Like any other business, puppy mills exist to make money.  And while thousands of loving, affectionate, frightened canines languish unwanted and unloved in animal shelters throughout the world – puppy mills continue to thrive.

Why?  Because many people still prefer to buy their pets from Pet Stores and Breeders.  Some do this because they believe pure breeds are better; others do this because they want to buy a ‘new pup,’ not someone else’s throwaway.  And, many people are still willing to pay ‘big bucks’ to get the dog they want.

At an animal shelter, you can pick up an adorable pup for around $40.  Many people are still paying $800 - $2,000 to buy a dog from a pet store or a breeder.

And many of these people have no idea of the deplorable conditions found in many puppy mills.  Many of the disreputable ones keep their ‘breeder bitches’ chained and locked up in horrid dark basements, filthy dingy rooms, or tiny cages in which they can barely move around.  And the mother and her pups are often forced to live in their own feces.  The pups are only cleaned up when it’s time to sell them.

And many people buying these puppy mill pups, at exorbitant prices, have no idea that many of these pups are also sick; having debilitating diseases; and sadly, are even dying from them.  And most pet stores and breeders have little sympathy for the customer who sadly returns, stating that the pup they had recently purchased died.

A recent case in Chicagoland brought this sad truth to the forefront again.

A sweet Yorkshire terrier was a gift from an especially caring boss who wanted to help relieve a woman’s grief over the loss of her two older dogs the previous year. When the two women visited a suburban Chicago pet shop to find the perfect pooch, they discovered several adorable candidates.

But it was a sweet Yorkshire terrier who marched right up to the woman and nestled into her arms. This unmistakable gesture of connection, not to mention comfort, cemented their instant bond. And happily home they went.

The Yorkie appeared to be a very lucky dog. She was about to start living the quintessential dog's life: She had a loving and devoted caregiver, a nice home and yard, and all the toys and tidbits a dog could ever want.

All of this would have been hers for many years if not for one thing: the adorable little Yorkie was yet another victim of bad breeding at a puppy mill that had been repeatedly cited for various Animal Welfare Act violations.

She was born with an unseen and serious condition called a portosystemic shunt, a condition in which the blood flows abnormally around the liver instead of through it. The condition would impair her health, and ultimately, contribute to her death at the age of six months. A portosystemic shunt is common in Yorkshire terriers, and experts say it is usually an inherited condition in such small dogs.

The pet store was less than sympathetic about the little dog’s death — and uncooperative about furnishing the dog's registration papers, which had been promised weeks before her death. While it ultimately refunded nearly the full purchase price of the puppy, the pet store would not reimburse the heartbroken pet owner for any of the roughly $2,000 she had spent in veterinary bills in under three months.

The pet store's ‘fine print’ sales contract stated that only visits to veterinarians on its "approved list" would be covered.

What You Can Do

If you’re looking for an adorable dog, please visit your local animal shelter and rescue one, instead of buying a dog at an outrageous price.

Support the Humane Society’s campaign against puppy mills.

HSUS has been battling puppy mills for decades, and the fight continues. If you want to help make sure that good-hearted animal owners never have to suffer through another unnecessary grief, please visit their ‘Stop Puppy Mills’ Website listed below.  It’s devoted to shutting down this cruel industry. The site offers not only in-depth information on puppy mills, but also many different ways you can contribute to the cause of closing these mass-breeding facilities forever.