151. Ok so I read some good articles on puppy mills and found that few are getting shut down because get this they arent doing anything illegal. Last I checked its not against the law to lock a dog in a cage...sometimes I do this just for fun with my dogs. Yeah you might not agree with the idea of a dog that is meant for breeding and the "poor" little dog is locked in a cage and not "Socialized" is the biggest argument I saw on any of these three pages, also no where did it say that all puppy mills are bad...so still i stick by my comments that there are some good ones out there but since people only like to glamorize the bad they are hiding the good ones so no one sees there are some breeders doing things right and until you prove me wrong you can assume i am right.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/puppymil.html
http://www.almosthomerescue.org/puppymill/puppymill.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/5150/puppymills.htm

I also read that the only way to really stop a puppy mill is to stop buying from pet stores no where in the article did it say posting comments on TMZ would help stop the EVIL puppy mills. And you are arguing a stupid point saying that since the puppies were born in a puppy mill dont buy them...well I am pretty sure the people buying them are giving them a nice home (most of them) so how is that hurting the dog? Yeah it might be hurting the few dogs used for the mass breeding but it in no way hurts the puppy at the pet store. Boo-Hoo so a few dogs are abused...and how do you know the dogs at the kennels you are SAVING werent at one time puppies from puppy mills? Not all dogs at kennels are mutts some are pure bred...you might get a second hand puppy mill puppy *gasp*

Posted at 5:37PM on Dec 12th 2007 by Still Shut up

152. Here

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/news/2007/11/02/ban_puppy_mills/

In this article this statement is made "often in deplorable and demonstrably inhumane conditions. Many live in filth and darkness."

Now if ALL of the dogs were in the filth and darkness then you could say all puppy mills are bad but it states many and often implying they also found a few that were in decent conditions. In every article i read it has open statements like this...so I will just assume that they found some (probably very few) that were ok Puppy Mills...so until you can show me articles that say all and every puppy was abused then you can see the pigs flying by our window.

Posted at 5:39PM on Dec 12th 2007 by Still Shut up

153. Lori - your recent comments directed at me only show only that you're ignorant. How would you know what "my breeder friends" "sucker" me into believing, considering that you don't know the first thing about me? Or that "anyone serious" about agility or obedience would not get involved with the AKC?

To set the record straight, I have never purchased a dog from a breeder or a pet store. I have three cats and a large breed dog. Two of my cats were dumped on me by neighbors who no longer wanted them - one as a young kitten, one at age 13. My third cat came from the SPCA shelter, my dog from the county animal control shelter.

Before getting my dog, I fostered for a rescue. I still evaluate and transport for rescues if there's a dog in my area they need evaluated and pulled from the shelter. I support the local shelter on base which really has no other supporters to speak of. I do lots of educational work with my dog ... we go to schools to talk to kids about dogs, and we do therapy work at hospitals and an old folks home. We also do herding.

Most of my time on the Internet is spent talking to other dog owners, helping them solve their dog problems so they won't dump their dog at a shelter if they have an issue, and promoting responsible breeding.

So before you go off, complaining how "my breeder friends have suckered me into believing such and such" and how any performance event sanctioned by the AKC is just for people who don't really love their dogs, how about you pause and take a deep breath, so you don't make yourself sound like a fool. When you insult strangers on the Internet, you only make everyone else doubt what you say since you obviously cannot make a reasonable argument without getting personally insulting.

Anyway.

Amy posted - "Not every pet store buys from puppy mills. Consider PetSmart, and local Feed and Variety stores near NOLA, where I live. "

Amy, those are not the types of pet stores we're talking about. I don't know about the feed and variety stores in your area (the ones where I live don't sell any animals), but the large chain stores such as Petsmart and Petco don't *sell* live cats and dogs in their stores at all. The cats you see in the Petsmart adoption area are not for sale like cats and dogs at pet stores are, they are for adoption through a rescue, and having them in the store serves the purpose of getting them more exposure since many people are not aware of the rescues in their area or the many pets available through them.

When you adopt a cat or dog like that, you have to go through the rescue and meet their requirements. Usually, you have to have proof that all your other animals are vaccinated, you have to have references, and they will want to do a home check where they come to see that your home is suitable for the adopted pet to live. At a pet store that sells animals, you can just walk in, point to the one you like, and take it home right away, because that's how the store makes money. As soon as that cage frees up, they'll reorder and put another poor puppy in its place.

Posted at 7:41PM on Dec 12th 2007 by Abby K9

154. Lori is incorrect in some ways, actually.
"hillbilly legislatures" do exist, but definitely not here in Minnesota, where puppy mills are illegal and the ASPCA shuts them down as soon as they arise. There are no pet stores here. If you want a pet, you must get one from one of the numerous humane society chapters or from a reputable breeder. Puppy mills exist everywhere but Minnesota does more than many states to ensure their operation is short-lived and their owners are sent to prison for their actions. You make an ass out of yourself when you assume a lax legislature is at work in all states, because many states are tough when it comes to animal protection.

Posted at 7:54PM on Dec 12th 2007 by L

155. Thank you TMZ for the article. Anything that helps to educate the public about what puppy mills are and why buying animals from a pet store is irresponsible, is great.

I work full time at an animal shelter, and it is absolutely heartbreaking. Many people just don't understand (or care) about the massive overpopulation problem.

I agree, it is better to buy from a reputable breeder than from a pet store, but it still upsets me as I know firsthand what wonderful dogs and puppies are waiting for a home in shelters. There have been some very intelligent comments in this discussion, but also some misconceptions as well. One person, who was advocating buying from breeders and not adopting, stated that the dogs that are in shelters are there because they are problem dogs. You could not be more wrong. Most of the dogs in shelters are there because of a problem with the owners, not the dogs themselves: (1) Not researching the breed of dog before acquiring and ending up with the wrong breed for their lifestyle; (2) Getting a dog because they just had to have a puppy but as soon as it grew up the novelty wore off; (3) Getting a dog for the kids, but the kids aren't looking after it and mom and dad didn't want it in the first place; (4) Not training their puppy and then ending up with a poorly behaved dog; and I could go on and on.

And to those that must have a purebred - there are many purebreds in shelters. So many people don't research their breeds and choose a dog based on looks, or a breed featured in a TV show or movie, or some other ill-conceived reason. It is not fair for all of these dogs to lose their lives because the people who bought them put very little thought into it. And once they are an adult they are difficult to adopt, as most people want a puppy. As other commenters have said, please give adult dogs a chance!

Thank you to anyone who read my rant.

Posted at 1:28AM on Dec 13th 2007 by lunamaya

156. # 155 Minneapolis alone has 65 Pet Stores and a Big number of them sell Puppies, get your facts straight!!!

Posted at 7:37AM on Dec 13th 2007 by J

157. I understand the tragedy of puppy mills, but FORCING people to only rescue dogs is unconstitutional and unamerican. What's next? We target the problem of orphans in America and say people can ONLY adopt now and can't have your own kids? Everyone has their own choice and right to choose what to buy or what not to buy. People should be educated and try to rescue a dog, but forcing people?? I can't agree with that. Most of the high-end luxury brands people enjoy are mostly from sweatshops with 6 year old girls working there from third world countries. That to me, is inhumane.

Posted at 6:19PM on Dec 14th 2007 by Dogworld

158. #7, you are no different then a puppy mill yourself...breeding to win a contest, you keep the pups long enough to see if they have all the right markings, color, and behavior,,, Hoping at least 1 out of this liter will make it in the ring .so you can get your prize... and if they don't have what it takes you keep them in cages until you can get rid of them,,, and then you keep breeding again and again, until you can say you have a champion and then you charge more for your puppies.....All for what, a blue ribbon, or maybe a small trophy..You have no right to judge.and you should be ashamed of yourself.....

Posted at 5:46AM on Dec 15th 2007 by derby

159. i have gotton three dogs from posh puppy and all three have been ill... i have vet bills and records and have acourt date with them on Jan 2,08 in vannuys small claims court at 130 they told me i was getting healthy dogs and that is not what they sold me.. anyone who has gotton a sick dog from them should contact me at 858 967 6328 i am happy to tell you what happened to me and also contact call 213 485 1135 and report this right away so that they can stop them from selling sick dogs to people,also contact the better business bureau ,we have to stand up and stop this from happening...just walking away is letting them think it is okay to hurt us and the animals we LOVE!!!!!

Posted at 12:43AM on Dec 24th 2007 by jayme

160. The truly humane thing to do if you love animals is to get your puppy or kitten -- or adult dog or cat -- from the local humane society or shelter, NOT from a puppy mill or a kitty mill. You will be blessed with a loving and loyal pet.

Posted at 1:31AM on Feb 26th 2008 by Teresa

161. I support the BOYCOTT on pet stores. I won't even buy a toenail clipper from there. Go to Petsmart or Petco.

Posted at 12:01PM on Mar 4th 2008 by mari