Commercial Breeding

Operations

Sarah Richardson
Instructor

ANSC 250: Companion

Animals in Society

©2008 William J Sisti [CC BY-SA 2.0] https://bit.ly/2PyDuj6

 Objectives
• Define a commercial breeding operation and a puppy mill

• Discuss the historical roots of puppy mills, and how these are connected
to pet stores

• Identify the main places puppies from puppy mills are sold

• Locate specific areas these facilities are commonly found, and which
groups of people tend to manage these
Pet Store Puppies: Where Do They Come From?

©2011 smerikal [CC BY-SA 2.0] https://bit.ly/2PxAJ1r

 Large Scale Commercial Breeding Operations

Large-scale breeding facilities where companion animals are

_____routinely______ in order to make a __profit____ from the offspring
produced

Puppies = __product_____

Some may care for the animals’ needs, but others more questionable…
 What is a _puppy mill__________?

No ___legal____ definition

A large-scale commercial breeding operation where _____profit_

is the priority over the ____basic needs________of the dogs

Basic needs may be considered in other breeding operations

• Consumers can’t tell difference
• Never see where puppies are born
Puppy Mills
 Where Are Puppies From Puppy Mills Sold?

__pet stores_______ Newspaper Classifieds

Brokers or middlemen Craigslist
____online_____ Directly to the ____public___
 Connection to Pet Stores

Pet stores attempt to avoid

_stigma_____

Consumer never meets

____breeders____

Petland, Furry Babies, and Happiness is

Pets have had puppies linked back to
known puppy mills

______consumer__ fraud ©2013 Fibonacci Blue [CC BY 2.0] https://bit.ly/2PwpEhl

 History of Puppy Mills

Purebred puppies initially promoted by the

United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) as a __cash crop_______for farmers
• ___dust bowl_______
• Post-WWII
• Purebred dog demand

Breeders licensed and inspected by the

_USDA_____

__Amish____ and Mennonite communities

©2006 Cab02 [CC BY-SA 3.0] https://bit.ly/31WCAQ1
 Where Are Puppy Mills Located?

_10,000______ in country

_____midwestern______ states
• ___missouri_____ #1 state
• Pennsylvania also has large number
• Lancaster County (Amish)

Sold and shipped across country

• 2-4 million puppies born each year
©2018 Adman Payne [CC BY-SA 4.0] https://bit.ly/2JzX0YO
 Puppy Mills:
Welfare Issues

Sarah Richardson
Instructor

ANSC 250: Companion

Animals in Society

©2011 Krotz [CC BY-SA 3.0] https://bit.ly/2NrD7UN

 Objectives

• Discuss the concerns regarding puppies consumers purchase from

commercial breeding facilities and puppy mills

• Discuss the welfare concerns for breeding stock in puppy mills

 Puppies From Breeding Operations
• ___illness______ and disease

• ____fearfull_____ behavior
–Not well socialized
–Early part of life in puppy mill

• _hereditary______ diseases and

disorders
–___inbreeding_______
–Lack of health testing
 Illness in Pet Store Puppies

• 2012, canine ___distemper______

outbreak in Chicago area pet stores

• Stores sold exposed puppies

• 10 cases over 2 month period

– Most puppies __died____
 Illness in Pet Store Puppies

• In 2017, pet store puppies source of

outbreak of multi-drug resistant
______campylobacter__________
bacteria
– Petland stores
– 113 people across 17 states were infected

• ____common_____ for parasites, viruses,

and bacterial infections in pet store
puppies
 Behavioral Issues in Puppies
“Behavioral and psychological outcomes for dogs sold as puppies through pet stores
and/or born in commercial breeding establishments. Current knowledge and putative
causes,” McMillan, F.D., Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and
Research, (2017).

Conclusions;
• Puppies sold under_8___ weeks more likely to develop ____fear__ and _____aggression________
issues
• Puppies from less responsible breeders were more likely to develop __undesireahle__________
behaviors
• Most common: aggression towards family members, strangers, and other dogs
• Fear towards unfamiliar things, and separation based fear also common
 Factors That Cause Behavioral Issues
Poor ___breeding______
• Inbreeding and overbreeding
• No consideration of temperament

____maternal_____ stress
• Impact before birth

Lack of _____socialization________ in
early life
• In breeding operation
• In transport
• At store
©2008 Gopal Aggarwal [CC BY 2.0] https://bit.ly/2ovuro1
 Breeding Stock (Parents)

• Poor living conditions

• Small, ___stacked____ cages
• _______-bottomed flooring

• Bred young, ___constant_____

breeding
• Minimal vet care or grooming
• Physical and emotional trauma
• Most is ___legal__ under federal
law
 Breeding Stock (Parents)
“Mental health of dogs formerly used as ‘breeding stock’ in commercial breeding
establishments,” McMillan, F.D., Journal of the International Society for Applied Ethology,
(2011).

Research showing lasting __mental_____ and ___emotional_____trauma of dogs rescued

from puppy mills

Possible ___learning______ deficits

Difficulty in coping successfully with normal existence

Can acclimate with time and behavioral rehabilitation

Sophie
 The Five Domains of Animal Welfare
1. ________
• Receive adequate and quality food and water
2. Environment
• Enough space, shelter from elements, comfortable bedding,
fresh air
3. ________
• Proper body condition, little to no injury, disease, or
impairments
4. Behavior
• Free movement, exploration, enrichment, engaging
experiences, social interactions
5. Overall ________ state
• Experiences pleasure, gratifying behaviors, comfort,
calmness, little stress
 Puppy Mills and the Law

Sarah Richardson
Instructor

ANSC 250: Companion

Animals in Society
 Objectives

• Understand the roles of various legislative acts and organizations

focusing on breeding operations, including the Animal Welfare Act
and AKC registration

• Identify the main red flags we see with puppy mill situations
 Animal welfare Act
Federal law requiring facilities that sell to brokers, pet
stores, or to consumers online to be licensed and
inspected by the USDA

Dogs must have adequate food, water, vet care when

needed (minimal standards)

Small, wire-bottomed cages allowed

• Enough space to sit, stand, lie down, and turn around
• Add 6 inches higher than the dog’s head, and 6 inches
longer than the length of the body

Breeders selling directly to the public are not licensed

and inspected
 Puppy Mill Legislation
Breeder licensing Laws
• Vary state to state
• Generally for breeders with many dogs
• Same issues with enforcement as AWA

State Lemon Laws

• Protects consumers from buying sick puppies
• Vary from state to state

Illinois Lemon Law

• Adopted after distemper outbreak
• Exchange or return sick puppies

Illinois Pet Disclosure Law

• Pet stores and animal shelters must disclose pet origin
(breeder) and medical history
 AKC Registration and USDA Licensing

Puppy mill dogs can and often are

registered with the American Kennel Club
(AKC)
• AKC opposes most legislation meant to
crack down on puppy mills

“licensed breeder”:
• Commercial breeding facilities selling to
pet stores or online are required to be
licensed by the USDA
 Red Flags for Breeders
• Can not visit facility or breeding stock

• No waiting lists

• Breeds many different breeds

• Includes designer dogs

• No health testing

• No return policies
• Often end up in shelters
 Red Flags for Breeders

• ship puppies

• Sell to pet stores

• May be USDA or state licensed

• Off-standard sizes or colors

 What Can You Do?

Adopt from reputable shelters/rescues

Purchase from responsible breeders
Don’t support stores selling puppies and kittens
Educate your friends and family!