?
Having interacted with puppy mill dogs many times, it baffles me that these places are still legal. I know many dog lovers feel the same way. And even though they're legal, how can enough people be supporting them enough to keep them in business?
The sad reality is that puppy mills are still extremely common. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons for that.
People Support Them
The biggest reason puppy mills still exist is because many people support them. If people weren’t buying puppy mill puppies, these facilities wouldn’t be making enough money to keep operating. Puppy mills typically sell through pet stores and online retailers so people can buy puppies without ever seeing where the dogs are bred.
If you’re looking for proof of where puppy stores are sourcing their dogs from, check out Bailing Out Benji’s database for where pet stores are sourcing puppies by state.
Many People Don’t Know They’re Supporting a Puppy Mill
You might be wondering why anyone would support a puppy mill. While some people don’t care where their dog comes from, most people supporting puppy mills are doing so unknowingly. No place will admit they’re sourcing from a puppy mill. They will do their best to tell you what you want to hear.
This is why it’s so important to spread the word about puppy mills. If you know someone that’s getting a dog, remind them to thoroughly do their research. Ideally, you should be able to meet the mom of a litter and see where the dogs are bred. If the person seems to be rushing a sale instead of trying to find the best home for the puppy, that’s a red flag.
It’s Difficult to Define a Puppy Mill for Laws
A lot of people seem to think it’s easy to just ban puppy mills altogether. But in the eyes of the law, the wording for regulations like this is tricky. How should they define a puppy mill on paper? As a dog lover, it’s easy to tell when a breeder isn’t humane, but laws typically want an exact definition, such as the number of dogs, specific health conditions, etc. Simply saying “ban puppy mills” makes it unclear exactly which breeders fall under that category.
That’s why many animal advocates are focusing on cutting off puppy mill sources instead. I’ve helped pass some ordinances preventing pet stores from selling puppies. This type of ordinance is much easier to define because it’s simply “no puppies in pet stores.” The only breeders shipping puppies off to pet stores are the ones that don’t care who adopts the puppies, so no ethical breeders are selling puppies that way.
Check out all the locations that have already passed an ordinance like this.
There Aren’t Enough Inspectors for Stricter Breeding Laws
Whenever I’ve attended council meetings where they discuss dog breeding, they’re almost always concerned with where they’ll find people to enforce those laws. Many areas have limited inspectors. So, even if a location makes their breeding laws stricter, how can it be enforced if there aren’t enough people to check on the breeders? They might not want to pay for more inspectors or there might not be enough people for the job. In theory, passing a law to improve breeding standards is great, but there’s a lot more that goes into it than simply stating the changes.
In most cases, when a state passes breeding laws, they’re still fairly loose to make it easy to monitor. I live in Wisconsin, and many people think we no longer have puppy mills because we have some breeding laws. However, those laws only require a slightly bigger cage size and the bare minimums like food and water. It makes the living situation slightly better, but unfortunately, it still doesn’t guarantee that all dogs will be well cared for.
Existing Breeding Laws Aren’t Always Enforced
Even existing breeding laws aren’t always enforced. There are plenty of puppy mills with lots of violations that are still able to operate somehow. While I don’t understand why this happens, it’s a sad reality. In addition to making breeding restrictions better, we also need to make sure breeders are held accountable, which doesn’t always happen.
Puppy Mills Can Quickly Produce “Trendy” Dogs
Puppy mills appeal to the public because they mass-produce dogs of all breeds, so they can easily offer dogs people consider “trendy” like Poodle mixes. They often have exactly what people are looking for, and if those people don’t do their research, they will likely support a puppy mill without even realizing it.
Personally, I think ethical breeding involves preserving a specific breed and taking good care of the dogs. So, reputable breeders don’t breed mixes like Doodles. Instead, they stick to one purebred breed that they’re knowledgeable about. Unfortunately, many people want a “popular” kind of dog that they can buy quickly, which is why they end up turning to a puppy mill.
Frequently Asked Questions
In What States are Puppy Mills Illegal?
Unfortunately, puppy mills are technically legal in every state. Some states have breeding laws to make it harder for unethical breeders to operate, but those regulations don't ban puppy mills completely. Other states have no breeding regulations at all. Check out this chart for details of the breeding laws in each state.
What Happens to Puppy Mill Puppies That Don’t Sell?
Puppy mill puppies that don’t sell are often surrendered to shelters and rescues. Some may be sent back to the breeder and be used for breeding. While it might seem like you’re “saving” a puppy by buying them from a puppy store, you’re encouraging the puppy mill to mistreat more dogs. Instead, consider adopting one of the puppies that was surrendered to an organization to ensure your money goes to a good cause.
What is the Life Expectancy of a Puppy Mill Dog?
A puppy mill dog’s life expectancy varies based on their care and breed. However, many puppy mill dogs live a couple of years shorter than their average lifespan due to lack of health care early in life. This doesn’t apply to every dog, but sadly, I’ve seen plenty of former breeding dogs pass away early.
How Do You Tell if a Puppy is from a Puppy Mill?
In general, an ethical breeder should only have a litter or two at a time, be willing to show you the mom and where the puppies were bred, and be very knowledgeable about the breed. If a breeder/seller is mass-producing puppies, refusing to show you the breeding location, and/or trying to push a quick sale, those are red flags.
How Can We Stop Puppy Mills?
The best way to stop puppy mills is to never give them money, help pass laws to cut off their sources, and spread the word about how to spot a puppy mill. Many people still don’t know anything about puppy mills, so just talking about it can make a huge impact.
Puppy Mills Still Exist Because People Support Them
“Why do puppy mills exist?” is a question most dog lovers wonder. Dogs are sweethearts, and they bring so much joy into our lives. So, it’s hard to believe that anyone would purposely hurt them. It’s also hard to believe that anyone would support the people who hurt them. But the reality is that a lot of people don’t know much about puppy mills and it’s hard to pass laws to stop them.
Please spread the word about puppy mills as much as possible. The main reason they exist is because people keep giving them money. Hopefully, if more people know how to spot a puppy mill, they’ll be less likely to support one. Talking about puppy mills might not seem like much, but if lots of animal lovers do it, it can make a huge impact.