Mexican Puppy Mills Breed Grief in Southland

[MaryH]

http://www.latimes.com/new/printededition/front/la-me-puppies26jul26,1,206159.story?coll

Smugglers are flooding the Southern California pet market with disease-ridden puppies from Mexico, promting law enforcement crackdowns, raising public health concerns and breaking the hearts of owners who watch their dogs die, often within hours of buying them.

Animal control officials estimate that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of puppies have died since an underground market, stretching from puppy mills in Mexico to street corners in San Diego and Los Angeles, was uncovered last year.

The puppies - usually small breeds like poodles, pugs and Chihuahuas - are typically sold through newspaper ads to bargain-seeking buyers who pay cash. The dogs, bundled in hand crates, apear healthy......

People need to know about this. Never, Never buy puppy mill puppies.

[wildeyed]

1. Never buy puppies

from someone other than a legitimate breeder. Check references. Check health records of the puppy and the parents.

Well bred dogs are expensive. If you can't afford it, check out breed rescues or even your local pound. Save a life and get a friend for life :)

[mhollis]

2. Always go to the Kennel

Always buy your animals from sellers where you can go to the kennel and see how they are born are cared for. The AKC has become a big part of the problem, as they will hand out a Kennel registration and purebreed papers to anyone who sends them the cash.

I did a report some years back in which we told them that we were breeding puppies that were the product of a spayed cat and a neutered dog. They sent us papers for the "puppies."

[Spinzonner]

3. Did you identify yourself as Dr Wienerstein ?

[MaryH]

4. This always makes me feel so bad

Dogs should not be a commodity.