Puppy Mills!

S

Smudge

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I think I am seriously going to be sick. I was looking online through local business ads to try and see if I could find a place that does agility in my area. Again. With no luck. :no::rolleyes2:

What I did come across though was horrible. I found two websites, both owned by the same group of people that runs puppy mills in my area. One of the people on the website said that they sold shelties. It got me pretty fired up, because I've only recently learned about puppy mills. I never knew they had things like that here! So I clicked the link, and what I found has made me cry all morning long.

Smudge is a puppy mill puppy. The woman I bought Smudge from is running a puppy mill!

I never pieced it all together until I saw the website. When I went to go get him, I was given a contract that I had to sign stating that I had 24 hours to get him to a vet for a checkup to make sure he was in good health. After 24 hours the breeder was no longer liable for anything that happened to him. I got him on a Saturday, so the vet was closed until Monday, except for emergencies. When I went, this lady had TONS of full grown dogs in cages. I thought she just had them in cages because she was showing me puppies and didn't want them to get in the way. I feel so stupid. It never clicked with me until I saw that site. She had her shelties out in her front yard, probably because she didn't want me to see them caged up. All of the animals were up a hill in her backyard in a room no bigger than my hallway.

I don't think that it's a large, full blown mega bucks making puppy mill, but it's still a puppy mill.

I got the websites off of a yahoo locals classified. People are warning everybody about this site, and not to buy dogs from these people. I wish I had seen it before now.

Here is the woman's website: (and she can't even spell "shelties" right)
http://pupchannel.com/Sheltys.html

Here is the complete website listing:
http://pupchannel.com/

They advertise that they will let rescue groups advertise for free, but that doesn't change the fact of what they are.

I never wanted to buy a puppy mill puppy, but I'm so glad Smudge is safe from a life of cages, neglect, and cruelty. I feel so stupid. :cry:
 
Don't beat yourself up over this. YOU DID NOT KNOW. It's a nother thing if you did, but you didn't. When I was looking for a puppy after Dorian died, I amost bought one from a puppy mill too. I did not know. I found out by chance from a friend who has a fried that used to breed shelties. It is very hard to know unless you are in the breeding world. All that counts now, is that Smudge is safe, healthy and in a loving home. But this would explain all the problems you were having with worms. You are a great mom to Smudge, and think of it this way - you rescued him from what could have been a miserable life. Give Smudge a huge hug.
 
Ania said:
But this would explain all the problems you were having with worms.
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It also explains why I was so confused about worm medicine. She told me she was waiting on a woman to come give the puppies their last "worm shot", but that the woman didn't get to make it to her house that day. Then when I went to the vet and asked for a "worm shot" he looked at me like I was crazy. I wonder why? :rolleyes2:

I'll check out those links, too. I want to add another sheltie to the mix, but not for a long time. Probably not until after Smudge has been fixed and is a year old. I think next go around I'm going to check the animal shelter and see if there's a sheltie needing a good home. Less confusion. :yes:
 
Yeah, you didn't know. Now take me...I bought a couple of Budgies from a pet store last year and I did know better, just wanted a Budgie very badly (yes, I did my research on their care), and didn't want to wait for an ad in the paper. I feel very guilty about it, and am never going to do it again. One of those Budgies died several months later, and I think it was due to where he came from.
Regardless, I love the remaining Budgie to death.
 
Well Jessica, I would look at it this way. You saved little Smudge from a miserable existence. You've cared for him, as we all know, with love and affection and he is lucky to have you. Is it unfortunate that a puppy mill got your money, heck yes! But you didn't know what was going on. I feel terrible for the dogs left behind, but we can only do what we can do. Thinking of it as saving one little beautiful boy from hell on earth.

Sure does explain the worm issue though, doesn't it. That woman should be arrested!

I'm curious though, did they give you Smudge's pedigree?
 
MissSuzie said:
I'm curious though, did they give you Smudge's pedigree?
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Yeah. He has AKC papers, which is what I don't understand. All of the dogs being bought from that place have them. I never knew puppy mill puppies could have AKC papers! I thought that to be able to breed dogs that were AKC members you had to go through a lot of hassle. I guess not. It must only prove that this dog mated with this dog and as a result the puppies have papers, too.

She showed me both parents. The male was the largest sheltie I've ever seen. He looked like a small collie, and the female was the tiniest sheltie that I've ever seen. Both dogs belonged to her.
 
Jessica don't feel bad. I think my Fergus also came from a puppy mill. I thought I was being careful but apparently not careful enough. I have had him for two years and just recently found out the kennel I got him from is linked to a pet store that is suspected of being involved with puppy mills. I did not buy him from the pet store. I did not have all the issues that you have had with Smudge. He was very clean when I got him and did not have worms but he did have fleas and a yeast infection in one of his ears. So far I have not had any serious health issues with him and my vet tells me he is a beautiful boy. Hopefully I will be lucky and no serious issues will rear their head down the line. I don't regret for one minute buying him he has a wonderful,loving personality. You know better now and so do I. When you do get ready to get another sheltie there sheltie rescue groups that you can contact. There are a lot of great shelties that land in rescue through no fault of their own. If I decide to get Fergus a brother or sister that will be the first place I contact.The rescue people do a great job and will do their best to match you with a dog that they feel is a good fit for your family. Just thank God every day that you rescued Smudge from what was probably a really bad situation.
 
MisfitBrian said:
You never know about these places. Now it looks like they've found a huge mill in North Texas this week. 496 dogs seized in all. :eek2:
http://www.star-telegram.com/state_news/story/1474297.html
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I will never understand people who do things like this. It takes a really sick person to be able to sleep with themselves at night after treating any kind of animal that way.

Now I understand why Smudge was so cheap. :no: At least the only problems I've had so far is that he had worms and he stinked. It could have been so much worse. That doesn't mean something won't turn up down the road though, which is what I am afraid of. The worm problem only caused premature gray hairs and $29. :lol:

Next time I am going to the shelter or I might try a sheltie rescue, like somebody said. That's not saying that a dog/puppy from there would not have medical problems, but at least I wouldn't be supporting something terrible. I've learned my lesson for sure!
 
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