Airline’s Puppy Deaths Spark Debate about Commercial Breeders

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Retrieved August 14, 2010 from http://www.aspca.org/news/national/08-13-10.html#1

This is a good article about Breeders and Commercial online purchases of dogs, etc.   Sign that the times are changing, and what to beware of next. 
Some good advice we may be able to pass along. 

As animal lovers become more aware that purchasing a dog from a pet store supports the inhumane practices of puppy mills, commercial breeders are using online sources to get their dogs directly into homes across the country.

On August 3, seven puppies died of suspected heat-related complications in the cargo hold of a plane en route from Tulsa, OK, to Chicago, IL. The victims were seven of 14 pups transported by the airline, and reportedly came from a
commercial breeder in Oklahoma—many of the puppies were booked on connecting
flights, making it likely that they were purchased online by buyers in different
cities.

“Puppy mill operators are creating professional looking websites that convincingly dupe consumers into thinking they are reputable breeders,” says Cori Menkin, ASPCA Senior Director of Legislative Initiatives.

“A sure way to spot a scam is that they often offer to ship the dogs to the buyer without ever meeting in person. No reputable breeder would ever ship a puppy to a buyer sight
unseen.”

Buying a puppy over the Internet is just as risky as buying from a pet store—you can’t see the puppy’s breeding premises or meet his parents. Furthermore, those who sell animals online are not held to regulations established by the Animal Welfare Act.

“The Animal Welfare Act requires breeders to be licensed and meet specific minimum standards of care for animals bred for resale, but a loophole allows puppy breeders who sell directly to the public—which includes over the Internet—to go unregulated,” says Menkin. “They are able to keep inspectors away
and operate without being accountable to anyone.”

“The bottom line is the only way to be sure your new puppy isn't a product of cruel and inhumane conditions is to see for yourself where he lives—visit the breeder’s facilities and meet the puppy’s parents,” Menkin states. “Or better yet, adopt from your local shelter.”

For more information on the risks associated with buying a puppy in a pet store or online, please visit our online Puppy Mill campaign.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I know, I know, but both my dogs came to me sight unseen on both ends. I at least knew what the dogs looked like. I thought the breeders were reputable, still do, and everything was fine. I had done lots of research over years, though. I also hadd my dogs shipped in May before the summer heat and after the winter cold. There was a time when it was hard to find any good, somewhat local breeders. This is no longer true.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

F. you did your research long before `your purchase. You did not sign on, talk to no one, and gave a credit card number in just one picture click. I think that it what this article is about.

I still think it's okay for reputable breeders to conduct business this way also. I would have no problem doing this myself. My reason for posting this is that I have seen and heard that this is the new, quick way to go instead of doing research, waiting, and making non-impulsive purchases.

We have great resources on DK where we steer those newbies that come on looking for our advice. Too often this is the route they are going. The internet broker sites. This would be a good article for them to see before ordering from one of those Broker Mill sites.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

"I still think it's okay for reputable breeders to conduct business this way also. I would have no problem doing this myself."
For example, we have a breeder here on DK and I would be at the airport in 30 mins if I knew she was shipping me one of her red doodles. Yep, sight unseen. But we KNOW her reputation. I have never met her or been to her kennels.
We also fly rescues on airplanes. I not refuting airplane flights, it is the point-click-charge, pick from one of our 1,000 puppies and we will ship it tomorrow that is becoming so popular, slipping under the illegal radar is what I am commenting on with this article.

[shelly]

I totally agree! Remember the days when we found a dog roaming around, took it in, and put up signs in the neighborhood... no response and said dog became ours.... I think about it and can't believe my parents did THAT! Hmmm RED doodles???? Did you say? I think I truly have a problem... I am truly addicted to doodles.. wish I could have one of every kind in every color! Now back to reality... the trainer mentioned that puppies get very stressed on flights.... wish I could ask her.. hey - maybe my car reminds her of her plane flight....

[Adina P]

"it is the point-click-charge, pick from one of our 1,000 puppies and we will ship it tomorrow "

Very important and it's the same people who would buy a pup this way that would likely buy from a truck in front of a grocery store or the neighborhood BYB. I really wish articles like this were more specific about how to buy a pup responsibly. Because if someone decides 'oh buying online is bad? okay then I'll look through my newspaper' then they aren't necessarily doing any better. It's NOT the act of finding one's dog on the internet that is the issue...it's buying a dog without proper research into buying a dog and what a good breeder should be, etc. It's assuming that a cute puppy picture or cute puppy in front of you means it was well and responsibly bred.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Very true.

[Kelly-Orchard View Labradoodles]

Thank you, Adina, my thoughts exactly...but I couldn't figure out how to say it without seeming to promote myself as a breeder. Blanket statements such as the ones in this article do little to actually help people find good breeders.

I require people to call or email me to receive my Application. I don't post it or a link to it on my website. I want to communicate with my clients before we even start the process.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Me too, Joanne. I have my red baby's parents all picked out! There are some wonderful, helpful breeder members here that you feel that you know and trust even though you haven't met them in the real world. If my pack wasn't full, I would be looking at them. I think in this day and age of buying things on-line, many people don't realize ordering up a puppy like a new coffee maker, is probably not a good idea.

[shelly]

I'm "GUILTY" as well... we stumbled upon the breed from an "on-line questionnaire" my son completed on our 'wants'... BUT then spoke to the breeder on the phone... Thanks to THIS great on-line site... I have spoken to some members who did go there and put my mind at ease... but I still feel slighted due to the fact I did not travel there... now I found a breeder MUCH closer and will GO there next time (oops... did I just say that?)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Uh-oh.

[Kyoko]

Poor little puppies..... Not only the puppy mill issues, I am concern about the fact that airline did not assure the safety and welfare of the puppies in this heat!!!

[L.M.]

I agree! The airline needs to step up here and assume responsibility as well!
The breeder I got our Seamus from refuses to ship her puppies. This is what won me over and led me to ultimately choose her. We drove for about 5 hours, but now I'm relieved that we did.