But this is mine.
A commercial breeder is a person who breeds dogs for a living. All commercial dog breeders are in it for one thing. To make money. It is their chosen profession. Saving their discarded ones is mine.
Take a good look at this boy we just rescued on Sunday. He is not underweight, he is not matted to the skin, he doesn't have sores on his body. So does that mean he came from a "good" mill. Not in my book.
Just because a miller feeds their dogs well enough to maintain a good body weight does not make it a "good" mill.
Just because a dog is free of ticks and fleas does not mean it came from a "good" mill. What it does mean is that dog has never been outside in the grass.
Just because a dog is not matted to the skin and covered in its own feces does not mean it came from a "good" mill.
Is there anything "good" about living your life in a cage, being bred at every heat to make money for your keepers? You will never see the sunshine or feel the grass under your feet, but remember this is a "good" mill so you are ok. So what if they provide you with food and water. . .it is their responsibility to do so.
In commercial kennels (aka puppy mills) there are hundreds of breeding dogs. You may believe that each and every one gets the attention and socialization they deserve. If so, do you believe in the tooth fairy as well?
What I do, I do for the love of the dogs. They are the ones who matter. I don't care how they look or how sick they are. I love them. I do not do it for a paycheck for running Safehaven, I fund raise, I care for the rescues in my home, I take them to their vet appointments and stay up with them when they are sick and receive nothing but puppy kisses as payment. For me, that is payment enough. I do not want anyone to feel sorry for me. I chose this life and I would choose it again and again. But when I hear someone say that there are "good" puppy mills out there just because the dogs are well fed, well, it makes me glad not everyone falls for it.
Commercial breeders aka puppy mills are and always will be nothing more than a lazy mans way of making money using innocent animals. Well fed or not, it is no life for a dog and by God, it IS all about them.
