There are many ways to bring a new furry four-legged friend into our family: going to the Humane Society and choosing a dog (“rescuing”); the local Pet Store usually has an Adoption Day; there’s always the online Marketplaces and Word of Mouth. So, what’s the big deal and why should we care?

Looking into those sweet eyes and digging your fingers into that clean, soft fur, it’s hard to fathom the life before this “moment of decision” when you decide whether you will bring him home to be part of your fur-ever family. I want to help shed light on terrible practices, as well as offer solutions to bringing a happy, healthy dog/puppy into your life.

The Humane Society (HSUS) defines a puppy mill as “a dog breeding operation, which offers dogs for monetary compensation or remuneration, in which the physical, psychological and/or behavioral needs of the dogs are not being fulfilled due to inadequate housing, shelter, staffing, nutrition, socialization, sanitation, exercise, veterinary care and/or inappropriate breeding.” The PROBLEM with purchasing from a Puppy Mill is that we are exasperating the issue and those behind the veil of online and Pet Stores will continue.

Let me share with you what happened two and a half years ago. I didn’t know what the conditions of the puppy’s home was from the pictures; I was lured in by the puppies. I was in contact with the Breeder for a few months, asking for parent’s health (OFA testing, proof of parents lineage, etc.) and a few phone calls, but I hadn’t decided what I would do. I found her website full of testimonies and pictures. When I was suddenly called by the husband, asking if I had made up my mind, my red flags started waving. He let me know he was desperately in need of help from “someone like me” because his wife just passed away (literally the night before) and he was overwhelmed.

Rallying the troops, I called and e-mailed every Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breeder that I could reach and let them know of this desperate situation, hoping SOMEONE would help this poor man! A few days later my husband and I were on the road, driving the 15 hours it took to reach this man, more importantly the dogs and puppies that I just “knew” needed to have some help. I had NO idea what we were facing, I just knew there were a LOT of dogs and puppies who needed homes immediately.

Luckily, I found a CKCS breeder a few miles from this mans home and she agreed to meet me there. We were greeted and had a “preliminary meeting” outside the home to discuss the “situation”. Again, when pressed, he had NO idea how many dogs or puppies there were needing adoption, but he was willing “to do whatever needed” to liquidate his kennel immediately. I had 4 breeders from all over the United States and Canada awaiting to hear what was going on and who bred the dogs that were living in the home. I was hoping to send many dogs back to the Breeders who had originally sold to this couple.

As soon as I opened the door, I was aghast! I had NO IDEA people lived like this, much less, the many, many dogs! There were quite a number of dogs running around the house, but, the worst part was the double-stacked, hard plastic carrier crates that were lined up along the hallway with about a dozen dogs. Apparently I only saw the females, I have no idea how many males lived “outside in the garage” and there were a few litters of puppies in the main bedroom and bathroom, closed up, zip-tied to the area. I was mortified! I couldn’t stand to be IN the house. I wanted out, and I wanted the dogs and puppies in another, better condition. Our heart wasn’t so much in it to adopt any of them (is it ever?) but at this moment I was wishing I had a bus and the ability to take them ALL (and rehome them to the amazing people I have met over the years). The filth, the stench, the conditions…were completely inhumane.

Within just a few minutes of arriving with the other Breeder, a relative of the woman who passed walked in and shouted, “Uncle, get your things in order. All the animals will be removed from the premises within a half-hour.” ASPCA was en route and the dogs and puppies were leaving, the last count that I heard was 22 adult dogs and 9 puppies removed, not to mention the exotic birds and horses that were (un)kept on the property. I was ecstatic, and completely mortified. I hated the situation these dogs and puppies were living in, but being RESCUED meant there was hope for a healthy, happy life afterward. This, ugh, is the picture of disdain that so many have in their minds when they (unfortunately) think of any type of animal breeders; thanks to the news and other forms of media. This is also why I am writing this blog post…and why I want to reform our thinking about what “Purebred Breeders” (of any sort) could/should be!

We drove home, slowly, after speaking with the very upset Breeders across the country, not knowing where the dogs/puppies came from, and where they would be going. I had no idea WHY I made this trip, but if, for nothing else, I wanted to see this “Puppy Mill Practice” and never, ever come anywhere near identifying myself as “that”.

My daughter, Emily, is a Certified Nurses Assistant. Weekly she tells me of the sad conditions of one of the houses where she cares for an elderly woman, nearly blind, who breeds dogs in her tiny apartment. She keeps and raises the puppies in a baby playpen their entire life and sells them between 6-7 weeks old. They run and roll in their filth all day long. Her client sells the puppies to Pet Stores as well as people on line, who will never meet the parents or see the conditions of the home that the puppies have been bred into. I give her advice of calling the local Humane Society (1-877-MILL-TIP ). Apparently there are so many of these “backyard breeders” that 20,000 puppies annually are sold through these types of systems with no accountability or measures for improvement. As long as people continue to purchase through illegitimate means, there will be pound puppies and sick dogs in society. HSUS defines a puppy mill as “a dog breeding operation, which offers dogs for monetary compensation or remuneration, in which the physical, psychological and/or behavioral needs of the dogs are not being fulfilled due to inadequate housing, shelter, staffing, nutrition, socialization, sanitation, exercise, veterinary care and/or inappropriate breeding.”

This past July I was contacted by a local Portlandian who works closely with the Humane Society. As of such, she would “feel too guilty buying a dog when we see dogs put down due to overpopulation”, but wanted to let me know she would gladly accept a purebred Cavalier, should I know of one who needs to be rehomed. I find this thinking everywhere. In fact, having adopted several dogs from the local shelter, as well as being in a family who has adopted FIVE children from our local Foster System…I used to feel like I needed to constantly justify WHY I was BREEDING in the first place!!

Falling in love with a breed doesn’t automatically give folks a license to be a Breeder. I have three very close friends (and relatives) who are Breeders of a variety of Dogs and I never wanted to do what they were doing. Truly, it was AFTER researching, seeing how HARD it was to find a healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog that I decided to make this challenge MINE. I went to the local dog clubs and shows, chatting with Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Owners all over the world (thanks to Facebook Groups like “Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Stomping Ground”, and meeting with and asking a million questions before launching into my “Breeding Career”. 7 years later, I am learning daily about the continuous needs and challenges that this breed holds…something I believe that can slowwwwly overcome together. In fact, it has become my goal of having the World’s Healthiest Cavalier King Charles Spaniels – world over! I KNOW this will not be an easy task. I have purchased about a dozen dogs, but have had to prematurely retire 7 of these due to anomalies within the individual dog that would not make this a great dog to use in my Breeding practices.

Having found the “Club” Standards (each pure bred dog has a Club) for the USA CKCS http://www.ckcsc.org/ckcsc/ckcsc_inc.nsf/Founded-1954/breedinfo.html I then began looking for Breeders who were adhering to the Club and AKC’s Standard Policies. Easy? No, unfortunately. I was blinded by the lack of accountability and standardization with regard to the policies that do not seem hard to follow. Having purchased puppies as well as “teen aged” dogs, I go through the same process I would anticipate others to go through to find me (typically using the AKC Marketplace: https://marketplace.akc.org/breeder/kalama-cavaliers-kennel?source_breed=cavalier-king-charles-spaniel ). I ask about the varies testings the dog and his parents have been through and then I ask for a visit. These are important and, often, denied. Just as I, as a Dog Breeder will interview each potential Adoptive Family, I expect folks to interview me! AKC has a great “Questions to ask a Potential Dog Breeder” here: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/questions-to-ask-your-potential-breeder/

If the breeder and puppies are too far away to visit while you are doing the research, ask for a full home/kennel video chat. Ask to see the Father and Mother and “look” for the dog’s normal living environment – where s/he eats, sleeps and plays. Insist on going ON SITE to see the condition of the parents, puppy and environment. Backyard Breeders often do not have Vet Records or Paperwork that shows they are upholding the standards and always improving the breed. Puppies should be frequently handled (immediately after they are born) and cared for and records for parents can be proven through the outside sourcing Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. I found Anna Button’s in South Carolina who had been breeding the CKCS’s 25 years and no known genetic issues to account for. She and I talked for months before I decided to fly out and pick out my 7 month old puppy Willy. Soon, thereafter I began to have Willy tested. I am an open book with my testing records, here is Willy’s Annual testing records: https://www.ofa.org/advanced-search quicksearch=Buttons%20Sir%20William

For my purposes, and because it is so simple to do nowadays, I insist on seeing the parent’s DNA records hopefully showing some of the typical CKCS genetic diseases cleared (I use https://embarkvet.com/ ). If I am comfortable with all of the clearances and the environment that the pup/dog is coming from, I will send a Deposit (usually $500 or more) and prepare for the transportation home. If the travel is too far to drive, I always insist on meeting the Breeder at the local airport and NOT flying the pup/dog. The last thing I want is a dog/pup with PTSD (diseased or even dead) due to the flying conditions!

Why is it so important to know the health of the parents? Besides telling you A LOT about the Breeders ethics, it will be an indication of what possibly is to come for your new puppy! I am an avid reader, researching constantly for ways to improve my Kennel and Breeding Standards. Today I can be found reading the 500+ page book “Epigenetics: The Death of the Genetic Theory of Disease Transmission”. I believe ethical breeders are always going to be pushing themselves into new territories.

Part II of this Blog series will go into more detail with stories from people who have been duped…I want to help you avoid fiascos in your future. Have you ever been around a Puppy Mill? What did you do?