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Puppy mills (also known as puppy farms outside of the United States) are large dog breeding operations that have developed a reputation for being hazardous to the health of the animals in their care.^[1] The term originated among investigators and opponents of such operations.^{[verification needed]} Irresponsible dog breeding on a smaller scale, often accidentally, is referred to as backyard breeding.^[2]

While the term is most often used with reference to dogs, the term has been used to describe other animals that are irresponsibly bred for profit. Operations involving cats that have been bred irresponsibly are informally known as kitty mills.^[2] Animals that have been produced in mills often suffer from chronic health ailments, and are most commonly sold at pet stores to unsuspecting consumers.^[3]

Responsible breeders raise their animals with the intent to preserve the animals' breed standard, to produce a better dog and to provide a quality pet for responsible owners.^[4] Breeders take into consideration breed-specific health problems, genetic screening, physical condition, age of the dog and temperament before producing litters. When pregnant, bitches are usually placed in a whelping box. This box is usually located in a warm, quiet, draft-free room, optimally separated from other dogs.^[5] After a litter is born, breeders also care for bitches and the puppies they produce. The puppies are then constantly checked for health ailments, and properly socialized.^[6] Before placing puppies in their homes, breeders screen potential customers rigorously, often providing a pedigree and health guarantee with their puppies.^[7]

In contrast, 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, resulting in gradually decreasing sizes of litters.^[1][8] As puppies, mill dogs are weaned from their mothers well before the eight to ten weeks recommended.^[9] 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.^[3]

As a result of poor breeding conditions located in puppy mills, puppies acquired from puppies 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 and pneumonia, as well as hereditary defects such as hip dysplasia.^[1] 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.^[3]

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.^[3][9] Most animal rights groups recommend purchasing purebred puppies directly from responsible breeders. In addition, local animal shelters are a reliable source for puppies that does not directly benefit puppy mill operators. Another recommended source for puppies are breed-specific rescue organizations.^[1]

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The term "puppy mill" has been widely used by animal rights groups in protests against smaller breeders who may appear to have substandard breeding conditions. Such breeders, occasionally labeled hobby breeders, are often cited by animal rights groups as puppy mills. Hobby breeders claim that emotional rhetoric, sensationalism, and pictures of dirty kennels are used to justify additional legislation or additional restrictive licensing that travels well beyond the initial goal of removing dogs from truly deplorable conditions.^[10]

According to a study done by In Defense of Animals, the largest concentrations of puppy mills in the U.S. are reportedly in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and in rural Missouri.^[11]

• http://www.thekodyfoundation.org
• http://www.petshoppuppies.com/ Pet Shop Puppies -- Request a free USDA inquiry on any puppy you may have purchased from a pet store.
• Stop Puppy Mills - Humane Society of the United States
• Puppymill Awareness Day
• Companion Animal Protection Society -- The only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals
• Prisoners of Greed
• No Puppy Mills -- Dedicated to educating the public about the commercial dog industry in America
• Understanding cage size -- A series of illustrations showing how to measure and calculate the primary enclosure size in commercial kennels.
• North Penn Puppy Mill Watch -- Covers PA puppy mill activity and critical pending state-wide legislation
• PetStoreAbuse.com -- Information on the pet trade and commercial breeders.
• NJ Consumers Against Pet Shop Abuse -- Information about puppy lemon laws and puppy mills.