Finding and purchasing a puppy now a day has become very simple. You can find any breed of puppies being sold in local pet stores, online from so-called "private breeders" or people listing puppies for sale in local papers. However, finding the right ethical and reputable breeder to purchase from is another story. Why? Because many people and places now claim they are either "USDA licensed breeders", they are "licensed kennels" or simply the "private breeder" and for someone simply looking for a healthy puppy to purchase, this certainly can be very misleading. Therefore, because of our extensive knowledge in the pet industry and the love we have for animals, we decided to make people aware of some key factors when purchasing a pet from any one or any place. The first thing is to get yourself familiar with the different types of places and people that sell puppies:
PUPPY MILLS - These are places where puppies, especially in pet stores, originate from - no matter what ANY ONE says; including the pet store sales person (heck, they want to make the high commission on the sale!). Puppy mills are typically located in rural areas and in discreet buildings or barns. Driving by, you would never know it. There is no big signs attracting attention to them that is for sure. Mills can stock 50-500 dogs at one time (and more!). Adult dogs are boarded in cages; one on top of another, and have very little human contact. Adult females are bred every 6 months (even at 6 months of age!) and are bred over and over again until a puppy mill owner has no use for the female or male anymore. Because of the lack of
attention, socialization with humans and other dogs and most importantly, a healthy and nutritional diet these adult dogs don't have, their off-spring can suffer immensely. Conditions of these puppy mills are regularly very filthy, cruel and not closely monitored by the USDA. Puppy mills highly populate (Lancaster) Pennsylvania, Missouri, Indiana, and Arkansas. What has kept these places in business is not only the lack of monitoring by the US Government, but the supply and demand the consumer has given to these horrible places as people still continue to buy pet store puppies, especially. Please note: Puppy mill owners have gotten savvy in the marketing and selling of puppies directly to the public, especially over the internet themselves to make a few hundred or a thousand dollars more in their pocket on each puppy and you would never know it. IT IS NOT SUGGESTED TO PURCHASE ANY PUPPY OVER THE INTERENT. To learn more about Puppy Mills and how you can help stop them, visit Stop Puppy Mills.
PUPPY BUSINESS BROKERS & PET STORES - These are businesses that purchase puppies from puppy mills directly as little as $75 per puppy. Yes, we did say $75.00 but because they buy at least a litter at a time, they can get the "bundle" deal. If a pet store is not dealing with the puppy mill directly, they deal strictly with a puppy business broker instead (which relatively sells puppies very cheap as well to pet businesses). Puppy businesses brokers basically vaccinate the puppies first and/or second set of shots, administer a wormer, temporarily house them and then take care of the coordination of transportation to stores. They typically split up litters by sending one to one store, another to another store and so one. These puppies are 
regularly not given the proper care and at times, taken away from their moms too early when the puppy business broker gets them. They are then stored again in cages (and at times, cramped) in tractor trailers and shipped all over the USA to pet stores. Unfortunately, there have been many reports of puppies during the shipment process getting very sick and even dying. So, when you have a pet store claiming to "hand pick" their puppies from their "so called breeders", they are basically picking a puppy from the "available puppies in stock" list from that particular puppy business broker.
PRIVATE PUPPY BROKERS - There is no secret knocks on someone’s door to enter or any one handing out business cards with this profession. These "private" puppy brokers discreetly market and sell their puppies in many different ways directly to the public and regularly, tell the consumer they are the "breeder” themselves. As with the "puppy business broker", private brokers relatively purchase a litter from either the puppy mill itself or from a puppy "business" broker (mentioned above) very cheap and then in turn sell them for $500-$2500 a puppy. Private puppy brokers often sell their puppies online (very easy to disguise themselves as the breeder) or through local newspapers. Because online sales of puppies have become very popular, THE PURCHASE OF ANY PUPPY ONLINE IS NOT SUGGESTED unless you are planning on traveling to that seller’s house yourself. Posting pictures of cute puppies and even the "so called" parents over the internet can not be validated unless you are there in person, seeing them for yourself and how they are cared for, etc.
Another way private puppy brokers have gotten savvy or should we say greedy in keeping the puppy mill business alive is also disguising themselves as the "breeder" and placing ads in local papers. Just when you think you are going to a person's home in your local area and stepping foot in their nice, private home, does not constitute them as a breeder UNLESS you see the parents of those puppies yourself! If the parents of those puppies are not on the premises, walk away! Because puppies by the age of 8 weeks old (the legal age to sell a puppy, by the way) will have some sort of medical history with some vet at this time, ask to see the paperwork and name of the caring veterinarian of those puppies and parents. If paperwork is listed out of state or even the vet for that matter and the "breeder" can not show you the parents in person at the time of your visit, this red flag can not get any redder in color! Some common lies a private puppy broker will tell you: (a.) Puppies parents are not here right now - they (or she) is at my friend’s house (b.) The puppies’ mom is at the groomer, vet, etc... (c.). I don't have any documented medical history from a local vet as I have been administering puppy vaccinations by myself.
Another red flag of a private puppy broker is someone who has more than one litter and breed at one time in their home. Don't be fooled that all the puppies looking healthy, happy and being well taken care of during your visit. Just be weary and think of where this person got a litter of puppies from, especially a few different breeds at one time with no adult dogs present. Again, do your research and ask as many questions as you can! For example, here are some additional key questions to ask any potential "breeder" you meet: (a.) How old are the parents? (b.) How many times has the mom been bred? (c.) Has either parent suffered any illness? (d.) Where are the dogs housed? (e.) Any health guarantees? (f.) Has either parent's eyes, knees and hips tested? (g.) Do you offer a contract? (h.) Do you have any references on past adoptions? (i.) May I see the parents health records?
Also, if you have the chance to meet the mom to a puppy, always take notice of her personality as it will be a key factor of her offspring's future temperament.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE READ ALL 3 PAGES ON MSNBC's NEWS REPORT
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