If you are considering adding a four-legged friend to your family this holiday season or in the near future, this article is for you! We’ve compiled a few tips to help you find the perfect pet and avoid supporting the cruel puppy mill industry.  

Don’t purchase a pet from a store

Pet store puppies come from puppy mills, commercial breeding facilities where dogs are bred for profit and kept in cruel conditions. These dogs live in filthy conditions and have little to no veterinary care. Puppies born in puppy mills often have contagious illnesses or genetic issues, but they are marketed as “healthy” to unsuspecting customers. 

Avoid buying a pet from an online seller

It is nearly impossible to know if an online breeder or seller is responsible and trustworthy or if they are actually a puppy mill. There are thousands of reports of consumers who paid for puppies, only to find out the puppy they “ordered” online never existed, was sick or was a different puppy altogether.

Adopt from a rescue or shelter

Adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue directly supports lifesaving work. Adoption fees go back to funding efforts to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals. Yes, you can find purebred or desirable breeds in shelters, but keep an open mind—adoption counselors can use their knowledge about the animals to introduce you to a wonderful adoptable pet. It’s also a good idea to research the organization first to make sure you are adopting from a reputable rescue or shelter.   

Find a responsible breeder

If you decide that purchasing a puppy from a breeder is the right thing for your situation, take time to find a responsible breeder who has dogs’ best interests at heart. Ask to see health records, visit the breeder’s home and meet the puppy’s parents and littermates. A good breeder loves their dogs and has nothing to hide. 

Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time. With these tips, you can feel good knowing you didn’t support cruel breeding practices. Find more information on puppy mills and avoiding cruelty.