http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/us/12puppies.html?ref=us

(snip)

LOS ANGELES — A pet store in the Bel-Air neighborhood deceived customers, including Hollywood celebrities, about the origin of their puppies, many of which come from unlicensed pet mills, according to a Humane Society of the United States investigation released Tuesday.

The investigation looked at dog breeders, pet auctions and pet stores that form a chain of supply for the expensive dogs that can be found along the streets of Beverly Hills, often in sweaters and rhinestone collars.

These so-called puppy mills are large-scale breeding operations that have a reputation for abuse, inbreeding and filthy conditions.

“These puppy mills apply an agricultural mind-set to the breeding of dogs,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States. “Often, they’re run by farmers who raise soybeans and corn, and this becomes another, more lucrative cash crop for them. It often becomes a dominant source of income because no money is spent on the care of these dogs.”

The tiny toy breeds that sit in wooden baby cribs at the Bel-Air store, Pets of Bel Air, sell for upward of $1,000 and are popular among the young Hollywood set.

In a videotape made in the store by the Humane Society of the United States, Paris Hilton drifts by at one point, staring at the upper shelves. Her Chihuahua’s limbs dangle over her arm and its little head scans the room. The video, taken using a hidden camera, also shows a manager telling an employee not to let customers know the extent of one puppy’s health problems.

Store employees did not return telephone calls seeking comment. In the tape, the store visuals are spliced in with clips from breeding operations in Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. The images show hundreds of dogs jumping frantically in small, outdoor cages.
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What is wrong with people? They profess to be dog lovers but then spend $1000 or more to buy dogs raised inhumanely, thereby assuring the puppy mills stay in business. If they were really dog lovers they'd adopt a dog from a shelter and give that thousand bucks to an animal welfare group. But wait, then they'd have to buy fur coats and pearl collars for their "mutts".

Stupid rich people.

-nab

I agree it is ridiculous to spend $1000 on what is essentially a mutt-labradoodles and all these other designer dogs that can be found for free at the local shelters. But I don't think all breeders should be grouped in the category of puppy mills, nor all people who buy a dog chastised, because they want a specific breed. Puppy mills and wholesalers need to be put out of operation. If you are going to breed an animal, you need to be willing and able to give it the best of care, medical and otherwise.

But I don't think all breeders should be grouped in the category of puppy mills, nor all people who buy a dog chastised, because they want a specific breed.

Though there are responsible breeders, unfortunately they are outnumbered by the vast number of people who raise dogs to sell and do it with disregard for the mother dogs and the pups.

Every person who buys a dog from a breeder - even if they ARE responsible - dooms another dog waiting for a home to death. Think about it. If dog breeding suddenly became illegal, then everyone who wants a dog would have to adopt one. Obviously that will never happen, but it's still true.

And again, any person who has their heart set on a specific breed can adopt that particular breed. There are breed-specific rescue groups in every state.

Even local rescue groups like ARF, BARC, the Haven and the Mobile SPCA routinely get full-blooded dogs and puppies, often from breeders. The perception still exists that rescue dogs are Heinz 57's...mutts. And some are...and imo, they're the best dogs anyway! But those people who must have a recognizable breed can STILL get what they want. They just have to look.

You mentioned Labradoodles...a very trendy breed. A friend of my co-worker just paid $1,500 for one. And yet we at the SPCA had six of them just two weeks ago.

-nab

And it is the irresponsible ones that give all breeders a bad rap. If breeding were illegal, I think people would look elsewhere for their animal-a different state or even a different country. Some very high-priced dogs are shipped from England and Japan. While I am very much for shutting down puppy mills, I don't want to see those who truly care about specific breeds punished in the process. I am going out on a limb here-so please don't bash me-but I raise mini dachshunds. I don't breed back to back, I don't in breed and my dogs are family and the puppies home raised. I do it not for the money(my vet bills come close to taking any "profit") but for the love of these adorable dogs. I have people calling just from word of mouth about the quality of my dogs, etc and waiting lists. I do not advertise on the internet, as I want to know who my puppies go to. All new homes are given my number, home and cell, and my email address and can call at any time, and I request updates. I have bought dogs from other similar minded breeders. My dogs are not caged, I have only only one male and I know when heats are expected so I can make appropriate decisions. I have dogs that have been spayed and are still part of the family, regardless of whether they can "produce" or not. I would never send my dog to the shelter, and would always take one back if for some reason someone couldn't take it. I have seen dachshunds that are sheltered and have recently learned from someone of a possible puppy mill with dachshunds and other small breeds in Baldwin County. I have offered to take the dachshunds and adopt them out-I do not want them for breeding or any other purpose, other than I am devoted to the breed. I love all animals, all dogs-but doxies just happen to be my favorite. I know you work with a shelter(from previous forums), and if you all ever have a dachshund and need me to help place it, I am serious-I will do everything I can to find it a home. And I know other people with some of the other breeds that I am sure would feel the same way.