When you go into a pet shop, do you ever wonder where these cute little fur balls came from or what occurred in their lives before they were being sold? For one thing, there is a large possibility that these puppies come from puppy mills. Puppy mills are large breeding facilities that keep canines under substandard breeding conditions. In other words, these facilities are usually overcrowded with dogs that are given little to no veterinary care and are kept in unsanitary environments.

It is common to find puppy mills that contain dogs in cages that are stacked on top of each other. These poor puppies are not given the healthy amount of exercise or any basic grooming. Breeder dogs are placed in a worse situation in that they are constantly forced to breed and are never able to leave this torture zone.

According to the ASPCA, puppies grow up to be unhealthy and fearful due to the harsh conditions and lack of interaction with people and other animals. In addition, a dog might not be the authentic purebred puppy that you may be looking for. Instead, the puppy could be a mix of another breed that has not been mentioned.

To fight against puppy mills, try to avoid buying from local pet shops for it may contain puppies that have been abused and neglected. Look into adopting a pet from shelters or rescue organizations instead. Also, inform others such as your friends of the harsh conditions that dogs may have gone through in these facilities if they are considering purchasing a pet from a pet store.