Well I wasn't disappointed because I wasn't expecting much......about 8 actual minutes of show and the rest commercials or shots of Ms. Winfrey emoting. I saw a special on puppy mills years ago that was more in depth and much better presented.....I think it was even on 20/20 or something like that.
Sorry, I think she barely scratched the surface and made a whole big deal about being a "changed woman" but allowed so little actual footage of the mills that I didn't see much point. It gripes me when someone actually has the power and money to make a difference and wimps out so hugely. I saw worse than that when I lived in Ohio...............what a limp biscuit!

 Quote: mara jessup

Umm, remember that the AKC proposed allowing owners to register their just purchased pups at pet stores not too long ago. All AKC registration means is way to see the ancestors of your dog. And they make plenty of money each year off puppy mill puppy registrations. You can also look through the classifieds in most any paper and see loads of AKC registered BYB puppies for sale as well.

Yes that is true, so if a BYB or what they would like to be called "hobby breeder" is registered with the AKC and follows the AKC protocol does that lump them in to a puppy mill category? Just playing devil's advocate here.

All the major breeders had to start somewhere. I'm sure Ed and Cindy didn't start off building their business with the amount of dogs that they work with today. Everybody had to start somewhere ..

 Quote:

If the Oprah show opened the eyes of some more of the public to where exactly their dog comes from, then it is good thing. We all agree that only bad things arise from puppy mills. People can always be re-educated as to the rest

So if the dog comes from a pet store with certified AKC papers as stated. Where exactly does the pup come from any ways? To me is it contradictory ..

I agree that people can be re-educated. But most of the dogs that end up in shelters PTS, are always the impulse buy the puppy bought for Valentines day or Christmas etc. Cripes even 2-3 months after Easter the shelters are inundated with rabbits being dropped off. People can't even commit to a rabbit let alone a busy puppy .. Those people won't be educated because they don't want to be, sorry to say.

I know Ms Winfrey's and Ling's heart are in the right place, but to me it is to little and just a rehash of what everybody knows in the first place, but which some choose to turn a blind eye too. When they want the retail gratification of buying a living thing when and where they want to. For those people it is no different than buying a pair of shoes or a sportsbag .. Sad to say. Education or not, some people just don't listen.

Really, the whole industry right to the end puppy buyer. Needs to held responsible for all those lives from beginning right to the end. From what I see the responsibility is always passed off. Then in the end it is your taxpayers money that is held responsible for maintaining your local municipal shelter, or your donations to a rescue. Then the animal pays in full in the end. What a horrible thought. I just don't get it ..

What AKC protocol? What is the contradiction? I'm sorry, maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake today, can you spell it out for me?

 Quote:

Yes that is true, so if a BYB or what they would like to be called "hobby breeder" is registered with the AKC and follows the AKC protocol does that lump them in to a puppy mill category?

There is not much protocol to being registered with the AKC. They make it very very easy to register with their organization. They want the business.

 Quote:

All the major breeders had to start somewhere. I'm sure Ed and Cindy didn't start off building their business with the amount of dogs that they work with today. Everybody had to start somewhere ..

Very true. But you can start off by learning and researching your breed inside and out. You can train your dog and put appropriate titles on it. You can screen your dog for genetic abnormalities. All before breeding your first litter. And you can screen your puppy buyers and find appropriate homes - not just to the first people responding to your ad that will plunk down the asking price.

IMO, that is what separates responsible breeders - from ones just starting out to ones who have been in the business for 30 years - from BYBs.

BYBs are just as much or more a threat to working breeds than puppy mills are (even though the dogs themselves usually have much better lives). They don't put in the time effort and research before breeding, and then they often sell those pups to people who don't understand the nature of the breed they're buying. They make it easy for impulse pet purchases who often end up in shelters later on.

 Quote:

So if the dog comes from a pet store with certified AKC papers as stated. Where exactly does the pup come from any ways? To me is it contradictory ..

It doesn't have to be. Puppy mills can and do register their pups with the AKC.

 Quote:

but to me it is to little and just a rehash of what everybody knows in the first place, but which some choose to turn a blind eye too.

Even though it is probably too little, I would venture to guess that there are tons of people out there who are still totally clueless. Coupled with the instant gratification nature of society its a lose lose situation. And sadly, as you said, it is the animal who pays for it in the end.

 Quote: saffron k. hall

It gripes me when someone actually has the power and money to make a difference and wimps out so hugely. I saw worse than that when I lived in Ohio...............what a limp biscuit!

Yeah I agree the puppy mill footage was a little weak.

However, they *did* show a nice, friendly-looking shelter dog being euthanized, and the shelter disposing of the plastic-wrapped bodies to the landfill.

I would have liked to see them show video of a responsible breeder's kennels, and/or describe the difference between a BYB and a good breeder, so people know what to look for.

The whole show was about what NOT to buy, but very little attention was given to what you SHOULD look for in a new pet. They basically said "SHELTER.... or rescue..... (or responsible breeder)"

 Quote: susan tuck

What AKC protocol? What is the contradiction? I'm sorry, maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake today, can you spell it out for me?

I'll type slow then Susan LOL! ..

Basically it is in the content of the letter written for Ms Winfrey for the show from the AKC..

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/press_center/OpenLetterToOprahWinfrey.pdf

Especially this part ..

 Quote: "AKC"

In addition to raising awareness, we have long invested significant resources to directly address the issue of canine welfare. In 2007, our team of 15 inspectors visited over 5,600 kennels throughout the country. AKC spends over $6 million each year to inspect our customers, thereby ensuring the integrity of our registry and the proper care and conditions for dogs registered with us. In fact, of over 35 U.S. “registries” we are the only one to conduct inspections, as well as being the only not-for-profit all-breed registry in the nation. AKC is continually raising the bar. When our inspectors find kennels that do not meet our progressive standards, they educate those breeders. Those not willing to come into compliance are suspended of their AKC registration privileges and proper authorities are alerted in cases of neglect.

If indeed the AKC is registering so called 'puppy mills' or clownish BRB operations giving the animals or so called 'product' for petstores a official AKC status because of the mighty dollar .. well then it is more than contradictory .. it is bullcrap.

 Quote: "AKC"

AKC is continually raising the bar.

Ummm yeah right ..

Classic.. do as I say, but don't do as I do. I don't know about everybody else but it makes me mad and sad at the same time.

Oh okay, now I see what you mean. That attitude chaps my hide too.

I finally found and watched a copy of this. I gotta say, not groundbreaking but certainly addressing an emotionally charged populace. As emotional as the topic may be I do on occasion stop, and take a step back to examine the situation, and the solutions that are being called for.

I am an owner of a breed that is widely puppymilled and I have to ask myself "why." The truth of the matter is that until there is Zero value on a puppymilled dog they will continue to be milled. Plain and simple. So how does a society get to the point where there is zero value for a puppymill dog? First off is to stop commercial purchasing of puppies by culturally eliminating the demand for them. How does this happen? One breed interest contact at a time.

Since there are quite a few breeders on this forum I pose the question, If you turn someone down for a puppy either limited or full registration, do you tell them why? If you simply don't have pups at the time do you provide referrals? I know it's not the PC thing to do but when you just flat decide someone doesn't get a dog do you do anything to help that person understand why, what they can do to change this, or refer them to a new resource? What do you think happens if you just leave someone hanging on the end of a denial email? Add six other denial emails or more with no explanation other than “No, not unless with a co ownership, or I have no available puppies for you now or in the foreseeable future” and maybe that ad in the paper or that pet shop dog that's AKC and no brutal contract attached looks a little better. In my limited experience most people who look for puppies and end up with a less than well bred dog, byb dog, or a pet shop puppy looked for a reputable breeder first.

I know it’s easy to say people are greedy idiots and cut out for a good cup of coffee but I do believe that the dog community has a responsibility to take a good hard look at the world we have created and have the courage to say the parts of this baby is an ugly beast. It’s not about reducing the standards we put on dog placement but rather taking the opportunity of an inquiry to educate and inform the public rather than the traditional AKC breeder welcome of slamming the door in someone’s face if they’re new, have a misunderstanding about keeping a dog, or live in a place where you don’t think one of your dogs is appropriate.

A lot of the dogs we get that are popular breeds and most likely from puppy mills will pee and poop in their beds and then lay in it. It's disgusting that we see it so often especially when the dog has plenty of room to move to another area. Most also have near zero training. Their owners think putting a head halter on them is "training" the dog not to pull. A high drive(and well bred) lab we have is walked on a head halter and will body slam you to get his toy. In the matter of a month of consistent work on my part the dog has learned to hold a sit stay rather than slam into me for his toy. We are working on loose lead walking and making rapid progress. He will now hop at my side(from drive) rather than barge ahead. Several people have been dragged by this boy before. He is also learning to sit at doors rather than slam them open. I have accomplished more in a month than PetSmart training or the owner have accomplished during this dogs entire life. He is almost 2 years old and neutered. I would love to have this boy to train completely.

Those kind of owners do not have what it takes to handle an intact dog and most of their dogs are nowhere near breeding quality. They should be snipped as soon as the dog is mature enough. Now mature enough to me is not until at LEAST 6 months of age. I've heard of shelters altering puppies at 8 WEEKS of age and that's just ridiculous. I know it helps them to find homes but the animals health should come first. I hate the spay/neuter early anything that walks crowd as much as everybody else but in the 250+ dogs I've seen so far as an employee at a boarding kennel I think I have seen only 15-30 breeding quality animals(sound temperament and conformation) and MAYBE 10-15 well trained dogs. The rest have had obvious issues either with skeletal structure, genetic conditions, or temperament. This includes a shepherd who would quite happily starve himself, multiple neurotic dogs, bad nerves, temperament inappropriate for breed, etc.