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Reader’s Digest brings attention to Canada’s puppy mill problem

In the July issue of Reader’s Digest, author Ray Argyle writes about the heartache that he and his partner went through when they purchased their first dog. Impulsively responding to a newspaper ad, Ray and his partner Deborah welcomed into their home a wheaten terrier they named Rory. Unfortunately, because they didn’t do proper research before they purchased a new pet, they were left with a heartbreaking tale. They both believe that they had “unwittingly bought a dog from a puppy mill”.

Argyle’s article looks at Canada’s growing problem of puppy mills that are producing dogs in substandard conditions, with physical and behavioural problems. Many of these animals are being sold to “puppy brokers who buy vast numbers of dogs and resell them to pet stores; others are sold direct from the mills through newspaper ads and Internet sites”.

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies urges anyone looking for a new pet to first do their research. Choosing a new pet is a decision that should be made carefully with lots of time. Decide what type of pet fits your lifestyle, then decide where you are going to get your new pet from: by adopting from a local humane society or SPCA or purchasing from a responsible and reputable breeder.

Thinking about getting a new pet? Check out our multiple resources here.

For more information on Ray Argyle’s article check out the July 2009 issue of Reader’s Digest or at www.readersdigest.ca/rightpet.