When you look at those pretty sad brown eyes, it's really hard to resist a Labrador puppy displayed on pet shop windows. But hang on a moment and wait, let me tell you about the plight of this extraordinary breed of dogs.
Labradors are considered the world's most popular dogs. Even as we speak, Labrador breeders are competing and tirelessly trying to produce the best Lab ever. Unfortunately this article is not all about the fine points of the Labrador breed or the art of being a Labrador breeder. This article is about the sad fact that today, pet stores are the life and blood of puppy mills.
Sadly though, by you walking out of that pet store with that cute Labrador on hand makes you a purveyor of puppy mills. So you argue that the pet shop owner told me that their puppies are from reputable Labrador breeders and not a puppy mill. Before we argue upon that assertion, first let us clearly define what Labrador breeders and puppy mills are.
Puppy mills are common knowledge; we accept the fact that some people need a source of living. Labrador puppies are very popular in the market and it is ok to breed them. But it is the essence of the Labrador breeders' procedure that is coming into question. People seem to forget that their source of living should be treated nicely.
Female dogs are made to breed at a very young age, and they do so until they are incapable of producing a decent number of litters. What's more, they are kept in cramped cages, devoid of any human or animal contact. Their paws are swollen because of the hardwire flooring. Most of the dogs are afflicted with flea infestations, genetic disorders and other illnesses. So you ask, what's the connection to pet stores, and that poor Labrador in the puppy mill? Well, you see ninety percent of Labrador puppies sold at pet stores come from commercial Labrador breeders or puppy mills.
The callousness does not stop there. When these puppies are shipped, they are put in cramped boxes and arrive at pet stores inundated by their own urine and excrement. What's more, according to one pet shop employee, these puppies are kept in cat carriers and stacked in the backrooms. You can hear the puppies' wine from hunger, dirt and sickness.
The puppies are shipped to the pet stores as soon as there are orders and in poor conditions at that. Most puppies are packed in boxes barely big enough to even fit the little ones. Puppies arrive at pet stores in ghastly conditions, soaking in their urine and wallowing in feces.
Although there are pet shops that do get their puppies from responsible commercial dog breeders, Labrador breeders, and private owners, the likely hood is that there are only a few of them that do. The lure of higher profits is sometimes hard to resist for some people. So be the responsible one and don't patronize the pet stores who are merciless to animals.