Oprah’s just about to do a special show devoted to exposing the horrors of puppy mills. And already - before the show has even aired, emails are buzzing about from apparently paranoid, supposedly responsible, breeders, fearing that their livelihoods are in jeopardy. But the sale of puppies from puppy mills in pet stores has nothing to do with responsible breeding for conformation, temperament and health, or the furthering of specific pure breeds.
Many of us are torn about the appropriateness of breeding while so many pets suffer in shelters with no hope of ever finding a home. But we’ve found it odd that dog professionals and enthusiasts are slamming the show and the opinions of the host before a word has even been uttered on the air. There are even claims that Oprah herself must be against pet ownership because of some of the organizations she has chosen to align herself with.
There’s a definite distinction between a puppy mill and a responsible breeder. Right or wrong (and we won’t go here again today) even the HSUS makes this very clear on its web site. How is it conducive to the long-term survival of the pure breeds we love and the responsible breeders who raise them, to have the horrors of puppy mills remain hidden from the public who may know nothing about why it’s wrong to buy a puppy in a shop? Reputable breeders should be pleased to have their less honorable counterparts exposed and brought to justice.
While several staff here at The Honest Kitchen have adopted shelter pets, some of us own pure-bred dogs, purchased from reputable breeders who would offer a home to any of their puppies, for the entirety of their lives, no matter the reason. They love their breed and care about every individual animal whose life they are responsible for. They diligently interview potential owners, socialize their pups and attempt to match each animal with the most suitable owner. They may even have waiting lists for the few litters they raise each year. If every breeder operated like this there’d be far fewer pups in shelters, surely?
This is a very different situation from a commercial breeding operation with animals who get little to no human interaction or socialization, let alone support if things go wrong in later life and an animal finds itself without a home. We’ve always held the opinion that puppy mills are wrong and in fact have a written policy in place not to have our products sold in shops that sell puppies and kittens.
The distinction needs to be made between right and wrong. Reputable breeders should not be concerned. Millions of people will continue to want various pure breeds. Millions of others will always adopt. Slamming Oprah for exposing those who are truly cruel and ruthless in their practices is not good for anyone. Information is power. We’re looking forward to the show!
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