| Did you know that one dog and her offspring can | | | | shops. One way you can help put puppy mills out of |
| produce about 67,000 puppies in a six-year time? | | | | business is to not buy puppies from any pet shop. |
| Considering that shocking figure it's not surprising that | | | | Another way to help is to support any legislation |
| about 4-5 million dogs and cats are euthanized each | | | | your state or country tries to pass to shut down |
| year in the United States shelters. | | | | puppy mills. |
| One of the reasons for all these unwanted dogs is | | | | What can you do personally? If you have any dogs |
| puppy mills. If puppy mills could be shut down there | | | | make sure they are fixed so they can't add to the |
| would be a significant reduction in the number of | | | | overpopulation. |
| unwanted pets. | | | | Other ways you can help is to volunteer at your local |
| The breeders at these puppy mills are often kept in | | | | shelter or with a dog rescue. Perhaps you want to |
| cages that are more like chicken coops than dog | | | | foster a dog or several dogs. |
| kennels. They are often de-barked by shoving a | | | | You can also provide unwanted dogs with a good |
| metal pipe down their throat and banging it with a | | | | home by adopting them from a dog rescue or from |
| hammer to rupture their vocal chords. The life these | | | | an animal shelter. Once home, give the dog time to |
| dogs live is unimaginable. | | | | get accustomed to his new surroundings. Let him be |
| Females are bred over and over again until they | | | | inside with the family. |
| become too old or develop some health condition | | | | If you don't already have a doggie door, get one. |
| that prevents them from being of any use to the | | | | And if you don't have a fenced yard (which shelters |
| owner, at which time they are often euthanized at | | | | and rescues usually require) put one up, even if it's |
| home by whatever means the owner chooses. | | | | just a small section outside the doggie door. This will |
| The fortunate ones end up at dog rescues. The | | | | make it easier to housebreak a dog that has never |
| breeder, after years of getting all the puppies he can | | | | been trained. |
| from her, will offer her for sale in a local paper or | | | | To adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue is a |
| online. Some rescues will watch for these ads and | | | | wonderful thing to do, but first be certain you are |
| ask if the breeder will offer to relinquish her to the | | | | ready for a new dog. Read up on how to take care |
| rescue to be adopted out or ask if the breeder will | | | | of a dog or puppy. Read up on the breed you want. |
| let the rescue buy the dog for a lower price (rescue | | | | Get some dog training materials (Cesar Millan is highly |
| funds are most always scarce). | | | | recommended). |
| Rescues make this attempt to get the female dogs | | | | Adopting a dog is a big responsibility that should be |
| out of the breeding circuit, spayed, and into a good, | | | | for the life of the dog. The same thing goes for |
| loving home. Oftentimes, if the rescues can not | | | | adopting a kitten or cat. These creatures depend on |
| intercept these dogs, they are sold to another party | | | | us to take care of them, and right now there is a lot |
| who will continue to breed the dog. | | | | we can do to improve their plight. |
| The puppies from these puppy mills end up at pet | | | | |