There’s nothing quite like the feeling of welcoming a new puppy to your home. Dogs are a big commitment and require a lot of love and care so, of course, you want to find a healthy pup that fits your lifestyle. Lancaster Puppies is an online resource that helps connect you with reputable breeders and healthy puppies throughout the United States.
If you are looking to add a new puppy to your family, we want to make sure you are fully equipped to make an informed decision. The breeders we aim to connect you with are responsible and caring with a passion for maintaining breed standards and preserving their quality of life. These are the kind of breeders you want to support. Unfortunately, there are sellers who do not have high standards when it comes to breeding. These sellers are not always easy to identify but if you know what to look for, you can be sure that you are not supporting a puppy mill.
What is a Puppy Mill?
Puppy mills are defined as in-humane dog breeding facilities that produce for profit, while neglecting the needs of the puppies and mothers. Dogs raised in puppy mills are often sick and unsocialized because profits are prioritized over the health and well being of the animals. Their veterinary care is often neglected, and the mothers spend their lives living in confined, wire cages. Puppies are often kept in cages stacked on top of each other which can lead to parasites and other illnesses. While organizations like the Humane Society have worked extremely hard to make puppy mills less prominent, it is estimated that there are still 10,000 puppy mills in the United States.
How to Identify a Puppy Mill
Puppy Mills miss the mark when it comes to maintaining a high level of care and commitment to preserving breed standards. Puppies are often kept in small cages with wire floors that hurt dogs feet and legs, and cages are stacked on top of each other without enough air for the puppies.
They also will often practice forced breeding of female dogs, without enough time to recover between litters. We encourage everyone visiting our site to visit the breeder before you purchase your puppy to inspect their living conditions and visit with the mother of the litter. If you visit and are at all concerned about the conditions the puppies are being raised in, contact us immediately. We are committed to the fight against puppy mills, and ban any breeders on Lancaster Puppies that aren’t treating their dogs and puppies with the care and respect they deserve.
Hobby Breeders vs. Professional Breeders
Puppy breeders generally fall into two categories, hobby and professional. These two groups often get into breeding for different reasons and are required to follow different regulations. Reputable breeders come from both groups but read on to learn the difference between them.
Hobby Breeders
Hobby Breeders only breed occasionally, maybe once or twice a year, if that. Many hobby breeders are learning as they go and educating themselves on keeping the expecting mother healthy throughout the pregnancy. Hobby Breeders often aren’t breeding to make a profit, but for the love of the breed.
Hobby breeders sell most of their puppies in face-to-face interactions and are not subject to licensing. In 2020, the USDA updated the Animal Welfare Act, and anyone who maintains four breeding females and sells their puppies “sight unseen” would be subject to licensing.
Professional Breeders
Professional Breeders are more knowledgeable, prepared, and have turned their passion into a business. Many professional breeders are experts about their favorite breeds, and are well equipped to keep their mothers and puppies healthy. They pay attention to things like pedigree analysis and keep detailed records of each parent dog and puppy throughout the breeding process.
They are required to follow a minimum of standards for ethical and humane care/treatment of animals set forth by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Special licensing through the USDA is also required. To find out if the professional breeder you are working with is licensed, click here.
When you are searching for your new puppy be sure to know your breeder and how they operate. We have put together some tips for finding a responsible breeder on our blog, we encourage you to read through this so you can make an educated decision as you are searching for your puppy.
The Lancaster Puppies Promise
At Lancaster Puppies we do everything we can to ensure that all of the puppies advertised on our site are bred in safe, loving environments. We require that every breeder listing on our site follow the state health guarantee laws and hold the required licenses. In 2008, Pennsylvania’s
Dog Law, Act 119 was passed to improve conditions for dogs in commercial kennels, and we do all that we can to ensure that every breeder on our site goes above and beyond the standards set in that law. We also provide information about health guarantees and what to do in the event that a puppies health isn’t ideal.
If a breeder on our website is suspected of being a puppy mill or violating state regulations we immediately investigate the issue and ban the breeder if the allegations prove true. We also work with local organizations to check in on suspected breeders, and provide information to ensure the health and safety of the puppies. If there are issues that aren’t remedied after this visit, we immediately remove the breeder from our site. Lancaster Puppies is not a puppy mill, and we do everything in our power to prevent unethical and unsafe breeders from advertising on our site.