Bichons in PUPPY FARMS (what would you do?)

[EDDEL]

The other day, after browsing petfinder.com (), I surfed around the Net and came across this site
PUPPYWATCH.org.uk

What really struck me was the pic of a BICHON () staring back at me!

(no copyright violation is intended.... prose and pic are copied hereunder solely for education purpose)

THE REALITY OF PUPPY FARMING



Daisy is seven. In her short life she has produced 12 litters - 88 tiny puppies born in a dark shed formerly used for keeping livestock. Thirty other female dogs, all confined to tiny cubicles, share her windowless, comfortless prison, some rearing puppies.

Daisy sleeps on an old bread palette. She has a thin layer of straw for bedding. Her water bowl is often empty. Food is thrown in once a day. She has never known love, affection or human companionship. Daisy has never known the joy of running free across the fields.

Daisy is just one of the thousands of victims of puppy farming. Please help stop this cruelty now. Learn to recognise a puppy farm at work. Find out how to tell if your local pet shop or “dog breeder” is selling farmed puppies. Discover what you can do to stop animals being mistreated to meet the demand for pedigree puppies. You can help us in so many simple ways.

Please be a friend to puppies and dogs everywhere.


PS: Here're some quick numbers I did the top of my head from info above.... DAISY 7 years old.... heat twice a year.... that's 14 heats (assuming first heat is at 6 months old).  12 litters.... probably bred when she turned 1 year old.  88 puppies.... that's an average of 7 puppies in each litter.


My 's to you all..... did you know about puppy farms/mills before your got your first Bichon ?  What do ya think of this "trade"?  How do ya think we can stop unscrupulous breeders from churning out litter after litter of our beloved Bichon Frise?  What would ya do personally, to help stem this 'trade'?

[Terri]

My  's to you all..... did you know about puppy farms/mills before your got your first Bichon ? 
I guess I did, but really thought I was avoiding that. I did not know pet shops sold puppy mill puppies.


What do ya think of this "trade"? 
It sickens me  & pisses me off. 

How do ya think we can stop unscrupulous breeders from churning out litter after litter of our beloved Bichon Frise? 
I have a few ideas, but it's against the law. 

What would ya do personally, to help stem this 'trade'?
I wish I was financially able to donate to this cause. But I am not. So I think bringing awareness to others every chance I get will help out.


That picture of Daisy & those puppies makes me cry. I see Belle in those faces. 

[Bluebell]

I always tell people about pet rescues/breed specific rescues. I've given my "responsible breeders" speech to many a client/friend asking about getting a puppy. There are many wonderful breeders who take loving care of their dogs and are looking to better the breed they love and to share their breed with others. I have a big car magnet that says "Rescue" with pawprints all over it, and I donate regualrly ($$, items, and services) to local non-kill shelters. I think awareness is the key, as most people would never buy a puppy mill puppy if they knew how it was bred.

[Chellie]

My 's to you all..... in reply ... I usually avoid these threads as it's too close to home 

Did you know about puppy farms/mills before your got your first Bichon ? 

No  I had no clue I thought ... it wouldn't happen in Ireland  how wrong was I ... when I saw the conditions I just wanted to get Bon and take her home for a cuddle    To me at the time it was in good faith I thought she had been thru enough and just wanted her nightmare to be over 

What do ya think of this "trade"? 

I think it's a disgrace  How anybody can treat them this way to make money is beyond me    Would it hurt to make their lives a bit more comfortable I mean they can still make money if that is all they want but treat them kindly 

How do ya think we can stop unscrupulous breeders from churning out litter after litter of our beloved Bichon Frise?  

I think awareness worldwide and more efforts from Human Societies and Rescue Orgs ... I'd never again go there for a baby ...  but I would still take an adult if only to get them out of there  for a better life after all it's what they deserve

What would ya do personally, to help stem this 'trade'

I'd love to be able to financially help out but at this time I have trouble paying the rent and bills    maybe if I can get more solvent in the future I would donate to local shelter 

[Raewync (Rae)]

I may be wrong,   but I am pretty sure we don't have puppy mills in New Zealand  , certainly not to that degree.    I know our main chain of pet stores here does buy pups from breeders, but they have a buyer who goes to the breeders and selects a pup, (only one from each breeder) and they pay full price...here if you buy a pup from a pet store it will cost you more than going to a breeder.    The petstores don't make any money out of the pups (or other animals they sell) generally, especially if they don't sell quickly, they use them as a draw card to get people in to the stores and make their money selling the food and accessories.  We paid $1100 for Riley from a breeder, (who owns a pet store, (she has her own private store not a chain, and sells mainly small pets, mice, rabbits etc and food and toys) but does not sell her pups in the store  , they are raised with love at home, and inside her home, treated like kings and queens )  ANyway we paid $1100, which was about normal for a well  bred Bichon, you could buy one for $900 though.  In the Animates Pet Stores (none in our city) they were selling for $1200 plus.  A friend of mine bought a Maltese/ tea cup poodle mix ffrom Animates and paid more than that and he wasnt even a pure breed.    There are a lot of mixed breeds sold here and breeders who seem to breed them on purpose with their pedigrees to produce designer dogs, so called originals, which annoys me  , but that is just my opinion.

I think with NZ being so small, the SPCA are pretty on to any cruelty to animals.  They remove cats from people if they have too many and the minute someone reports too many dogs or any sort of cruelty  they step in.    I am sure we have back yard breeders, (we did with cats when I was  breeding) but most of the time they are breeding to make a little money but usually the animals are well cared for... I just don't agree with them cos they are playing with the animals lives and they don't know what conditions they could be passing down with their breeding.

I wish I could step in and grab Daisy out of that horrible place. 

[Tonia]

OMG!  That picture of Daisy!  She just stole my heart.  That poor girl and all the others that are in the same conditions.  I just want to take them all  and give them a warm, loving and cush home! 

did you know about puppy farms/mills before your got your first Bichon ?  I heard about them, but wasn't educated and didn't realize how big and real they are.  I had no idea about the conditions and how they treat the animals.  I couldn't even fathom that.  I am in shock, still, that people can treat them the way that they do and then be able to sleep at night.

What do ya think of this "trade"?  It is just SICK & WRONG!!  and it really angers me!  

How do ya think we can stop unscrupulous breeders from churning out litter after litter of our beloved Bichon Frise?  I like Terri's answer!  But people need to be better educated.  

What would ya do personally, to help stem this 'trade'?I always refer my friends to rescue groups to adopt pets.  I got both my babies from good in-home breeders.  Had I known the heartache out there, I probably would have adopted from a rescue.  I wish I could do more to help. 

[EDDEL]

Terri, Danielle, Chellie, Raewyn, and Tonia for sharing your thoughts/views.

I agree with Terri and Danielle completely about AWARENESS being key!

Not many people, present Bichon owners inclusive, know about the ills and atrocities of puppy mills/farms.  I myself learnt about it only after I got Bianca . 

But having been touched by these angels and as "guardians" of the breed now, I feel strongly we can all do a part , regardless how small .  Like a wave that gains momentum and can turn the tide .... our little 'actions' can help .  "tall" order I know ... but again, every little bit counts.  I don't mean to say we should all become fanatical "preachers", but any bit of information you disseminate/share with family+friends (who are thinking of getting a fluff, be it a Bichon or another breed), is a start .

... when I saw the conditions I just wanted to get Bon and take her home for a cuddle   

Chellie, I've said it many times before..... YOU'RE THE BEST THING that's happened to Bonnie !!

This other fluff (also looks like a Bichon ) was not so lucky.....

(no copyright violation is intended.... prose and pic are copied hereunder solely for education purpose)

Emma was first seen skulking in field near Newcastle Emlyn, Dyfed. She was terrified when approached by any human and it took over half a day to catch her. Cowering and shaking when first cradled in a rescuers arms, she had a filthy, matted coat and a glazed look in her yes. She felt like a covered skeleton, her small body being so thin and fragile. Her teats hung limply down like wet tissue paper.

Carried to safety and placed in a warm bed, she lay cowed and frightened. A small bowl of food disappeared within seconds. Later that day at a visit to the vet, it was revealed that Emma was blind, had a severe skin infection, was covered in fleas and had the beginnings of endometriosis. A month later, after treatment, rehabilitation and rest she was placed with an elderly lady who had recently lost a poodle.

Emma died two years later; the womb infection eventually took its toll. But she had experienced love, care and affection from her adoring owner.


More 'math' to help some of ya completely 'understand' just how deplorable the "trade" is and how unscrupulous some of these puppy millers/farmers are!    (all for the sake of MONEY )


A Bichon comes into heat (say 1st January) and it lasts for 21 says (ie. 3 weeks).  Gestation, ie. pregnancy, lasts approximately 60 to 67 days (ie. 9 weeks) ..... (it is now end March).  After whelping (ie. giving birth), she nurses the pups for 6 to 8 weeks before they're all taken away to be sold (mid to end May). 

Before even her little body has time to recuperate and 're-nourish' , her heat comes again in June (assuming she's on a 6-month-cycle, which is the average).  That's right, the next heat/cycle for female Bichons begins 6 (or 7) months from the start of the last heat cycle, not the end of that cycle.  The interval (be it 6 months or 7 months) stays the same even if she becomes pregnant and delivers a litter.

Then the whole "process" starts all over again (recall DAISY in first post..... 12 litters in 7 years, minus 1 year of puppyhood, that's 2 litters every year for each of her adult life ).  How would us women like to be pregnant constantly?  How can our bodies take it?  How healthy can our babies (born one after another) be?




Please to spread the word about the ills & atrocities of puppy farms/mills.  One less puppy bought from a puppy mill/farm or pet store (who gets their puppies from puppy mills/farms) is one small step in putting these puppy mills/farm out of business.
PS: I really don't mean to sound like a preacher...... just want to share

[Tonia]

I went on Puppywatch lastnight and read about Emma.  I also saw some of the other photos on there.  I couldn't stay on there long though.  Reading those stories and seeing the pictures is a true reality check that These mills/farms really do exist.  It is so hard to believe that people can be this cruel.

[SuperMax (Susan)]

My  's to you all..... did you know about puppy farms/mills before your got your first Bichon ? 

Like Terri .... I guess I did, but really thought I was avoiding that.  ... however, I did not  actually physically go to the kennel and meet the mom and dad  like they say you should.  I just had to go on "gut instincts"  from the phone conversations with her and recommendations from other owners ... 'cause I met the owner 1/2 way (she was in Canada).


What do ya think of this "trade"? 

It just breaks my heart  to hear about these stories and know it does go on.   

How do ya think we can stop unscrupulous breeders from churning out litter after litter of our beloved Bichon Frise?

Raise awareness, educate others. Donate if you are able.

What would ya do personally, to help stem this 'trade'?

Since we've adopted Buddy from Small Paws .. I have had lots of opportunities to educate people, discuss puppy mills, and encourage others to not buy from your average "puppy in the window" pet stores and to seek out reputable breeders and/or adopt from Rescue Organizations/Shelters! 


And I especially have to take my hat off  to people like Chellie and others, who adopt an older puppy mill dog and rescue them from that horrible situation and fill their remaining years with pure love .

[EDDEL]

....Reading those stories and seeing the pictures is a true reality check that These mills/farms really do exist.  It is so hard to believe that people can be this cruel.

YES .... there're many other US-centric websites.... stoppuppymills.org is one example.  Pics/stories/videos in there are heartbreaking .

Susan for sharing your thoughts too!!

[JenBow]

My 's to you all..... did you know about puppy farms/mills before your got your first Bichon ? Yes, I did know of puppy mills, but I know much more now.

What do ya think of this "trade"? I think it's disgusting and immoral.
 
How do ya think we can stop unscrupulous breeders from churning out litter after litter of our beloved Bichon Frise?  I think educating the public is the key.  We also need to petition the government to actually enforce the laws that are in place and pass new, stricter regulations.  Some progressive European countries (Sweden comes to mind) have laws in place that regulate who can breed dogs and I don't believe they have a big problem with puppy mills there.

What would ya do personally, to help stem this 'trade'?  Well, I try to tell people about puppy mills and responsible breeders whenever I get a chance.  I adopted my Chase from a rescue group (he probably sired thousands of puppies  ) I volunteer with a local all-breed rescue group too. 

[Charlie Boys' Mom]

Im just sick from reading this.......

[Sherry M.]

did you know about puppy farms/mills before your got your first Bichon

Yes, we have.  But where I live you will be more likely to find rescue farms where people try to help strays and are eventually overwhelmed, which results in poor conditions.

Although I'm sure there are quite a few puppy farms/mills hidden as well.

What do ya think of this "trade"?

Like everybody else it really upsets me.  Every dog deserves to be loved and properly cared for.

How do ya think we can stop unscrupulous breeders from churning out litter after litter of our beloved Bichon Frise?

Education, pure and simple. 

What would ya do personally, to help stem this 'trade'?

I got Halo from an in home breeder.  We met her when we picked up Halo. (she is also a groomer so Halo was all nice and clean)  Ozzy came from a registered breeder, which is where we will be getting all our bichon pups from.  Tanner was given to us by a lady who rescues cats.  Any other dog will be either rescue or breeder.

[Carol]

did you know about puppy farms/mills before your got your first Bichon ?

I did hear about puppy farms and knew that was where a lot of the pet stores got their puppies. I have seen documentaries, newspaper articles, etc. about the horrors within. I'm not aware of any locally, but like others, I'm sure they exist.

What do ya think of this "trade"?

It is so sad and unfair to think that people can treat a helpless animal this way, to make the almighty dollar.

How do ya think we can stop unscrupulous breeders from churning out litter after litter of our beloved Bichon Frise?

I think awareness and education are the key. Boycotting the pet stores who deal with these places, lobbying our government to fine/enforce clean-up/close down puppy mills. The people who run them are, IMHO, criminals. Why aren't they treated as such?

What would ya do personally, to help stem this 'trade'?

I always suggest to friends/co-workers/family that they adopt from a Rescue shelter, or from the SPCA.  I had visited both places for quite some time.  Stay away from shops who get their animals from mills. Donate to SPCA if I had lots of $$$ - every little bit helps.

[EDDEL]

It's heartening to read about the little actions/things that each of you is 'taking'/doing.

Jen, Luara, Sherry, and Carol for sharing your thoughts too!