February 8, 2010
AKC’s Most Popular Breeds Found in Puppy Mills
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This Labrador retriever was rescued from a PA puppy mill. Bill Smith/Main Line Animal Rescue -
Left: German shepherd at a TN puppy mill (Laura Bevan/HSUS). Golden retriever found at a PA puppy mill. (Bill Smith/Main Line Animal Rescue) -
Yorkshire terrier at a NC puppy mill. Michelle Riley/The HSUS
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Beagle rescued from a TN puppy mill. Laura Bevan/The HSUS -
This boxer was found at an Indiana puppy mill. Anne Sterling/The HSUS -
This bulldog was found at a Maryland puppy mill. Kathleen Summers/The HSUS -
This dachshund and her puppies were rescued from a West Virginia puppy mill. Kathy Milani/The HSUS -
This poodle was rescued from a North Carolina puppy mill. Frank Loftus/The HSUS -
This Shih Tzu was rescued from a Texas puppy mill. Kathy Milani/The HSUS
The American Kennel Club recently released the 10 most popular dog breeds for 2009, and The Humane Society of the United States has found these very breeds in inhumane puppy mills across the country. The HSUS warns that puppy mills profit on trendy breeds and challenges the AKC to do more to fight puppy mills.
Top 10
The HSUS and Main Line Animal Rescue have rescued thousands of dogs, including each of the AKC's top breeds, from U.S. puppy mills. Some puppy mills specialize in AKC-registered dogs. The AKC's top 10 breeds for 2009, starting with the most popular, are: Labrador retriever; German shepherd; Yorkshire terrier; golden retriever; beagle; boxer; bulldog; dachshund; poodle; and the Shih Tzu. View photos of these breeds that were rescued from puppy mills on the slider above.
"The HSUS receives complaints every day from consumers who thought they purchased their dog from a reputable source, but instead, the dog came from a puppy mill," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "We invite compassionate breeders, especially those who focus on these highlighted breeds, to work with us to ensure every puppy born comes from a healthy, well cared-for pet, not an abused puppy mill breeding dog."
"The fact that puppy mills often have various breeds on hand in order to keep up with the demand for popular breeds, demonstrates more than ever that the AKC should support legislation to crack down on puppy mills, rather than merely tout these animals' popularity—a vicious cycle that just increases the demand, as well as their registration numbers," said Bill Smith, executive director of MLAR.
Do your homework
Puppy buyers who are smitten by an adorable animal are often duped into believing that paperwork is an indication of quality. However, registration papers are often meaningless. Consumers must take the time to find a humane breeder and always visit the breeder's facility in person. Never purchase a dog from a pet store or online. Shelters and rescue groups are a great place to start when looking for a certain breed. One out of every four dogs in shelters nationwide is purebred.
Puppy Mill Facts
- Dogs at puppy mills typically receive little to no medical care; live in squalid conditions with no exercise, socialization or human interaction; and are confined inside cramped wire-floored cages for life. There is little regard for the dogs' health or any existing genetic conditions that may be passed on to the puppies.
- Breeding dogs at puppy mills must endure constant breeding cycles and are typically confined for years on end, without ever becoming part of a family.
- Reputable breeders never sell puppies over the Internet or through a pet store and will insist on meeting the family who will be purchasing the dog.
- Puppy mills contribute to the pet overpopulation problem, which results in millions of unwanted dogs euthanized at shelters every year.
For tips on finding a good breeder, visit humanesociety.org/puppy. For information on pet adoption, visit: humanesociety.org/adopt.
To learn more about puppy mills, visit humanesociety.org/puppymills.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.