Renee, I am appalled at the way people treat their dogs, they are so cavalier and uncaring. To train or socialize a dog would be work and/or they would have to pay to train with the dog (which of course they already know how to do). When the dog isn't housebroken, cratetrained, or doesn't listen when called (where is that dog manual?) - the dog is sent packing to the backyard on a chain for the rest of it's life - cold, sleet, hail, scorching heat, no water, little food and no more human contact - I guess this is where you, Renee, step in.

But, there is another ugly truth about unsocialized dogs and it comes in the form of puppy mills, pet stores, internet, ads in newspapers and flea markets. These poor pups that people buy are the product of the most sinister minds - greedy people making money from poor animals who can't complain. Most of these dogs never see the light of day, never bark, never whine, never wag their tail and never see any human compassion for their entire life. These dogs are commodities and no where near the companion animals that we remember growing up with.

I have taken the liberty of adding an excerpt from NoWisconsinPuppyMills.com that sums up the problems we are facing buying puppies from everyone but reputable breeders, shelters or rescues:

Puppy mills breed for bulk and profit with no concern for health or temperament. Many puppies that are sold from these places have severe health conditions. The puppies that don't die within a few weeks of purchase (and yes, there are many that do) can experience health problems for the rest of their lives. I have met many families that have lost their puppies shortly after buying them from puppy mills, which causes much distress, particularly for younger members of the family. The cost to other families whose puppies don't die but continue to have health problems into adulthood can be financially draining, and many of these dogs end up either being euthanized or dumped into the shelter system. There are also many documented cases of puppies being sold with serious diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Children are at particular risk if they come in contact with such dogs.

Puppy mill puppies are kept in appalling conditions with little contact or experience of other dogs, people or environments in the vital weeks when mental and physical development is so crucial.

• Many puppies are sold too young (4 to 7 weeks old) to maximize profits. It is vital that puppies are with their mothers and their litter mates until at least 8 weeks old. Puppies learn a lot about social interaction from their littermates and valuable life lessons from their mothers. However many puppy mill mothers who are used as breeding machines and kept in small cages or boxes all their lives, are so sick and mentally depressed, they are unable to give the guidance that their puppies need. Many puppies that come from puppy mills are emotionally numb and don't know how to play with toys, other dogs or humans.

• From the moment they are born, puppies need to have lots of social interaction and handling by humans in order for them to build that important human/animal bond. If this is not done from birth a pup will be uncomfortable with human interaction. A dog like this will be nervous, anxious and have a greater risk of responding aggressively towards a human.

• Potential dog owners will buy such puppies from the puppy farmers themselves, pet stores, (where do you think the vast number of puppies sold in pet stores on main street or in shopping malls come from?) yard sales, flea markets and ads in local papers without realizing the negative consequences that such an upbringing can create. Behavioural science has proven that the most valuable time for a puppy to learn from its environment is from birth to 16 weeks. A puppy is like a sponge at that time and if it hasn't had positive experiences in all different kinds of environments before 16 weeks of age, it can develop severe social difficulties such as aggression, destructive behaviour, anxiety and nervousness towards people and/or other dogs. This negative behaviour can be difficult to change even with training and behaviour modification therapy. Owners that buy dogs from sources where they are unable to see what the breeding environment is like and where there is no opportunity to meet the mother are buying a potential liability. A lot of information can be gained just by watching a mother dog interacting with her puppies, and a breeder will know of any potential genetic abnormalities that might affect their puppy's mental and physical development. If it is a responsible breeder, there should be none.

National Humane Organizations estimate that an average of 4 to 5 million dogs are put down every year and only 5% of those for medical reasons. Why? Because there are too many dogs and too few homes to care for them. The last thing this country needs is puppy mills that breed thousands upon thousands of dogs a year to add to the pet overpopulation problem that exists in the United States. The more they breed and the more the unsuspecting public buys, the more dogs will end up in shelters or worse and be killed because there are no homes for them.

Owning a dog or any other pet allows a child the opportunity to learn how to care for and respect that pet. It is a known fact that children who are taught to respect animals from an early age are the most likely to translate that compassion onto humans. What sort of message does the abusive practice of puppy farming send to our children?

Legislators have a responsibility to provide laws for the common good. The only way this horrendous situation will change is with education and effective legislation. It is the government's responsibility to keep the people they serve safe, but if more and more of these puppy mills are allowed to operate, the implications will have a negative impact on us all. This is a reality. I see the devastating consequences of puppy mill farming in my job as a trainer. It is very stressful for owners when they realize that their dream dog is sick and/or aggressive because of where they were purchased. The problem needs to be tackled at source and the despicable practice of puppy farming must become a thing of the past. Action needs to be taken now to keep dogs, dog owners and the non dog-owning public safe.
                  Excerpt taken from ...Puppymills...

Don't buy your animals from pet stores that sell live animals, over the internet, through ads in the paper, flea markets or off the roadside. Meet the pups parents and know the breeder. And invest your time in a rescue or shelter dog. ~Elaine Watson

Also check out:
* Chuck Wegner's rescue at a dog auction.
* Max, the Boxer - 11 months old.
* Elizabeth Meadows' visit to a puppy mill.