High five to Mike Mendenhall who shared they are ready to add a dog to their family. I commend this family for the homework they have done in recognizing one needs to plan and prepare for the successful addition of a new family member. They are taking into consideration the size and location of their home, their work schedules, puppy vs. an older dog, activity level and training needs, children or not in the home ... all items are excellent and necessary.
Mr. Mendenhall shares, “we love dogs and would be inclined to bring each one of the ARL’s residents home with us but realize a puppy army is not feasible.” He asks for suggestions when buying a dog. I would like to share some thoughts. Please do consider adopting a dog from a local shelter or rescue. This is one of the surest ways to ensure you are not dealing with a puppy mill. Animal shelters and rescues have many dogs, including purebred, just waiting for homes. There are breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog including “designer” or “hybrid” dogs such as Labradoodles and Puggles.
Keep in mind mixed breed dogs and adult dogs make wonderful pets. They are much less likely to develop genetic disorders, can be less expensive to acquire and by adopting a rescue or shelter dog, you are saving the life of two dogs. You not only save the life of the dog you are adopting, but you are making available the shelter for another dog to be adopted and not be at risk of euthanasia.
If you still want to buy a puppy from a breeder, continue to do your homework. Find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Never buy a puppy without seeing where it was raised and where its parents are housed. Always see the mother. Don’t be swayed by a great website or ad for the puppy. If the seller has nothing to hide, they won’t hide anything. A responsible breeder will want you to see everything and will want to ensure you are the best fit for this puppy.
Iowa ranks second nationwide with more than 200 USDA licensed dog breeders. These facilities house approximately 15,000 adult dogs. The number of facilities with violations continues to increase annually. The bottom line is: do your homework so you are not unwittingly supporting the puppy mill industry.
Paula Arkema
Kellogg