Back Yard Breeders/Puppy Mills

Maureen · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:19 am Post subject:

Sometimes I wonder if anyone else is looking at this thread besides us breeders! Wink

But this is what happened to me yesterday and I think it's instructive:
One of our beautiful chocolate f1b puppies went to a young man who, when he came to bring her home, brought his mother with him. She had gotten a labradoodle from another breeder (not one who posts here). As a result of watching "our" puppy grow in her son's home, and watching her puppy grow, she has gotten progressively more frustrated. She waited a YEAR from the other breeder, for her puppy, and that breeder's prices went up, but she promised to hold her price for this woman. But then, while watching her puppy grow, she is seeing that her puppy is NOT the size she asked for, nor does she have the coat the woman thought she was waiting for in her pup.

I needed the wisdom of Solomon for this call! And I truly felt bad for the puppy-client because she loves her puppy but she feels betrayed that she waited so long and STILL ended up disappointed.

_________________
~Maureen
LabradoodleRanch@aol.com
www.LabradoodleRanch.com

movistar · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:47 am Post subject:

these are the stories I read that get me sooo mad (well these and the abandon doodles) gosh there are enough prospective puppy owners out there for everyone, breeders should have to take an oath of honesty. these "mistaken" or dishonest breeders give people a bad taste in their mouth.

M&Tdoodles · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject:

Puppy Brokers such as "LAUGHLIN KENNELS" IN MASSACHUSETTS advertise in the Providence Journal with at least 2 different phone numbers daily. They keep their pups in a basement, ( not that we could visit) but I imagine the basement loaded with crates STACKED to the ceiling with puppies High school students would go down their and bring the pups up to a breazeway for us to view the dogs. Through our own horrible experience with the owner we have learned to never obtain puppies from a broker. The state of Massachusetts should be ashamed to License such a Kennel.
When we purchased our first Labradoodle from them, 7 days later he came down with Parvo, and so reluctantly, despite our wanting to care for him in our home with the help of our Vet who would have given us antibiotics to nurse him back to health, we had to return him, in order to receive our $900.00 back. The owner would not speak to us face to face yet had a high school girl handle our questions. She had told us that he didnt feel comfortable speaking to " people"..GOD"...how do you run a business and not feel comfortable talking to people...
When asked where the dog was from , they just said " A BREEDER IN THE MIDWEST".
Obtaining a dog from real people at their home with clear explicit warrantees in hand is the way to go. Brokers, puppy stores, etc all cater to the puppy mill factor.
At least with a warrenty we provide, if illness occurs the adopted parents get to keep their puppy and will receive their $ back in full.
I think this expereince has given us the desire to breed Labradoodles so others will never have this horribly and very sad incident occur to them.
_________________
Martha and Tom
Lighthouse Labradoodles
Warwick, RI
WWW.RILABRADOODLES.COM

http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/ridoodles/

gracielou · Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:26 am Post subject:

What a horrible story!!!
_________________
Linda & Gracielou
Valley Center, KS
http://www.4pawspuppies.com

Tink · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:43 am Post subject:

I have to say I agree wholeheartedly too.
Back in my young and niave days when I was just starting to put together my GSD kennel, I purchased a pup from a BAD breeder. She came to me with mange! She was shy and never did turn into a dog I felt I could breed. I owned her for a couple of years, spayed her and rehomed her at a big loss because she simply wasn't one you'd want to reproduce. It was a good lesson for me though.

Much of my breeding stock after that came through a wonderful man who imported GSDs from Germany. He bred these dogs to raise his own pups for his police dog training program. The ones I bought had failed out of his program for not being aggressive enough, or not having the right personality traits for such demanding training in one way or another. THESE were worth reproducing!

In our area there are a few places I would consider puppymills. Breeding tiny dogs in cages and only the most basic care given. I know some have tried to intervene, but we don't have an ASPCA, and the local humane society is new and not able to do much more than house a few animals to be rehomed. It IS sad. And it will continue as long as there is a market for what they offer. Sad fact.
_________________
www.tinkerdoodle.net
Hickory, Jessie, Ava, Hana, Misty and Chip (happy master of his Harem)

ILoveTrevor · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

I can't agree more!

We got our first puppy, Trevor (which my screen name is for), from a rescue who bought the puppies at auction from a puppy mill.

Excuse me if I'm repeating something that someone else has said here. but rescues are not doing anyone any good by reselling (in my opinion, a $300 adoption fee is selling) puppy mill puppies.

They purported to be saving these dogs, but in reality they were boosting their bottom line by selling a fancy breed. When we called about all of Trevor's genetic defects so that the other puppy owners could know about them, the nonprofit "rescue" ignored our calls and e-mails.

Reading this forum was incredibly helpful to me when looking for a new puppy after Trevor had to be put down. I knew what questions to ask, and what standards to look for. The breeder we chose from was a wonderful farm with 7 kids to socialize the puppies. They only had one litter at a time, and all of the parent dogs were beautiful and friendly, considered family pets. We were able to meet them all and see just where they grew up. We also got a 2 year health guarantee, and many of their puppies are placed into the PILOT program.

The experience was like night and day.

So it's not just breeders reading this post!!! Thanks guys!

MaxandMe · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

I read this one and check to see if there are any new thoughts/replies like today's

I was talking to the reproductive and testing center today regarding Beau. They are having horrow stories and/or doodles with not-so-good breeding and temperaments as of lately. many of these pups are shipped but some have driven long distances , paid $1500+ and end up with a Doodle less than promised.

anyway, we are setting up an appt for Beau to be tested and also they want to talk to me about referrals for their clients as they know my vets quite well and so on

Rest Assured there are breeders on this forum that are going to be referredOR PM me if you want me to list your name/website

I am trying to promote Reputable BREEDERS that TEST their dogs not only for health but breed for the integrity of the doodle and excellent termperaments!
I am also praying Beau passes hips soon.
_________________
Annmarie, Max,& Peanut
Forum BLOG ARTICLE LINK http://blog.labradoodle-dogs.net/

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France

cocoandjane · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject:

It is sooo good to know that something can be done to influence folks who really don't know and understand about puppy mills. I had to notify authorities once on one operation out of a home....very sad.

Before I had a clue, years ago....in my early twenties, I began pet-sitting for a few people....friends and word of mouth only, as I didn't intend to make a business out of it. One time the owner of a pet store in the area, who didn't sell animals, just supplies...referred me to someone who needed somebody to come in and care for her dachsunds while they were out of town.....feed, water, let out to play... change papers in the bottom of their kennels, that should have given me a clue....but like I said I was clueless!!

So for one week we took care of a houseful of dogs, 150!!!...
puppies, mostly...
floor to ceiling~crates stacked on top of each other....the barking was deafening and the smell would knock you over....We were totally blown away and wondered about the legality of it all....surely in the city limits and since the conditions were gross.....it wasn't right!! Small backyard, poop everywhere, doggie door for the chosen few to use and the rest used their crates...
The more we saw in each room, after the folks left...(they only showed us the front of the house initially....and left a note inside the door for us to find after they left and when we went to take care of them for the first time. ...telling us to go all the way to the back bedrooms there were more back there.....)

Needless to say, when they returned we let them know that we were reporting them to the Humane Society. They were dealt with, but I don't remember what actually happened.
I just learned that I had to be more careful about believing people....and ask to see every animal etc....and were any others going to be brought in after I left the initial visit that would be left to care for that I hadn't already met??

Geesh. I could never imagine someone buying a dog from people like that...so I bet those were brokered to others ~or stores.
I learned a lot, needless to say....never pet-sat for anyone like that again!
In fact, never ran into anyone doing that again.

Also, let the pet store know how horrid the conditions were and not to recommend this breeder to anyone again!!

It is sad that now some 32 years later....puppy mills and bybreeders still exist! Crying or Very sad

_________________
Jane

Coco and Abby, too!!

annieG · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject:

In Utah the puppy mill breeders take their dogs to Sportsman's Warehouse and other sporting-good stores on the weekends. They sell the puppies out of the back of their pickups to anyone with the cash. Sometimes they do it in grocery store parking lots. They also can advertise them on KSL's website (a local news channel) for free.

In one small town south of Salt Lake, they had 26 black labs in their kill shelter on one day alone. We lobby the legislature every year trying to get animal cruelty to be more than a misdemeanor....so far no success. Crying or Very sad

_________________
AnnieG & Tanner

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

MaxandMe · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject:

I hate hearing these horror stories but also need to hear them to be aware of them!!!

i myself try to tell others NOT to buy from petshops....best supporter of puppymillls Evil or Very Mad

it is hard to shut them down but i do know of one petshop that closed down, as everyone started to boycott it and stopped buying anything from them let alone puppies.

I do however love that many of my friends and dave's family have adopted rescue and/or stray dogs and cats.
_________________
Annmarie, Max,& Peanut
Forum BLOG ARTICLE LINK http://blog.labradoodle-dogs.net/

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France

Maureen · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject:

well....one puppy (not mine, but on this forum) who went thru an awful surgery on both their hips came from a nice-enough, well-meaning but ignorant 'breeder' so to speak. The puppy was cheap enough, initially but not when you look at major, serious surgery. And how, exactly does someone take a puppy they've loved for a year back to someone who may or may not care or even be breeding anymore? Or worse yet, breeding those same 2 dogs over and over?

I'm afraid I used to be an ignorant but well-meaning hobby breeder, and I hope to God I never caused anyone or any dog that kind of sorrow or pain but I thought my cheaper-than-the-market puppies were ok and not hurting anyone.

I think differently now.
_________________
~Maureen
LabradoodleRanch@aol.com
www.LabradoodleRanch.com

mtd885 · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:50 am Post subject:

Maureen, we live, learn and hopefully grow! I honestly keep an eye out online for inquiries and referrals about the people I got Abby from. I hope I've been able to influence the two folks considering buying from them I discovered online Mad

and suggested they go elsewhere. I like the cliche about if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem Exclamation

It's nice to see you committing to a higher standard!...best m
_________________
mtd/renee/abby/dr katz
DOODLE ON!
DOODLES OF AMERICA UNITE!

M&Tdoodles · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject:

IF we can make just one person STOP at the thought of purchasing a Labradoodle at a Puppy Store then we are doing something very good for that person. I wish we could stop this practice.

Some F1 Labradodles F1 mind you are going for $1900.00 at a pet store in east Providence. My friend's daughter is a Nanny for 2 small children & she brings them their all the time. It is unbelievable what they are charging the public never mind considering where they are getting the doodles from.

People that purchased a pup from our fist litter had purchased a dog from a pet store , and for 3 years had to deal with a dog who vomited every day. After many tests and meds and diet changes the final diagnosis made was that of severe kidney disease & then it died 3 days later.

....I cried as they told us their story. I am sure there are many more stories like this out there.
_________________
Martha and Tom
Lighthouse Labradoodles
Warwick, RI
WWW.RILABRADOODLES.COM

http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/ridoodles/

gene · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject:

So far I've been really lucky with Rumor, my F1B rescue. His original owners (we'll use the term loosely) got him from a pet shop via puppy mill and they paid $1400 dollars from him. I have 2 friends that used to work for that pet shop and confirmed that yes, they did and still do, buy puppy mill puppies. They both quit after being told that they needed to sell a sick puppy and tell the customers that it was just "tired". I pray every day that Rumor will always be healthy and that these pet shops that sell these brokered puppies, the brokers and the mills the puppies come from all get their just desserts!! It makes me cry also because the ones that suffer most are the animals themselves....they end up in shelters and/or live a life of pain and suffering. It's just not fair!!

Wow, sorry, I'll climb off my soap box now....
_________________
gene , jonah , miko and rumor

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p46/jonahfus
"A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down." - Robert Benchley

MaxandMe · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject:

My son just informed me that a LD is for sale in a pet shop in the city
for a high $$ ........this makes me feel so sick inside. I then gave my son the puppy mill lecture and now he's passing this new knowledge onto others.
I wish i knew how to stop them. (puppy mills and pet stores that sell these puppies).
_________________
Annmarie, Max,& Peanut
Forum BLOG ARTICLE LINK http://blog.labradoodle-dogs.net/

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France