I fully support your point of view as yes, the laws on the books do very little good if not enforced. That being said, don't the pet breeders in this country have a motivation to regulate themselves?

Is there a professional certification for breeders? Does the AKC or other organization do anything to regulate and certify the breeders themselves? What I mean is a voluntary program run by the industry that good breeders can sign up for. Some disciplines have this, and it would seem like a good idea. Kind of like a "Good Housekeeping" seal, only for dog breeders. I think it would be in the best interest of responsible breeders to come up with such a program.

Right now, it seems that an AKC certified pedigree can come from a puppy mill, and that to me seems illogical. I compare it to buying a "certified used car" from one of those independent "buy here/pay here" lemon lots. Perhaps if the AKC linked their certification/pedigree to the breeder itself, that might put a dent in the problem. They could say that a dog from a certain breeder is not an "AKC Pedigree" because of the conditions of the breeding facilities.

I am sure my thinking is off, but understand, I know very little about pedigrees and such. I'm a mutt person at heart, you know.

Dr. Khuly, for recognizing that the laws are there- they just aren't being enforced. I don't think any of us are for sub-standard breeding facilities, but new laws won't do anything other than make criminals out of respectable breeders too.

EAB, many breed clubs do have codes of ethics and things of that nature. The puppy buyer should have some responsibility for educating themself on what constitues good breeding practices for their breed of choice. What makes a good German Shepherd breeder is not necessarily what makes a good Dalmation breeder.

I totally agree. Laws are useless if not enforced. Our government has increasingly become a laissez-faire organization at the beck and call of the companies/facilities it should be regulating. I believe that the constant drumbeat of "get the feds out of our lives" has had an effect albeit a negative one. There should be outrage about food safety, financial shenanigans, drug recalls among others; yet the only people truly voicing an opinion (loudly) are pet lovers. Let's hope other segments of society join us.

The AKC generates the majority of their revenue from registrations. They operate a registration business first and foremost.
The AKC has stated that only 80% of their registrations are from the "fancy", which is the hobby breeders/owners who show their dogs. That means the vast majority of registration revenue is from the puppy mills breeding for profit and back yard breeders whose unspayed pet had a litter. The AKC WANTS to keep the puppy mills in business. They don't make any money on the hobby breeder and in fact, the dog showing "fancy" is just the marketing facade of purebred dogs. The dog shows create public demand for purebreds which drives purebred puppy sales at Petland and other pet stores (including the internet), all product supplied by the mills. That's the AKC's business model.

And they are fighting tooth and nail to keep those mills in business, expending enourmous resources to lobby against any legislation that would crimp puppy production, such as requiring licensing. They have very little public education information on their website about finding reputable/hobby breeders. No information about avoiding puppy mills. They clearly don't have any public service announcements about puppy mills during their televised dog shows. They say they inspect the "high volume kennels" but there is evidence that their inspections are as effective as the USDA's. How can there be any validity when they're inspecting their biggest customers? It's all a marketing scam.

Bottom line: DO NOT EXPECT THE AKC TO DO A DARN THING ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN PUPPY MILLS. IN FACT, EXPECT THE OPPOSITE.

Ok, LisaB, I understand what you are saying. So basically, the fox is guarding the hen house, so to speak. If that is true, then besides word of mouth, is there a "formal" source of information to separate the reputable breeders from the puppy mills?

A side note, when the AKC recently started marketing a membership geared towards mutts I kinda knew they were in the business for the money. I guess the economy has kinda bitten them a bit because really, (equating to cars again) the last thing a Ferarri club wants is membership opened to a Hyundai owner, and that's basically what a mutt is considered to the breed fanciers. Personally, I don't get the point. My acquiring a shelter mutt should indicate that I really don't give a tinker's d*mn if I have the AKC's blessing on my dog or not.

Clarification: The local lawsuit I referenced above (against "Wizard of Claws") is not the class action lawsuit that is currently working its way through the courts in a most frustrating manner (Ft. Lauderdale's "Puppy Kingdom" lawsuit). And I should mention that the judge did find against the defendants in this case, though I'm not aware yet of how they've been penalized.

I'd also like to thank EAB for sending me this excellent link just yesterday on how some municipalities are taking the step of outright banning pet shops that sell puppies. The unintended consequence? Shelter adoptions are WAY up! How about that for a win-win.

Here's the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37359894/ns/health-pet_health/

"something she calls a "Chiweenie" — a Chihuahua-Daschund cross — for $950." and:"She said she buys only from reputable breeders, though she declined to name them or say where they are located." says it all to me. That's a highly-reputable $1000 mutt from a source she is unwilling to name.

Wikith, I found that line in the story hilarious as well. Really, what's keeping this lady from going to the local shelter and buying a litter of mixed breeds and passing them off as a "designer dog" of some sort. I really must come up with a fancy breed name for our Tina. Perhaps a "Miniature Long Haired Labrador Hound" or an "Ebony Snugglebug." Imagine just how much more she would be worth with a fancy name and certificate to match....

Seriously, what I have learned from all of this discussion is that the only difference between a "reputable" breeder and a puppy mill is the consensus opinion of people you choose to trust. The AKC will certify anyone, and proof of bloodline really can't be that hard to doctor up. Even the aforementioned lady is selling mutts from an unknown source for a cool grand. What a joke!

There isn't a place to find reputable breeders. If somebody wants a specific breed, the breed clubs(which are affiliated with the AKC) are the best source. Their members are voted in, they have a code of ethics which they can't enforce but generally they want their breeders to be screening for genetic problems specific to the breed, to take back any pups they placed for the lifetime of the dog, not to sell to pet stores, etc. Some breed clubs are better than others with taking the genetic testing seriously. Some are in denial. Most breed clubs have a website with a membership list or a contact for puppy buyers. For less popular breeds, this is probably the best way to ensure they get a healthy puppy and a breeder who stands behind their dogs and helps the puppy buyer.

But there are breeders who are equally good who aren't involved in the breed club. So the best safeguard is for the puppy buyer to visit the breeder and see the mom and litter, get the vaccination and health testing paperwork, make sure the place is clean and there aren't crates full of dogs. I'd never believe a website -- they all say "raised on a farm with children and acres to run" when in fact that is just a facade. These puppy mills are masters of marketing and deception.

Interestingly enough, The Kennel Club (KC) in England took the opposite route of the AKC. They came up with their "Accredited Breeder Scheme" where they do have standards for breeders and require health testing by breed and also list those responsible breeders who are accredited. Too bad the AKC chose the other fork in the road and continues to live off the blood money from the puppy mill registrations.

We try to direct clients who insist on getting a purebred puppy to buy directly from breeders who allow visits to the facility and to see at least the mother, if not both parents. We have a few of the much maligned "backyard breeders" as clients who raise their puppies under foot in the kitchen and do an excellent job.

On the other hand, one of our clients bought a Maltese in a parking lot in Texas for a premium price, and while the dog has a sweet disposition, it is determined to go through every disease in the internal medicine textbook and has cost the owner a fortune at the local teaching hospital.

As to the "Morkies", "Chiweenies", "Schnoodles" et.c., There is an outfit in the next town over, who will for a fee "register" them with letters that sound a lot like "AKC". Most people do not know the difference and are willing to pay extra for their "registered designer mutt".

The report recommends that the animal care unit at the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service immediately confiscate animals that are dying or seriously suffering, and better train its inspectors to document, report and penalize wrongdoing.

Something that is lacking in many breed club programs is formal mentorship. Those which do have it have a far better rate of successful, healthy, happy breedings.

The breed club in which I'm a member goes even further - The club will not certify any puppy wherein the breeder has not completed an intensive training program and three year mentorship, and also will Decertify the sire and dam *and all offpring* of the sire and dam, should an unauthorized breeding take place. It is left to the breeders to take any and all necessary steps to prevent unauthorized breeding.

That's enforcement with REAL teeth. The club carefully researches and authorises each breeding - It means the breed is only slowly expanding, but it also means that the resulting puppies are the best possible examples of the breed, bred specifically to improve the breed. And the club follows ALL the puppies - even those which are considered 'pet quality' - for genetic and other heath issues.

Needless to say, no one is getting rich off of this breed!

"The report recommends that the animal care unit at the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service immediately confiscate animals that are dying or seriously suffering, and better train its inspectors to document, report and penalize wrongdoing."

Yeah, that's definitely along the right idea. Starting at the root, where the problem lies, would definitely help it get cleaned up faster!

- Doug (Heartgard Expert)