Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Never buy a pet without visiting the facility where the pet was bred and seeing how the parents are living first. This will ensure that the pet is not from a puppy mill. In addition to U.S. puppy mills, tens of thousands of dogs are shipped into the U.S. from puppy mills in foreign countries. Puppy mills are inhumane factory-style operations that churn out puppies to be sold for a quick profit. Puppy mill puppies are often malnourished and taken from their mothers too early, as well as have a host of inherited health disorders.
Step2
Don’t buy pets from a distant buyer, seller or adopter. Often times a buyer isn’t aware that their puppy was born overseas in a puppy mill, then sold to a U.S. broker.
Step3
Check references, which can include veterinarians and others who've purchased pets from this breeder. And make sure you deal directly with a breeder, not a broker.
Step4
Don’t deal with anyone who promises a free puppy for just the cost of shipping. Scammers in these types of transactions often ask you to send more money because the nonexistent dog is "stuck at the airport" for various reasons such as customs complications or problems with the crate.
Step5
Don’t fall for claims that the seller represents an animal shelter or is a “good Samaritan” offering the dogs for "adoption." Reputable shelters do not place animals by sending out mass emails and then shipping them to people.
Step6
Never purchase a puppy with the promise of getting the AKC (American Kennel Club) papers from the seller at a later time. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for puppies to be ready for a new home, which is ample time for the breeder to receive the papers. It takes a couple of weeks through the mail and only a week if registration is done online. The AKC cannot help you get papers after the sale.
Comments
acopro13 said
on 1/16/2008 Thank you so much for writing this. The public needs to be educated and this a thorough and to the point article.