When you adopt a pet you still can get dogs from puppymills, so isn't that risky? ?

Question

I've noticed some people are very hypersenstive here when someone asks questions about buying a puppy and they often throw out that if you buy a puppy it is coming from a puppymill so you will have a sick dog but looking through petfinder many many many of the dogs come from puppymills so isn't adopting as risky with regards to getting a potentially sick pet?

Answer 1

When you adopt from rescue - you save a dog from dying...when you buy from a puppy from a puppy mill you enhance the life of a b*****d that is responsible for the 14 million cats and dogs that get euthanized each year.

If the puppy mill produces 20 dogs and finds 20 owners the next breeding will produce 30 dogs and so on and so on and that's how these numbers increase.  I certainly will never give my money to a puppy mill breeder.

Not only that - they are not given shots and may have a ton of diseases as puppys.  At least rescue provides an initial exam and diagnosis if there is a problem.  Many even spay or neuter the dog at no cost.  The money goes to the shelter and to help other dogs as well.

Answer 2

Any good adoption agency won't adopt out sick pets. That's just common sense.

Yes, you could potentially be getting a puppy mill puppy (what do you think some bad breeders do with dogs they don't adopt out? take them to shelters) but by ADOPTING the dogs you are not giving money to the breeders.

Answer 3

No.

Yes, some of the dogs on petfinder and similar rescue sites were rescued from puppy mills. RESCUED.

That means they were taken into a shelter, given veterinary care, and have gone through aggressiveness screening and maybe some basic training.

So there is no reason a dog should be "sick" - dogs on petfinder do not come directly from puppy mills. Some rescued dogs inevitably come with defects or health problems, but those being treated and are always listed on the dog's page.

Answer 4

Yes you will most likely get a dog that was once from a puppy mill or a back yard breeder.

Here's the thing..  for one, you get a better price..  you pay less and often get a fully vetted dog.

when you adopt, you save a life.. whether you get from a shelter or from a rescue group.

when you adopt, the money goes back to the rescue or shelter.. and NOT in the pockets of a greedy breeder!  If you buy from a breeder, that's only telling them that you support their practices.

If people would stop buying from irresponsible breeders and start adoptiong, the breeders would stop breeding.. they are in it for profit.. if puppies are not being sold, then there's no profit to be had...  we'd eventually see less shelter dogs, which means less dogs would need to be euthanized.

Answer 5

The hypersensitivity comes from when you PURCHASE the puppy, over 2/3rds of the profit goes back to the puppy mill.

When you ADOPT a dog, the money goes to the SHELTER. You are saving a life and preventing puppy mills from continuing on.

Its highly possible to adopt a dog from a puppy mill, at the very least, they deserve that. When you've never touched grass or seen the sun, you're d**n right they deserve it.

Shelters give dogs extreme tests for temperaments, health, etc. A dog that doesn't fit the bill is relocated or euthanized.

Answer 6

Puppies/Dogs...Its not a matter of where you get them! ...just as long as you get one and give it a home!  My dog cost $700.00 and he was born with a hole in his heart. His mate Lucy came from the shelter at 8 weeks old and she is in perfect health. Both are lucky because they are loved and have a home forever and ever...Even if you did get a dog that was ill, just take it to the frigging vet!! and take it home, they will love you for it and you will have a new best friend for life.....I love animals...

The  puppies/dogs from the shelters know that they have a "price on there heads".........get my point!

Answer 7

Dogs at the humane society go through rigorous health tests.  The petshops just look for the breed, not the quality. They don't care, it's just money to them. And they don't really care if there are any underlying conditions.

At the humane society all the dogs have a health and temperment report done on them.  If they have ANY condition the humane society reports it and it's on the pet's "about me" sheet.

Answer 8

You are right, it is possible.  The future health of any rescue or shelter pet is an unknown, and they could certainly have been a puppy mill dog. If no genetic testing was done prior to breeding that puppy, he may have a genetic condition that could POSSIBLY surface down the line.  Any regular health concerns are addressed by the shelter before they adopt out the puppy though.

The caution that people are giving here, is not to support the puppy mill by BUYING a dog from a puppy mill.   Not only do puppy mills charge the same, sometimes more for a puppy as a responsible breeder would--but in buying a puppy from them--you are supporting what they are doing.  

Nobody is against the puppy per se--it is supporting an industry financially, that should not exist at all.  By adopting a possible puppy mill pet that is in a shelter, you are helping the puppy (and the shelter to continue to help homeless animals)--and not the puppymiller.   Shelters will treat sick animals, give vaccines & spay or neuter.   A sick animal bought from a puppy mill / pet store may not have received proper care, and they will not reimburse you if your puppy gets sick.

Answer 9

Yes the puppy could be sick, but you aren't spending $2000 on a sickly puppy that directly goes into the puppy mill's pockets.  By buying the puppy from a mill you are supporting a horrible business and also condemning the parents of your puppy to a life of breeding in confined, filthy conditions.

Also dogs that come from rescues and shelters are evaluated by a vet and their temperament is observed, so if the puppy is going to have problems it may be known sooner and the owner knows what they are signing on for.  Mills have no regard for the health or well being of their dogs, they are in it for the money, so they couldn't care less about these evaluations.

You never know when a pet is going to have problems in the future.  Even the best show parents can produce animals that go on to have health problems (though it is more unlikely).  When you get a pet you have to be prepared for anything, as nothing in life is certain.  

Answer 10

adopting means your money goes to the shelter NOT to supporting the puppy mill - this is the difference you are not rewarding somebody for supporting the puppy mill like when you buy from a pet store..

the problem ISNT just with the pups - its with condeming mom and dad dogs to live in horrid situations...

read this link

http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/What-are-Pu...

Answer 11

It's possible since shelters and rescues also rescue puppy mill dogs if they come their way.

Difference is the dog is vetted already, tested for different diseases, cured of whatever parasites, etc. it has, socialized in foster (if a breed rescue).   The poor dog has finally learned what it is to live in a family situation and the dog's issues are addressed and he is helped to get over it.

You stand a much better chance of knowing what you get, and you are getting a vetted, cured dog who has been socialized and potty trained.

You are also not perpetuating the horrors of puppy mills by paying them money for the sickly, sad pups they turn out.

Answer 12

You do what you can to get a healthy pet.  If you knowingly adopt a puppy from a pet store that gets it's puppies from puppy mills, you are supporting the continued breeding at puppy mills.  

If you adopt a dog that was rescued from a puppy mill, chances are that animal control officials have shut that puppy mill down and they will no longer be breeding more dogs.  

As far as the health of the animal, it is truly hit or miss.  I have had dogs from reputable breeders in our family that die at age 8 and dogs from pet stores that live to be 15, so doing health checks and screenings does not always guarantee a healthy pet.

Answer 13

NO!

You are not putting money into the hands of the breeder, therefore, causing him to stop breeding!!! No money, no business, no dogs!

Answer 14

they are vetted and temperament tested before u get one they cant be ill and adopted out

Answer 15

buying a puppy from a qualified breeder is not wrong,buying from a byb or pet store is.That goes for birds,fish,rodents and reptiles too.

The dogs that come into the shelters are put through all kinds of health tests,and are certified healthy before going to a new home.