Naturally, Petfinder is against unethical breeding and for-profit pet operations, such as puppy mills.

Can you trust PetFinder?

With more than 13,500 shelters and rescue groups on Petfinder, you can find a reputable organization that you feel comfortable working with. Petfinder takes allegations of abusing our service seriously.

Do breeders run puppy mills?

Puppy mills do not actually refer to their businesses as such; they usually simply call themselves dog breeders or kennels. ... By six to eight weeks of age, most puppies will be sold to pet stores or marketed directly online. Sadly, a large percentage of puppy mill dogs will develop health and/or behavior issues.

Is it bad to adopt from a puppy mill?

A dog from a puppy mill can certainly be healthy, but it's far less likely to be healthy than a dog from a good breeder or a reputable animal shelter. Since puppy mills don't require veterinary care, health screening, grooming, or vaccinations, disease outbreaks and genetic diseases are common.

What are signs of a puppy mill?

9 Signs That Your Dog Came From a Puppy Mill

• Puppies Are Unclean or Unhealthy. ...
• Puppies Aren't Vaccinated. ...
• Puppy Mill Owners Won't Meet You At Home. ...
• Puppy's Parents Aren't Present. ...
• Pet Store Puppies are Usually from Mills. ...
• Multiple Breeds are Available. ...
• Many Litters Can Be Found. ...
• Mill Puppies Have Behavior Issues.

Watch Out For Puppy Scammers!

20 related questions found

Are puppy brokers bad?

The sites are fancy and can mislead consumers. ... These online sites are good for breeders and brokers but bad for breeding dogs, puppies and consumers. Our advice is to never buy a dog off of these websites and always visit the facility and meet the mother dog and puppy before you buy.

How can you tell if someone is a backyard breeder?

The 10 Most Telltale Signs of a Backyard Breeder

1. They sell on Craigslist, eBay, or pet stores. ...
2. They offer minimal medical security. ...
3. They don't have proof of genetic testing. ...
4. They don't offer lifetime return policies. ...
5. There are no veterinary records for the puppies. ...
6. They sell puppies before they are 8 weeks old.

Is PuppySpot a puppy mill?

PuppySpot is what we call a puppy broker website. In fact, they are registered with the USDA as a broker. Puppy broker websites are platforms for breeders to sell their puppies. ... They even have a “no puppy mill promise” that makes consumers feel as if they can trust the site and the breeders.

Are Amish puppy mills legal?

The most surprising thing to many people is that puppy mills are legal. The standards governing the care of dogs and cats in commercial breeding facilities are set forth in the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

What do breeders do with unsold puppies?

Eventually, puppies are marked down to the price the store paid the puppy mill broker — usually a few hundred dollars. If the puppy still doesn't sell, stores will often cut their losses and give puppies away to employees, friends or rescue groups.

What is a puppy mill vs a breeder?

The ASPCA defines a puppy mill as “victims of high-volume puppy industry, they're bred for profit and kept in tiny, filthy cages. ... In general, a reputable breeder will specialize in only one breed of dog and will belong to an association or breeder club.

Why are puppy mills bad?

Dogs are usually crammed into filthy, overcrowded, stacked wire cages and are denied healthy food, clean water and basic veterinary care. ... Horrific conditions, poor genetics, early weaning and stress can cause puppy mill puppies to develop serious health and behavioral problems that are expensive and difficult to treat.

Does Petland use puppy mills?

America's largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores, Petland Inc., is also the nation's largest retail supporter of puppy mills. There are more than 200 Petland stores worldwide, with about 140 in the U.S. Collectively, these stores sell tens of thousands of puppies each year.

Does petfinder charge a fee?

Petfinder is a free service for animal shelters, rescue organizations and other agencies involved in rehoming and caring for adoptable pets in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Can I post my dog on petfinder?

* To post the pet listing to Petfinder choose ADOPTABLE, FOUND, or ADOPTED. A message will confirm that the pet listing has been posted to Petfinder or kept private, and what the pet's status is. Once your pet listing has been posted to Petfinder, you can share the pet on social or return to your dashboard.

Is dogs blog legit?

DogsBlog is a great service offering potential homes for rescue dogs many options of dogs throughout the country in different rescue centres looking for homes. The site is friendly and easy to use, and shows rescue dogs in a very positive light.

Is Lancaster puppies a puppy mill?

A caged chocolate Lab, covered with feces and open sores, shivers in a cage after being rescued in 2008. With Lancaster County's reputation as the puppy mill capital of the East, many people in search of a new pup — locals and out-of-staters alike — hesitate if they see a dog hails from a local breeder.

Which states have the most puppy mills?

Today, Missouri is considered the leading puppy mill state in the country. Over time, puppy mills have spread geographically. The highest concentration is in the Midwest, but there are also high concentrations in other areas, including Pennsylvania, Ohio and upstate New York.

Where are most puppy mills located?

Puppy mills are everywhere, though there is a large concentration in the Midwest. Missouri has the largest number of puppy mills in the United States. Amish and Mennonite communities (particularly in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania) also have large concentrations of puppy mills.

Where can I find a non puppy mill puppy?

Start by visiting your local shelter, where 25 to 30 percent of surrendered animals are purebred. If you don't find the right pet there, go online at or to search for pets at other shelters, as well as at rescue groups.

Is Greenfield puppies a puppy mill?

Q: Is Greenfield Puppies a puppy mill? No, we are an advertising source for reputable breeders. If we find a breeder to be in violation of state breeding laws, we will discontinue advertising for that breeder.

Is Keystone puppies a mill?

Keystone Puppies Sniffs Out Online Puppy Scams. ... Puppy mills are dog breeding operations that put profit over the health and well-being of the dogs. At Keystone Puppies, we want to do our part to eliminate puppy scams and puppy mills.

What is a hobby breeder?

A person who breeds several show litters a year is called a “hobby breeder”. Hobby breeders are perhaps the best option for most people looking for a healthy and characteristic purebred dog.

Why backyard breeding is bad?

Because puppy mills and backyard breeders choose profit over animal welfare, their animals typically do not receive proper veterinary care. Animals may seem healthy at first but later show issues like congenital eye and hip defects, parasites or even the deadly Parvovirus.

How many dogs should a breeder have?

Generally, though not always, a commercial dog breeder is defined as someone who breeds a large number of dogs (usually 20 or more) within a certain time frame (usually 12 months). This definition does not typically include a person who breeds a litter or two every year as a hobby (usually termed a "hobby breeder").