I am sure most of you have at one time or another crossed a pet store with cute little, happy puppies staring at you through the glass windows. Animals bring such joy and wonder into our lives. What can be more exciting than sharing your life with a young puppy as it grows; watching it develop its own personality, and experiencing the unconditional love that is given by our furry, four-legged friends? As any devoted pet owner can tell you, proper care and nutrition can help establish a foundation of good health and ensures a long, happy life for your pet. Unfortunately, many consumers are unaware that the sweet little puppy that peered hopefully at them from the pet store window or the enticing advertisement in the newspaper that offered a pure bred puppy for such a bargain often comes with a hidden catch – these puppies, and their abundance of health problems, may be coming from a puppy mill.
Puppy mills are either operated in private homes, farms or underground run organizations where they are not easily monitored by animal control units. It’s a large-scale commercial, outside, breeding facility with many different breeds of dogs. Dogs are forced to breed continuously without any rest between cycles. They’re bred solely for profit, without any concern for their well-being. The quantity of the puppies being produced matters, not the quality. This causes unmonitored genetic defects and personality disorders to be passed on from generation to generation. People who buy these puppies end up with very high veterinary bills because their puppies are so sick and need a lot of medical attention. Many of the puppies sold have already known illnesses such as Epilepsy, Heart disease, Kidney disease, Musculoskeletal, Endocrine disorders, Blood disorders, Deafness, Eye problems, Respiratory disorders, and so much more.
It’s also possible that these unsocial and maladjusted dogs will be disposed of when their owners cannot deal with their problems. It takes a lot of...