How do you know you’re buying a healthy pet? So how do you find a pet that is healthy and right for you?

NBC News April 26 — When you buy that tail-wagging, cute puppy from your neighborhood pet store or the large pet store franchise at the mall, do you have any idea where those dogs were raised? Are the dogs purebred and is a certificate from the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) a guarantee of health? In a 10-month investigation, correspondent Chris Hansen set out to find answers to these questions that few consumers bother to ask.

The bottom line is ask questions. And if a breeder is hesitant to answer your questions, experts say they might be hiding something about their dogs.

IT’S A MULTI-million dollar industry driven by puppy love. As puppies, they’re all adorable, but buyer beware. Millions of Americans have fallen in love with puppies in pet store windows. But there’s a different side of the business that keeps many of those pet shops full and has nothing to do with love.

Many petowners have no idea where their puppy started its life. Dateline’s investigation examined the commercial dog breeding system in the U.S., how many pet stores keep all those different breeds of puppies in stock at any given time, who breeds these thousands of puppies, and if anyone is inspecting the facilities or making sure the dogs are in fact purebred.

Dateline’s investigation found a commercial breeding industry with, in some cases, cruel conditions for the breeding dogs which can result in puppies with health and behavior problems. We discovered inhumane conditions in the commercial dog breeding industry and learned that most puppies in pet stores can come from these operations.

So the question is, if you want a purebred pup, where do you find reputable dog breeders and a good selection of breeds to choose from? Most people imagine pet store puppies are bred in homey, hand-reared environments where dogs and puppies have room to play. But these small, private breeders specialize in just one or two breeds and they don’t sell to pet stores. So where do pet stores get their puppies in all those shapes and sizes?

Dateline’s investigation found that more often than not, pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills — the term used for a commercial dog breeder where breeding dogs are confined to cages their entire lives. According to experts, careless breeding is common and the puppies can inherit health or behavioral problems that may make them difficult pets. They found hundreds of breeding dogs in deplorable conditions.

Dateline’s investigation discovered Nielsen Farms in Kansas, where we saw 500 breeding dogs, many with health problems — like rampant skin infections called mange, food infested with maggots and disturbing behavior often caused by confinement. We shopped undercover and learned Nielsen Farms sold puppies to pet stores across the country, from the largest pet store chain to the most exclusive of pet shops. Nielsen now says that the conditions which Dateline found don’t exist any longer.

Critics say pet stores have no choice but to buy from commercial breeders if they want a large variety of young puppies in their windows at any given time.

Puppy mills are found all over the U.S., but are concentrated in high numbers in these states: Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

So suppose you say you don’t want to go to a pet store? How do you find a reputable dog breeder? Breeders of all reputations advertise in just about every magazine, newspaper and pet magazine — even the Internet. Obviously not all breeders who advertise in newspapers, magazines or magazines or on the Internet are puppy mills. Some are genuinely careful, responsible breeders. But the only way to really know is to get references and preferably go visit the breeder in person and see the dogs. And while you’re interviewing the breeder, pay attention. Is the breeder interviewing you? Good ones will, to find out if you’re responsible and if you’ll provide a good home for their carefully bred puppy.

There are plenty of sources for purebred dogs and puppies. Check the Internet for breed clubs all over the country that know all about their particular breed. Ask veterinarians for breeder referrals. And we were surprised to learn that about a quarter of all dogs in animal shelters are purebred. About 8-12 million dogs and cats enter shelters every year and 60 to 70 percent are euthanized for want of a home.

Most breeds have rescue groups that can find the type of dog you want. The bottom line is ask questions. And if a breeder is hesitant to answer your questions, experts say they might be hiding something about their dogs.

“There are wonderful sources of excellent pet dogs,” says Dr. Karen Overall, a veterinarian, internationally recognized as a leading expert in animal behavior. She runs the behavior clinic at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania Animal Hospital that sees some 20,000 animals annually. She has applied for a research grant from the American Kennel Club and is awaiting their response.

But you still have to do your homework say the experts, because a puppy should not be an impulse purchase. Remember, a puppy is not a household gift that can be returned, but a 10 to 15 year commitment. So you need to spend time researching the type of dog that meets your needs before you make it the newest member of your family.

Tips for buying a puppy
What you should know

First, pick a breed that’s the right size and temperament for your lifestyle. Breed clubs — every breed has one — can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about a particular type of dog. Dr. Overall suggests even going to a dog show, where breeds will be lined up in a row for you to check out for yourself.

Once you’ve narrowed down the choices, where should you go to get your puppy? Those breed clubs recommend breeders. The American Kennel Club has a Web site, www.akc.org, which offers information. You can also check with your local veterinarian. Then go visit in person. A good breeder should have just one or two breeds.

WHAT DO YOU ASK?

“The first thing you should ask is,” says Dr. Overall, “is it possible for me to see any of the other relatives? The father may not be on the premises but if the pups are young, you should at least be able to see the mother. If they say things like a client did the other day, ‘yes, but she’s out in the kennel and she’s not good with most humans so I’ll have to bring her out on a chain.’ That was a clue.”

Stay away.

Dr. Overall says don’t stop there. “The second thing they should ask is could you please give me the names of some of the people with whom you’ve placed dogs before and can I call them,” she says. “And if they say no, walk away.”

A good breeder should give you that information. “In fact, I’ve been to breeders where I didn’t have to ask,” says Overall.

And you really don’t have to go to a breeder for a purebred. “They can talk to rescue associations, animal rescue leagues, humane shelters,” says Dr. Overall. “And those can be wonderful places to get even young animals.”

Experts stress that you need to take time to make the best decision for you and your family. “It’s your choice,” says Dr. Overall. “It’s your decision. You’re going to have this dog in your household for many, many, many years. You’re investing in a family member.”

Editor’s Note: If you’d like more information on how to help some of the animals featured in the followup story broadcast on Dateline Wednesday, contact the Hickman County Humane Society in Tennessee via e-mail at HickmanHumane@aol.com.

© New York Post
Sunday, September 22, 1996