How Much Is That Doggie In The Window? February 23, 2009

My love and I adore our Miniature Schnauzer. He is our pride and joy and is closest to children we are brave enough to venture. On a regular basis we like to get him bones from a nearby dog bakery as he is a heavy chewer. However, tonight we didn’t make it to the bakery and were forced to go to a new place. It was called Uncle Bills Pet Store. When I walked in I was surprised to find about 30 puppies. 3 were in open pens on the floor to pet and love and the rest were in cages stacked like apartments. My immediate reaction was “Oh My Gosh! I NEED one!” They were so adorable. It was so tempting to hold one, but I had to restrain because I knew if I did, he or she would be coming home with us.

Luckily, I refrained and walked up to the cash register to purchase our bone for Hugo. (Mind you he is 16 pounds and I got the bone for a 50+ pound dog…) I got up the courage to ask the cashier where their puppies came from, rescues or puppy mills. She immediately put the kibosh on the puppy mill thought and assured me they were all from breeders. I didn’t think any more about it and went on with my night.

After we got home I had a nagging feeling that those puppies could not be from breeders. I searched online and quickly had my suspicions confirmed. Apparently, Uncle Bill’s is the number one protested pet store in the area due to the fact that ALL their puppies come from puppy mills. It broke my heart to know this. I so badly wanted to go buy all the puppies to give them good homes, but from what I read, that is the worst thing you can do. It only adds to the vicious cycle. Old puppy out, new puppy in.

For those who may not know, puppy mills are large scale breeding farms that operate under less than favorable conditions. The puppies usually have temperament issues as well as MANY health issues. They live in overcrowded cages with little love or affection given to them. Why would anyone want to treat a precious, helpless, adorable animal with such disrespect?

I am so happy to know our little guy is not a product of a puppy mill. When we do cross the bridge of getting another dog, we will be going through a rescue or humane society. I refuse to support a puppy mill. What do you decide?

Please join the fight to stop puppy mills.
http://stoppuppymills.org/

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