Chubs is my own puppy mill rescue. He has eye, foot, spine, and joint problems. At age 2 he needs daily medications and massage therapy to keep him comfortable.

The recent dog seizure has brought the term “puppy mill” into the forefront of our minds. When dogs are raised as livestock and purely for profit, this environment can create problems, both physical and psychological. This is something that each of you needs to consider as a potential adopter.

The majority of large scale dog breeders do not even consider the health of the dogs they are breeding. First, let’s look at the moms in these facilities. Every heat cycle that a dog endures increases her risk of getting mammary cancer. This is never considered in the breeding lifespan of these dogs. I actually heard a veterinarian that works with Amish dog breeders in Indiana testify at the statehouse that if a dog comes in season she should be bred, allowing her to have litters twice  a year beginning at 6 moths and lasting until she is used up. His justification was that nature created her cycle that way, so it was acceptable. I couldn’t help but think that I would not want my 12 year old daughter  or 60 year old mother to have a baby just because her natural cycle allowed it! Intact older females are also more susceptible to uterine infections that, if untreated, usually lead to death.

Most of these dogs are not screened for health defects that can be passed on to the puppies, or even looked at to see if they actually meet the conformation and description of the breed they are supposed to be. The American Kennel Club has created a standard for each registered breed that breeders should strive to reach and uphold. Watch a dog show to get an idea of what each breed of dog should look like. Of course not every dog will be perfect, but it’s very sad when a breed becomes popular and is changed in size, shape, and temperament,  simply because they are bred indiscriminately to make money. Remember also that few professional breeders purposely create mixed breed or designer dogs to offer for sale to the public.

Preventative health care is not in the vocabulary of most large scale dog breeders. Who could afford heartworm and parasite prevention, dental care, grooming, etc. for 100 or more dogs? Not many of us!

The rehabilitation time for each of these dogs is going to vary greatly. Some have never been outside a cage, felt grass, been in a house, or experienced people just loving them. They still look at people with fear, and we have to teach them that touch can be kind. Housebreaking, leash walking, and coming when called can be issues that may seem insurmountable.

I ask you to do your homework and make sure that you know what you are getting into if you adopt a mill rescue. Every shelter dog can come with issues, but some of the mill dogs never recover completely psychologically. Rescuing any shelter dog can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime if you are committed and patient. Some of the dogs may start becoming available next week, while others won’t be available for months. Please watch the website for more information.