Sherry Faulkner, Bartlesville, OK (10/24/2007 9:47:47 AM)

While I can certainly appreciate the care and concern Ms. Ross and Ms. Harrison show for their dogs, they are still puppy millers. They do not appear to be breeding dogs to improve the breed, only to line their pocketbooks. I have to wonder if they do genetic testing on their breeding stock to prevent inherited diseases from being passed on? I can also appreciate the efforts they are making to correct a deplorable situation in this state with regard to puppy mills, but still, puppy mills are puppy mills.

As the president of a small basset rescue (Ozark Mountain Basset Rescue, Inc.), I can certainly attest to the fact that many of the dogs out there that are being passed off as purebred bassets, most certainly are not. Several times we have been approached by someone wanting an unaltered dog for breeding purposes and when they find out they won't get one until it's been spayed/neutered, they hang up. And there have been times when we've been told that it's okay that they don't have papers, they'll just use the ones from a dog that has died.

The deformities, congential illnesses, bad temperament, and overall condition of dogs we know to have come from puppy mills is enough to make you sick, yet these dogs continue to be bred and their pups are thrown out to the public and many times will also be bred because the owners think it would be fun to have just one litter or their children should know where babies are born, etc. Or, even worse, they just don't care about the importance of altering their pet.

Regardless of what has been said, the poor quality dogs coming from filthy, disreputable mills are the majority of what's being presented to the public as shining examples of their breed. These "good" millers are the minority. Breeding good dogs takes time, money, commitment, and as most show breeders who do it right will tell you, they do not make money on the pups they do sell. Millers are in it only to make money, and they will breed their bitches from their first cycle at 6 months of age and every cycle from then on until the poor dog is worn out (as compared to a reputable breeder who will breed once a year or once every two years if that often). These "used up" mill dogs then go to puppy mill auctions where they are sold to upstart millers who continue breeding them until the size of the litters start to severely diminish and the dog begins to be a liability instead of an asset. Some millers will then send them to breed rescues, (most are simply destroyed), and by that time the poor dog is so mentally and physically traumatized that often it can't be rehabilitated. If anyone doubts this, please go to Wedington Animal Hospital in Fayetteville, AR and visit with our 4 mill girls. They have been so emotionally traumatized that our staff behaviorist fears they can't be saved. If this turns out to be the case, I'm going to have to be the one to hold them and try to ease them as they are put down - out of their misery.

Puppy mills continue to add misery to an already overcrowded animal population. Shelters and rescues are overflowing now with wonderful dogs who need homes, yet people continue to purchase dogs at pet stores and from back yard breeders. This is only perpetuating an already pitiful situation. What was the statistic I read recently - Tulsa Animal Control put down over 13,000 adoptable dogs last year? What a tragedy... yet puppy milling continues with a flourish.

There is a statistic that says in seven years, one male and one female and their offspring can produce 4372 dogs. Another statistic says: Every day 10,000 humans are born in the U.S. Every day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in the U.S. At this rate there will never be enough homes for these animals. Every year 4 to 6 million animals are euthanized because there are no homes available!

And some of us can defend puppy milling. Think about it. Please.

Karen, Tulsa (10/24/2007 10:14:03 AM)

It breaks my heart to see so many dogs produced at breeders when there are so many dogs who need to be rescued. I have always had rescue dogs, and my current one is just the joy of my life. I really think that breeders should be limited as to the number of pups that they can breed each year, if at all.

Mike, Stillwater (10/24/2007 11:18:15 AM)

It makes me sick that the Tulsa World picks these individuals to showcase "responsible" breeding. As said earlier, a puppy mill is a puppy mill, regardless of how big the pens are or if you know all 30 of your dogs' names. 30 breeding dogs? Are you kidding me?

Tulsa World, here are a few signs of a responsible breeder that you should have asked about:

Do you want your puppy back if the owner can't take care of it anymore? A responsible breeder would.

Do you require that your puppies are spayed/neutered? A responsible breeder would.

Do you refuse to sell to pet stores, puppy brokers and the like? A responsible breeder would.

This is definately some of the most irresponsible journalism I have ever seen.

Liz, Tulsa (10/24/2007 11:29:52 AM)

These are clean places, and the animals are not being significantly abused, if at all. So I make a huge distinction between breeders like this and the ones we've seen horrid pictures of lately.

.

Still, I have to agree with posts #1 and #2. I don't like breeding dogs with so many homeless, and the ones being bred are not always improvements or even pure breds. I love dogs of almost any type -- excepting the fierce pit bulls -- and it's rather Nazi-ish of people to insist on a pure breed as a pet. If they want specific behaviors from a pet, they perhaps should obtain something with batteries.

BONNIE, LAMAR, AR (10/24/2007 12:03:17 PM)

I AM A BREEDER IN ARKANSAS AND HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING T/W ARTICLES. I HAVE 115 ADULT DOGS AND YES, I KNOW EVERYONE'S NAME AND CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING YOU WISH TO KNOW ABOUT IT. THEIR PENS ARE CLEANED DAILY, DISINFECTED ON A WEEKLY BASIS, FEED THE BEST FEED I CAN FIND, NOT FROM WALMART OR A FEED STORE, THEY RECEIVE FRESH WATER DAILY AND THEIR FEEDERS ARE CLEANED DAILY. YES THIS IS A FULL TIME JOB NOT TO MENTION THE PAPER WORK THAT IS REQUIRED IF YOU ARE USDA INSPECTED. IN ARKANSAS YOUR VET ALSO HAS TO INSPECT YOUR KENNEL ON A YEARLY BASIS. MY VET BILL IS $5-6000.OO PER YEAR, AS ANYONE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION RECEIVES QUALITY VET CARE. IF YOU WISH TO STOP ALOT OF UNWANTED PUPPIES, THEN STOP THE UNLICENSED BREEDER, STOP THE SELLING AT WALMART OR OTHER PARKING LOTS, STOP THE SELLING AT YARDSALES. YES, ANYONE THAT PURCHASES A PUPPY FROM ME MAY RETURN IT TO ME ANYTIME FOR ANY REASON. I HAVE "GIVEN" ALOT OF PUPPIES, PAPILLION, CAVILIER KING CHARLES ETC, TO OLDER CITIZENS THAT CANNOT AFFORD THEM JUST SO THEY WILL HAVE A COMPANION. OUR BABIES, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE TO US, ARE TREATED FAR BETTER THAN MOST PEOPLES CHILDREN. SO TULSA WORLD NEEDS TO DO A SEGMENT ON "UNWANTED/ABUSED" CHILDREN THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR. THE PARENTS GET ON WELFARE, RIDE THE SYSTEM, GET THE FOOD STAMPS TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN AND SELL THEM TO GET A FAST BUCK. NO I DO NOT APPROVE OF "PUPPY MILLS" HOWEVER, IF THE DEMAND FOR "GOOD" PUPPIES WAS NOT OUT THERE THEN WE WOULD NOT NEED TO RAISE BABIES. WHETHER YOU SHOW OR DO AGILITY, IF YOU ARE "BREEDING" AND "SELLING" PUPPIES THEN YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN THE COMMERICIAL BREEDER, YOU JUST WISH THEM TO BE REGULATED AND NOT "SHOW PEOPLE." WELL, I AM A BREEDER AND I ALSO SHOW MY BABIES SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THE QUALITY OF BABIES THAT I HAVE.

David Huff, (10/24/2007 1:20:33 PM)

People like Sherry Faulkner and others writing in are just ignorant idiots. Where and who do you think produces healthy puppy's with good blood lines? Do think the Stork brings them from Heaven. Somebody has to produce them. You people seem to have this idea that maybe you can by a perfect pup from some one in Jenks that lives in a million dollar home and has 1 female that had pups and the family put the pups for sale in the Tulsa World. That is just another type of back yard breeder, people like that know very little about breeding and razing pups. Most of them do not know who 1 dog that is in the pups mothers pedigree.Get off your high horses people, you want your cake and eat it to. You do not want kennels that know what the heck they are doing razing dogs, you want some fairy tale family or something to that effect sending these pups down from Santa Claus town. If you want a great top of the line dog or pup you go to a breeder that's knows there stuff, they might have 10 dogs and they might have 30 ,but the breeder is razeing the best, and they are well taken care of by the good breeders. Would you go and bye a $100,000 race horse from some ones back yard, or a pet store?, hell no you wouldn't, you would go to one of Kentucky's best horse farms , God for bid it might be the largest, LOL. You people need to get real and get a life. We do all agree on one thing and that is the low life scum bags breeding dogs in concentration camp conditions need to be stopped ASAP.

Heather, Astoria (2/10/2008 11:21:50 PM)

I called a women that had a ad in the local newspaper for puppy's. When talkig to the women's husbend. He told me that we could work out a deal. I thought hmm ok. Anyways, I explained to the man, that my son wanted the dog. The man told me that he could work out a deal.

Well I went to this house and, walked into the house were there were at least ten or more dogs..All yorkie's. And my son started looking at them. Mama I found the one I want.

So we began talking about the dog, she is almost a year old. And the man starting talking about, the dog. And said I was going to be given the dog on loan.. And then he said they wanted her to have for litters of pups. and she is only almost a year in April.
And I get no papers for the dog, untill she has had four litters. And that it will take five years...and the owner keeps all the pups. And at the five years I will get all papers and right's to the dog..Is this puppy milling? please help me out..

Heather, Astoria (2/11/2008 1:30:55 PM)

I added comment on 02-10-08 @11:21 pm And if any one knows something or a website that can help me out. please feel free to email me. Because I am not sure as to how this web site works just yet.

I have the Yorkie, that I wrote about in the date above.

Thank you, Heather.. Well I guess you can not leave your email adddress in here..So I will keep checking comments on here..

dog moma, tulsa (3/18/2008 12:27:02 PM)

heather - that is more the puppy milling..that is a new one on me. I have never heard of this before. Take the dog -- and when FORMER OWNER GUY calls at breeding time - (because he obvisoulsy thinks your a dim wit) - ask him, if it is a problem that you had the dog alterted?

Take the dog home. don't sign anything from greedy old guy - just take the dog.

who's it, collinsville (5/9/2008 7:58:54 PM)

Can someone just tell me WHERE to find a pure bred
miniature schnauzer that does not have all the hang-ups
of a puppy mill dog? With all of this negative flap, one
wonders if one even wants to take a chance.

Susan, (10/25/2007 7:20:24 PM)

Joe Blow Know-It-All, I don't agree with everything you say but I have to admit you have all too many rescues pegged. *G* However, being in rescue for many years, let me say this: there is rescue, and there is rescue. Like any other animal purveying entity, be it a breeder, rescue or shelter, it is wise to do some background checking. Not all 'rescue' dogs are created equal; and not all are from poor or bad homes. Sometimes, they get into rescues as a result of accidents. Owners who die, owners who get divorced and are forced to move where the dog can't go. Yes, a great many dogs who end up in shelters are somebody else's problem, which is why I do get annoyed with the "don't buy from a breeder!" claptrap that so many get into. And you are right, it is heinous to lay a guilt trip on people who choose to get a home raised puppy rather than take a chance with THEIR child's face on a shelter minion. But rescues are not all that way.

I ran a rescue organization for many years. I stopped working with others, though, because of something that I label 'savior mentality.' And the rescue world is ripe with it. There are a LOT of people in rescue who are not really doing it for the dogs, though in their hearts they truly believe they are. But their actions speak louder than their intentions. These are the control freaks like the people Ellen DeGeneres got into it with; self-appointed demigods who are the ONLY ones capable of deciding where little Fluffy can go... as if no one else on earth has the qualifications, or the dog's best interests at heart. In essence, you do not *own* a dog you rescue from people like this; you are merely allowed to foster it for them until they decide you are not doing a good enough job, and they can (and will!) take it back at any time. You can't find it another home if it does not work out, and if it DOESN'T work out it is never because they misrepresented the dog or failed to properly socialize it before re-homing (a process that can take 6 months or better, at times) it is always because the prospective 'adopter' wasn't good enough. They love to smear guilt, because it feeds their egos about how holy they are and how much better they are than the common herd of humans, who cannot be trusted, you know.

No, not all rescues are like this. But too many are, as one poster on another forum mentioned, 'First off, while there are some decent people who do animal rescue, there are also a lot of holier than thou, arrogant, bitchy rich housewives with more time than brains who bill themselves as "animal rescuers".' This is too often true for comfort, and it is why I stopped working with others. After having one of my 'partners' inform me that she wanted to 'rescue' her neighbor's dog, (read: STEAL it) because it 'wasn't getting enough attention,' I'd had enough. Thousands of animals languish in shelters close to the long end of a short needle, and this idiot is worried that the neighbor's dog, who was overweight and spoiled, wasn't being 'properly' cared for. This is where collectors come from, BTW.

There is room in this world for all of us, and if we *truly* want to walk the walk about animal welfare, and not just talk about it, we will STOP shooting at each other and start working together. But I think it is more likely that Santa Claus Land will open up a puppy business before that ever takes place... *sigh*.

Norma, Lafayette (10/26/2007 6:51:25 PM)

Wow i was so suprised by all the rescues writing in to complain. For 20 years now as a breeder i have worked right beside the rescuers and rescue groups. Each and every litter born to my girls 1 female is reserved for sale to profit the rescue. I have never had one rescue tell me No i don't want that $1,000. because its breeder money!

What makes them think we don't care about our dogs. Mine are micro chipped and every puppy that leaves here leaves with one of my chips. I have had my sold puppies stolen and lost in other states. The pup showed up in a vet's office or animal control or a rescue. They call me we make arrangements to get it back to me.

When we had our last hurricane here do you think when volunteers showed up to help out that we said "are you a breeder?" All breeders in safe areas opened their doors to all animals in need.

You people are forgetting a good breeder stands by her dogs all through their lives.

Like me some have a lifetime buy back policy because we know what kind of stock it comes out of and we be glad to have that line back in our kennel. These dogs each and everyone of them are our 2nd children and of course we know each and everyones name and personality. No dog goes neglicted or hungry in our care and we have that cute little mutts who wander in our lives and stay a while. We not in it for the paperwork they hold with a registry. We love the breed and know alot about our breeds.

RESCUERS DON"T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU! Remember responsible breeder chip their pups and we are on your side and want your group out of work. Its the pet owners who are careless and making mutts. 90% of your dogs are half breeds or designers. Its rare that animal control gets any pure breeds.

I am schnauzer, yorkie & Maltese rescuer as well as a breeder. every rescue gets fixed and made healthy. Why because i love the breed thats a part of them! My breeder girls support them and they go to homes or another chapters where someone inquired for that kind of dog.

If i'm so bad than why do 1578 dogs per year have me and my girls to thank for their vet treatments and beauty parlor appointments. Rescue everywhere do hand to hand delivery and i carried many in my trips from breeder conventions or on vacations.

KEEP BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU, IN THIS STATE DOGS THAT BITE GET PUT TO SLEEP!

Amber, Stillwater (10/28/2007 5:06:52 PM)

This is for Mike you said this is irresponsible journalism. No, irresponsible journalism is letting your biases do the reporting and not being objective. I do not like puppy mills I will agree with you on that, they disgust me, but I am also a journalism and broadcasting major and unless I am writing an opinion piece on puppy mills, I would never just let one side of the issue be heard. That is what gets newspapers sued.

Susan, (10/29/2007 8:04:55 PM)

This is for Amber: if you are a journalism and broadcasting major you need to go BACK to school if you think this series of articles lacked bias. Where are the REAL breeders, Amber? Where is their voice? We heard from a lot of "USDA licensed" breeders (which equates to commercial puppy farmers.) Is USDA licensure a guarantee of quality? If so, then *why* did the very FIRST article in this series make such a big deal about how all these 'licensed breeders' were FAILING to meet basic standards of quality of care...?

*Some* USDA breeders take decent care of their dogs, but in over 25 yrs working in this squalid industry, I have yet to see many who have contracts to protect buyers against poor breeding, heritable health issues, etc. Most *quality* breeders offer such guarantees as a matter of course. Where is their voice, Amber? Who interviewed THEM? Oh, wait... they are not "licensed" so they got lumped into the general category "back yard breeders." This, you see, includes the serious breeder who is turning out maybe 1-2 litters a year of carefully bred pups out of health screened parents, as well as the mom and dad who had a litter so their kids could see 'the miracle of birth.'

This is *hardly* unbiased reporting. It is not reporting at all... it is PROPAGANDA designed to make a case for licensing everyone who breeds dogs. It is not hard to see if you can look past the hyperbole, Amber. But most people will not look past the poor widdle puppy eyes to see the agenda. And too many others are marching to an agenda of their own that dovetails comfortably into what the World is trying to accomplish here, so they are frankly admiring of the hatchet job on reputable, serious breeders.

Go back to school, Amber, and learn a little more about the use of language to inflame, as opposed to inform. Then maybe you can do a better job than Gilham and Vaughan did here. I look forward to reading a BALANCED discussion of the problem with "puppy mills" in OK. I just have not seen one presented *here.*

aman, chikmagalure (10/31/2007 1:59:59 AM)

Our dog will simply sleep without eating anything.

Mary, Tulsa (12/1/2007 7:18:19 PM)

YES THERE ARE ALOT OF UNFORTUNATE DOGS IN THE ANIMAL SHELTERS THAT NEED A LOVING HOME BUT FOR THE PPL THAT WANT A PUREBRED PUPPY W PAPERS AND ALL THAT HAVE TO GO TO A BREEDER. PUPPY MILLS ARE SICK AND WRONG. BUT THERE IS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PUPPY MILL AND A LEGITITAMTE BREEDER AND IF YOU PPL WHO ARE CALLING ALL BREEDERS PUPPY MILLS YOU ARE SO RETARDED WHERE IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK U HAVE TO GO TO GET AN AKC-ACA REGISTERED BREED THE PUPPY FAIRY COME ON NOW

Polly Mahlman, Phillipsburg (10/25/2007 7:29:36 AM)

I do rescue, I own 5 dogs 3 are rescues. I do breed specific in other words I rescue one breed only. I have rescued dogs from OK breeders, and they were not to the standard of the breed. I have rescued dogs from other states breeders also, they were not to the breed standard. To me that is where alot of the problem lays, it doesn't matter if it is a backyard breeder or a large mass breeder, they should ask themselves do my dogs match the standard for the breed? Not just in looks, but also in temperament, that is what a true breeder does. I own 2 dogs from just such a breeder, I wanted a dog that was a shining example of what the breed should look like, and have the correct temperament so I could educate people of how my chosen breed should look and act. I waited for 2 years to get my first one and another 2 years to get my second one! I have shown one of my dogs and won Best of Breed, my dogs are both co-owned by the breeder. My dogs have hall of fame dogs in their pedigrees, I have no intention of breeding my dogs, I use them for education of what the breed should look like and how they should act. I re-train alot of these dogs that come from "PET" breeders and believe me they are doing it wrong! It doesn't matter how clean the kennel is, it doesn't matter how well they care for the dogs, what matters is do they know the breed? Are they members of the national breed club? I am, are they willing to rescue? I DO!!! If you breed then you need to rescue, if you don't breed rescue anyway!!!

angel, tulsa (10/25/2007 8:52:14 AM)

One thing people here do NOT seem to realize is that ANY dog with AKC, UKC or any other registration DOES NOT guarentee that dog to be healthy, or a great example of the breed or for that matter even purebred, sadly there are "breeders" whos dogs are allowed to "crossbreed" and since they "own" purebred parents they register the pups as being a that breed. It is done more than one would think. Research the breed, research the breeder and yes there should be better regulation of breeders.

Susan, (10/25/2007 10:04:05 AM)

Ah, yes, and now we see the clincher to the series: We are again making a case for USDA licensure being the great 'fix-all' to the problem of puppy mills. Yeah, right. I wonder how many people know that owning a USDA license happens to be anathema to serious breeders who produce a *few* quality animals, carefully selected for quality and thoroughly health tested... and no, they don't come from Santa Claus Land or the stork, they come from years of study and careful selection for health, temperament and structure. Not to mention breed type. I wonder how many can see the cognitive disconnect in this series? Or who can read between the lines?

I've been following this series for days now, and I said all along there was an agenda. There is legislation pending at our state capitol as we read this, and more being considered, in an attempt to lump everyone who breeds at all into the same category of 'commercial breeder' and force them all into government oversight, even if you are a show/hobby breeder who has maybe one litter a year. This is lunacy, and it is the typical foot-in-the-door tactic employed by the ARs in their incessant attempts to eradicate the purposeful creation of pets. How many of you know that raising a litter in your kitchen, close to the family, is against USDA rules? How many of you know that they require *separate* facilities for the breeding dogs; they are not supposed to be living in your house. That is because the USDA is largely an agricultural entity, and they think in terms of MASS PRODUCTION. Is that *really* what you want? How, exacty, is that supposed to stem the tide of puppy mills?

It won't. It is a total snow job and logical fallacy to try and claim that licensing hobby breeders will help (who are already NOT the problem, except maybe to the commercial breeder's bottom line!) I hope you people are truly paying attention, because if not, if the ARs get their way and manage to ram this kind of legislation through, you will find it REALLY difficult to find a *quality* pet because the guys who were carefully, thoughtfully raising one or two litters a year will be gone. And then your ONLY choice will be the puppy equivalent of WalMart... mass produced trash that *might* look like the breed it is supposed to be, or might not, but gee it has PAPERS so it must be OK. God help us all if that day comes. If I have to field a bunch of stupid remarks about how wordy I am in order to counter this madness, so be it. It is important enough to be worth the time spent if even one person takes off the blinders and realizes what the T/W is doing here.

Joe Blow, a.k.a. Mr. Know It All, Oklahoma City (10/25/2007 2:37:19 PM)

Self-righteous is the word! Animal rights activists AND hobby show breeders are cut from the same self-righteous cloth! So smug and superior they are, looking down on everyone who doesn't feel or do what they think is best when it comes to animals. They both overly humanize animals to the detriment of all. Life’s messy. This is not a perfect airy fairy world. People need to accept that and get real. Not everyone projects so many human feelings onto their animals, nor should they. Animals have feelings, yes. Animals suffer, yes, but many people go too far by "projecting" their own human feelings and thoughts into animals that animals are neurologically incapable of having! Animals have simple lives and they're happy with that. They don't care about many of the things these sentimental people imagine is so horrible. I think it would be awful to walk on four feet, but dogs seem to be okay with that. Similarly, they don’t seem to be upset by the fact they are being "sold" or "exploited." Those are human concepts that animals cannot cognitively understand. All they want is kindness, food, water, companionship, shelter, and opportunities to run and explore. They don't need birthday parties and Halloween costumes. That's anthropomorphism. People may like parties and costumes, but a dog would rather chase a squirrel. He’s primitive that way and doesn’t know it’s not politically correct to chase squirrels. As for purebred dogs, dogs don't know they don't meet AKC standards--only the top 1% of purebred dogs is even show quality! There is no way on God's green earth that the top 1% of small show breeders, who breed on a limited basis at their home, can supply enough pet puppies for the general population. Show people want show quality dogs and pet people want… pets! Pet people simply do not need top of the line A+ dogs. They just want a nice healthy medium quality puppy with a reasonably happy temperament and certain characteristics of a particular breed. It doesn't take rocket science to breed that. And, why in the world should we have to forego intentionally bred dogs and only buy salvage dogs of "mystery breeding" from euphemistically named "rescues" organizations? Rescued from what? Raging fires, earthquakes? No. Stupid owners. Why should the rest of us have to settle for someone else's rejects—especially the rejects of stupid people? That’s like saying you can’t buy a new car, you have to buy a repossessed car that some stupid person overpaid for, and didn’t have the money to maintain. Yeah. I want one of those fixer-upper carelessly bred dogs. When are rescue organizations going to own up to the fact that they feed the beast? These “rescue” organization simply encourage irresponsibility by enabling owners to dump their unwanted pets for free, no questions asked. Where is the responsibility or guilt in that? They are just enablers for irresponsible and/or stupid pet owners. Personally, I do not want to have to settle for some inferior quality animal chosen by a stupid person in the first place. Stupid people make bad choices and if they were stupid enough to buy their animal from a puppy mill or accidental breeder, and didn't know how to train it, then of course, it's not going to be great. By taking it off their hands, you only facilitate their irresponsibility and the original supplier of the puppy gets off scot-free as well. This is one of the great hypocracies of "Rescue." They scream and shout about puppy mills producing inferior dogs, then tell you to only adopt the inferior dogs they collect from stupid, irresponsible pet owners! How stupid is that? To tell people they should not buy from good breeders and only buy from irresponsible pet owners who made bad choices and now want to dump their choices, is ridiculous. To take the problem off their hands and try to force them on to others through guilt, only enables both bad breeders and bad owners. Lay the guilt where it belongs—on the stupid people! Why should we let the stupid people choose for us? Not me. Besides, few of these animals are truly "rescued" from a dangero

Joe, Tulsa (10/25/2007 3:11:36 PM)

Is it not interesting to see the hateful comments being made from people from even within the industry towards each other?

Regulate the other guy but not me is the cry, because I am somehow more wholesome and pure because...

The comments made by the rescue people are so petty. Oh Please rescue a dog! Don't buy from a breeder. Well of course not, They are selling dogs themselves and a breeder is competition. You should see all the rescue people buying dogs at the auctions, they are cheap and then they sell them to someone for a huge profit. All they while claiming to be so wholesome and good, many of these people could not get a license themselves due to their pitiful facilities. But I must admit the ploy sounds great. But it is sinful in the way the angle is played.

What did the author of this series of slander not mention the vets who rip off the unsuspecting puppy owner, It is easy to blame a breeder for unneeded procedures and huge bills. It is not uncommon for Vets to charge a 100 times more on the west and east coast and the tell the hapless owner he should sue the breeder!

Then we see all of these unfounded checklists on how to buy a puppy from people who have never owned a dog.

One of the best schemes going is with the "Stop Puppy Mill" organizations, they raise money for some mysterious expenses, many of these so called people have been run out of the business and are not allowed to even own an animal.

Don't forget the conditions in your local city dog pound or so called SPCA shelter, No one worries about the conditions of a death row prison, it is a forgone conclusion these people are going to kill the dogs anyway.

The SPCA and Human Societies joined forces in the Katrina. They collected hundreds if not thousands of dogs and killed them as quickly as they could all in the best interest of the animal. Hmmmm what was that all about.

And without adding to the pile already heaped up here on the breeders, Yes there are conditions that do need to be improved, but to claim a breeder is somehow the reason for all of these ills is wrong.

The bottom line in all of this is:

America loves companion animals and they want good quality dogs. As with any demand, the demand for products always creates supply. No matter the product. So for those of bleeding hearts who say isn't it bad they are making money.. Get over it, a well run kennel should make money and a well run kennel cannot make money if they abuse, the dogs, Poor quality sickly dogs will not produce healthy puppies in the numbers to support the expenses involved.

People involved in the business do fail and the leaving of such enterprises are surplus dogs usually in poor condition due to lack of the financial abilities of the owner to sustain them.

In addition since the industry is often made up of retired people, they do get sick and sometimes they die with no one to help with the dogs.

In these two examples we know the majority of dogs end up going to auctions or they are given to rescue groups and sometimes the killers, The SPCA are called in and kill off theses poor animals.

Animal Auctions, have been held since the beginning of time by people needing to market large numbers of animals for the sake of farm failure, liquidation, and for reposition the animals with other farmers and or for market use. It is a time honored way in which these matters are handled. With dogs in large numbers it is just about the only way to place a large number of adults, and hopefully they will arrive in better place from which they came.

Individual owners, each year millions of families acquire dogs, The large majority of the animals end up in good homes, We as a country love our dogs and spend billions of dollars each year in their care.

A small percentage of these families and or individuals find they have made an error, or conditions change, divorce, loss of jobs, Job Transfer, Death or in some cases they tire of caring for

Joe, Tulsa (10/25/2007 3:14:36 PM)

Part Two

the animal, or find they simply cannot or are not willing to provide the care needed for these animals.

Sadly this is the single largest group from which un wanted and abused animals come from.

These animals end up in what we call the second tier:

The second tier of revenue,

Rescues and the SPCA and animal Shelters. These facilities take all the dogs they can find and will go to extremes to aquire them, without them they have no source of income. Of course they wants to close kennels, who do you suppose stand the most to gain?

In the Northeast the SPCA imports thousands of dogs each year from outside the country, because they don't have enough dogs to place for adoption. Last year alone one city imported over 15,000 dogs from South America.

It is big business no matter how you look at it.

sara, tulsa (10/24/2007 1:43:34 PM)

Wow Bonnie...thanks for the insight. You must provide me with your Vet's name and number!! If you have 115 dogs and only $6000/year in vet bills...That's $52 per dog. That's extremely cheap for quality vaccinations, check-ups and necessary testing for your breeds...Papillions: PRA, patella issues, plus dental maintenance....Cavaliers: MVD, hip dysplasia. And since you are a dedicated breeder and not a yucky puppy miller, I know that if any of your "babies" fail the required testing, you have to factor in spay/neuter fees. You're getting one heck of a bargain!! Perhaps if all vets were as inexpensive as yours, more people would take care of their pets and spay/neuter them. I'm glad you show your dogs too...How many finished champions do you have and how many do you breed? Since it's best for females to only be breed once a year (at most) or once every other year, I'm sure you travel to many shows with so many dogs! Good luck with your next show!

Sara, (10/24/2007 1:55:26 PM)

BTW - Mr. Faulkner, since you are also "writing in" may I assume that you, too, are just an ignorant idiot?

I do NOT agree with getting a dog, from Fairy Tale land....One of my dogs is a rescue and the other came from a SHOW breeder whom I researched, attended several breed specific shows so I could watch her (and other breeder's) dogs. I purchased my baby for a $500 (7 years ago)...while there were some in the paper for only $250 (what a bargain!!) I didn't want to support those people nor did I want to support the local LuvAPet who had a puppy of my breed for a mere $875. I took it upon myself to research the breed, research the breeders and EDUCATED myself before taking on the responsibility of owning a dog. I don't think most of the people here commenting are quite as ignorant as you say...maybe they are just caught up in the heat of the moment and forget to say they support X and are against Y. PetsMart and PetCo don't sell dogs and cats...I'd honestly like to see the TW stop running classifieds for the same. Less dogs would be dumped at the shelters if people would simply take the time to research dogs, breeds, male/female, etc before they bought a pet for the family.

Sherry Faulkner, Bartlesville (10/24/2007 2:02:18 PM)

Mr. Huff, you need to re-read my comments. In no way do I or will I ever condone back yard breeders. As far as I'm concerned, they are nothing but puppy millers on a smaller scale. You're also right, that if you want a top of the line dog or pup, you go to a breeder that knows their stuff. And that is exactly what I said: "Breeding good dogs takes time, money, commitment, and as most show breeders who do it right will tell you, they do not make money on the pups they do sell."

"For profit" breeders are puppy millers, plain and simple, whether the pups are raised in someone's back yard or in a cage in a puppy mill. Good, bad or indifferent, they're all puppy mills, just different in size.