It astounds me that so many people still don’t realize that when they buy a puppy at a pet store, 99% of the time, the pup is from a puppy mill.  Or even when someone buys a dog who is a mixed breed, specifically like the Poodle mixes, these dogs most often will be from a puppy mill.  Good breeders simply won’t breed mixes.  But the public is still demanding these dogs due to lack of education on their part.  They’re not aware that the dogs come from mills, AND they don’t realize that a poodle mix is not guaranteed to be “hypo-allergenic” like so many people believe.  The truth is, when you mix breeds, there are no guarantees that the resulting puppies will have the desired attributes.  So, for example, if you’re looking for a larger hypo-allergenic dog and you choose a Labradoodle, the dog may have hair like a Lab instead of a Poodle, therefore making it NOT hypo-allergenic.

New this month, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has set up a hot line to report if you suspect that a breeder is a puppy mill.  The number is 1-877-MILL-TIP.  The HSUS has had a task force in place since June to investigate puppy mills and work with law enforcement, animal shelters, and other agencies to stop abuse and to ensure enforcement of existing laws. Since that time, the HSUS has assisted in the rescue of more than 1,200 dogs and puppies from abusive situations at puppy mills.