Do puppy mills affect animal shelters?
Absolutely! Puppy mills contribute to the animal overpopulation crisis. These breeding operations pump 2-4 million puppies into the marketplace each year, and sale of these puppies siphon away adoptions at local rescue shelters. In-bred animals are often abandoned at kill-shelters due to behavioral issues or chronic health conditions. Additionally, people who buy a cute pure bred at a pet store, yet are unfamiliar with the behavior that accompanies the breed, often relinquish their dog once the animal becomes incompatible to lifestyle. Walk the corridors at kill-shelters and see how many pure breds there are. Check the internet to see how many breed-specific dog rescues there are. All of these animals are the product of back-yard breeders and puppy mills.
