During the late 1940s, farmers, mostly in the Midwest, were seeking alternative crops. The result was the development of commercial puppy businesses. Retail pet outlets grew in numbers as the supply of puppies increased, and puppy production was on its way. Retail giants such as Sears Roebuck sold puppies in their pet departments and pet store chains were born.

Many, if not most of the puppy farmers had little knowledge of canine care. They often had little money. They housed their dogs in the ramshackle houses, chicken coops, or rabbit hutches which were already present, and provided little socialization. They did not know that puppies needed socialization. Also, they often skipped veterinary care due to lack of income.

There are six other states that are known as “puppy mill states.” These puppies born of registered parents are becoming pets all over the country. One can’t help wondering if the increase in dog bites and the increase in a variety of illnesses in many of our dogs is the result of these poorly bred and unsocialized dogs. It is a well known fact among reputable breeders that each female should have at most one litter a year and that all breeding dogs should be screened for genetic and temperament issues. It is also well known that puppies need socialization with humans from a very early age to be able to bond and to have appropriate stimulation to enhance their ability to learn.

At its best, breeding is a blend of science and art. The skilled breeder has knowledge of canine genetics and health, and the purpose for which his dogs will be used. Responsible breeders raise their animals with the intent to preserve the animals to produce a better dog and to provide a quality pet for responsible owners by following a breed standard. Breeders take into consideration breed-specific health problems, genetic screening, physical condition, age of the dog and temperament before producing litters. The puppies are constantly checked for health ailments, and properly socialized. Before placing puppies in their homes, breeders screen potential customers rigorously, often provide a valid pedigree and health guarantee.

At worst, breeding can be a slipshod enterprise in which the major concern is profit, with little regard to the health and welfare of the dogs involved, often conducted by so-called backyard breeders. A term which refers to random or ignorant breeding conducted on a small scale). However, there are many excellent breeders that run small-scale programs in their homes, barns, or back yards, and there are profitable large-scale operations with knowledgeable staff and exemplary veterinary care, so size and motive alone are not indicative of the quality of the breeding program.

Females are bred continuously until no longer useful. They are often crated in small cages and given little socialization. Even though the law states they cannot be sold until the pups are 8 weeks, they are often sent out as young as five weeks. These puppies are transported all over the country. Many die in route and unsuspecting people buy what are often sick puppies that may have genetic or temperament problems. The issue then becomes more than one of compassion and more than a Missouri problem.

Dogs bred in puppy mills are usually kept in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. They usually do not receive adequate food, water or veterinary care. Both breeding dogs and their puppies tend to be housed in extremely cramped conditions, often exposed to the elements. Females are sometimes forced to breed every time they are in heat to increase profits. As puppies, mill dogs are weaned from their mothers well before the eight to ten weeks recommended. Dogs in puppy mills are often bred indiscriminately. While puppies produced from puppy mills may come with pedigrees, the pedigree itself is neither an indication of quality nor authenticity — many pedigrees produced by puppy mills are faked.

As a result of poor breeding conditions located in puppy mills, puppies acquired from puppy mills tend to have issues not typically identified with reputable breeders. Puppies raised in a cramped environment shared by many other dogs become poorly socialized to both other dogs and humans. Dogs are then transported over long distances in poor conditions, sometimes resulting in the deaths of many dogs. As the surviving mill dogs grow older, they are more prone to being diagnosed with respiratory ailments, as well as hereditary defects such as dysplasia. In addition, mill dogs are more prone to have problems with their temperament. Puppies from mills are usually sold as purebred dogs in an attempt to fetch the higher prices associated with purebreds. However, due to the indiscriminate breeding practices of puppy mills, the dog may or may not actually be a purebred puppy.

The vast majority of puppy mill animals are sold to pet stores by "dealers". Some puppies are sold by dealers masquerading as authentic breeders. Reputable breeders never sell puppies to dealers or pet stores. It should, however, be noted that a hobby is not a profession and thus for hobby breeders to claim to be in business in the first place would put them into the professional category and thus bring on a duty of care of professional level. How can you determine if a breeder is reputable? Some things to consider…….

• A dirty, trashy place where one or several breeds of dogs are kept in deplorable conditions with little or no medical care and puppies are always available?
• Any high-volume kennel?
• A clean place where several breeds of dogs are raised in adequate conditions and the breeder usually or always has puppies for sale?
• A place where a single breed of dog is raised in acceptable conditions and puppies are usually or often available?
• A place where lots of dogs are raised, where breeding is done solely for financial gain rather than protection of breed integrity, and where puppies are sold to brokers or to pet stores?

The answer depends on who you ask. . . .Buyer Beware!

A hobby breeder dedicated to promoting and protecting a particular breed or two might consider all of the above kennels to be puppy mills. Animal shelter and rescue workers who deal daily with abandoned, neglected, or abused dogs might agree. Operators of clean commercial kennels, licensed by the US Department of Agriculture or by state law, will strongly disagree, for the very mention of "puppy mill" damages their business and that of the pet stores they deal with.

The production, sale and marketing of puppies is a major “crop” in Missouri, and several other states. Puppy mills also referred to as puppy farms are large scale breeding facilities that operate under substandard breeding and living conditions. The conditions allow puppies bred in mills to develop chronic conditions, health and temperament problems, and hereditary defects. Irresponsible breeding resulting in the same conditions are often referred to as backyard breeders. They differ only in the number of animals produced, sold and marketed. Annual revenue is estimated at forty million dollars in Missouri alone.

The following are definitions of different types of "breeders":

Hobby breeder: A breed fancier who has a breed or two (or even three); follows a breeding plan to preserve and protect each breed; produces a limited number of litters each year; breeds only when a litter will enhance the breed and the breeding program; raises the puppies with plenty of environmental stimulation and human contact; has a contract that protects breeder, puppy, and buyer; raises dog in the house or runs a small, clean kennel; screens breeding stock to eliminate hereditary defects; works with a breed club or kennel club to promote and protect the breed; and cares that each and every puppy is placed in the best home possible.

Commercial breeder: One who usually has several breeds of dogs with profit as the primary motive. Commercial breeders that are inspected by USDA, state agencies, or the American Kennel Club should have adequate conditions. Commercial breeders that sell directly to the public fall through the regulatory cracks unless they do business in a state that licenses commercial kennels. Dogs in these kennels may be healthy or not and their conditions may be acceptable or not. The dogs are probably not screened for genetic diseases, and the breeding stock may or may not be selected for resemblance to the breed standard or for good temperament.

Broker: One who buys puppies from commercial kennels and sells to retail outlets or other kennels. Brokers ship puppies on airlines or by truckload throughout the country. Brokers must be licensed by USDA and must abide by the shipping regulations in the Animal Welfare Act.

Buncher: One who collects dogs of unknown origin for sale to laboratories or other bunchers or brokers. Bunchers are considered lower on the evolutionary scale than puppy mill operators, for there is much suspicion that they buy stolen pets, collect pets advertised as "Free to a good home," and adopt unwanted pets from animal shelters for sale to research laboratories. USDA licenses and inspects bunchers to make sure that they abide by the AWA.

Amateur breeder: A dog owner whose pet either gets bred by accident or who breeds on purpose for a variety of reasons. This breeder may be ignorant of the breed standard, genetics, behavior, and good health practices. An amateur breeder can very easily become a hobby breeder or a commercial breeder, depending on his level of interest or need for income.

A real puppy mill: A breeder who produces puppies with no breeding program, little attention to puppy placement, and poor health and socialization practices. Conditions in puppy mills are generally substandard and may be deplorable, and puppies and adult dogs may be malnourished, sickly, and of poor temperament.