Puppy Mills: Do You Know Where that Doggie in the Window was Bred?

At the Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals, conditions are about as far from a puppy mill as you can get. The not-for-profit-shelter on Upper Gulph Road in Radnor Township is full to capacity, but still has room for the animals to stretch, romp and run.

Francisvale has lots of adorable animals just waiting for a home.

Puppy mills are notorious for cramped conditions, cranking out animals and forcing breeding dogs to stay in cramped conditions litter after litter.

This week Francisvale officials joined forces with U.S. Reps Jim Gerlach (R-PA6) and Pat Meehan (R-PA7) to spread the word about puppy mills and endorse a Gerlach bill to regulate breeders who sell more than 50 puppies a year.

The bill is working its way through Congress. In the meantime Francisvale Executive Director Jodi Button says there are things consumers can do to help put puppy mills out of business.

Ask before you buy.

If you are looking for a puppy or kitten at a pet store, asking for papers that document where the animal was bred is a simple, but effective way to put inhumane puppy mills out of business.  Button says not just asking, but insisting on seeing documented proof of an animal's origins would force pet stores to be more judicious about the breeders who supply them. Click on the video clip to see Button's advice.

Consider a shelter dog:

Francisvale is a no-kill shelter and there are dogs of all breeds, sizes and personalities just waiting for a loving home. The SPCA of Chester County is another place to look for a pet. Button says that by adopting a shelter dog and cutting the demand for "designer" breeds you can help cut down the demand and reduce the number of shelter and rescue animals at the same time.

See something, say something:

If you buy a dog or see one in a pet shop that seems like it may have been abused or have other problems, report it. The number of inspectors in the region is minimal. Even so, Meehan, a former federal prosecutor, says reporting suspected problems can lead to the discovery of much wider problems. To learn more click on the video clip of Congressman Meehan, a co-sponsor of the Gerlach PUPS bill.