Blog the Change: Puppy Mills vs Responsible Dog Breeders

Every time I've looked at the calendar this week, I've wondered what to write about for Blog the Change.  Frankly, there are so may dog causes that I am passionate about that I've even thought about skipping this time around.  Too hard to focus my thoughts.

At least that's how I felt until I read a comment on my blog.  In response to my post Puppy Mill Industry Fights New Missouri Law, good old Anonymous left the following comment:

"What a skewed and misleading article. "Puppy Mill' is a term used to slur any breeder and leaves the impression of a cruel operation. There is nothing basic about the regulations and they are designed to make it hard to raise puppies in a healthy socialized environment. Most breeders are not going to do this to their dogs and that is why they stop. They are experts in care, unlike the people behind these rules, and they care too much and know too well the ill effects on their dogs to raise them in sterile environments designed for lab animals."

I've been yelled at corrected before about my use of the term "puppy mill." 

Here's the definition of "puppy mill" as defined by the Humane Society of the United States:

"Puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers.  The puppies are sold either directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, at the mill itself, or are sold to brokers and pet shops across the country."

There are documented problems with puppy mills:

• Over breeding
• Inbreeding
• Minimal veterinary care
• Poor quality of food and shelter
• Lack of socialization with humans
• Overcrowded cages
• Killing of unwanted animals

These are some of the problems the Missouri Canine Cruelty Prevention Act was designed to prevent.  In fact, new regulations in Missouri are putting some commercial dog breeders out of business.  Do I know, for a fact, that these are "puppy mills?"  No, but I suspect many, if not all, are.

Do I want to see them put out of business?

You betcha, I do.   I'm against factory farming and confinement farming.  Yes, of all animals.  Most definitely dogs.  


To my way of thinking, there are puppy mills, commercial dog breeders, and simply dog breeders.

One of my best friends is a dog breeder - a responsible dog breeder, in my opinion.  At any given time she owns or co-owns up to two dozen Swiss Mountain Dogs and is responsible for the puppy placements.  I've known Brigitte for well over twenty years and have watched her passion for these dogs grow.  She's active in several Swissy clubs and is currently the 1st Vice President of the GSMDCA, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America, the breed's AKC recognized parent club.

Brigitte is a native of Switzerland and her first Swissy came from there and her venture has grown.  The goal of her kennel, Brush Creek Farm, is to breed and raise healthy and temperamentally sound Swissys as family companions, as active working dogs for activities such as obedience, tracking, herding, weight pulling, draft and pack dog and other events, as therapy dogs, and for conformation shows and breeding.

Her dogs are farm and family raised.  They are not confined or kenneled.  They have access to approximately 6 acreas of fenced house yard.  And, yes, they are in the house, playing with stuffies or lounging on a sofa.  

Puppies come into this world inside the house, in a well equipped area of her laundry room.  Friends - especially those with children - are encouraged to come and play with those puppies, so that socialization can begin as early as possible.

Copious records are kept on the health of each dog.  Any dog that does not "measure up" is spayed or neutered and a home is found for that dog.  Potential adopters of both show and pet quality dogs are screened very carefully.  Even the health of the pet quality dogs is followed throughout their lives.

Is Brush Creek Kennel a puppy mill?  Hardly.  In fact, Brigitte is just as opposed to puppy mills as I am.

If a dog breeder is afraid of regulations like those imposed by Missouri's Canine Cruelty Prevention Act, then I cannot believe they are responsible dog breeders.  If they cannot comply with those very basic regulations - and they are very basic, then I believe they are most probably puppy mills.

Responsible dog breeders, like my friend, do not keep their puppies and dogs in inhumane conditions.  They never sell to pet stores or directly over the internet.  They do not place profit over the health, wellness and socialization of their dogs.

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About Blog the Change at BtC4animals.com - Each 15th of January, April, July and Octobers, Bloggers write about a cause near and dear to their hearts.  If you have a blog, blog.  Or comment, tweet, share on Facebook or other social media.  Blog the Change is a fantastic opportunity to champion a cause and make a difference in the lives of animals.