Is the answer to puppy mills more local breeding?

[KurtNYC]

Perhaps the push to spay and neuter every single dog has lead to the dominance of puppy mills. Back in the day most people got their dogs from someone else in their community. A great healthy dog could produce great healthy pups. But these days many legit breeders spay and neuter automatically. Before the health and disposition of the dog is fully known. There are many great dogs in the US that are incapable of reproducing.

Meanwhile large, for-profit breeding operations push their bitches to deliver as many litters as they can. And there are many AKC breed standards which largely ignore the health consequences in favor of outward appearance. Our wonderful dog (AKC registered) got lung cancer perhaps, according to the vet, because her breathing was so difficult (thankfully she lived to 13 anyway).

I would like to see more responsible people breed their dogs for a litter or two. If the future belong to irresponsible breeders the quality and health of dogs will continue to diminish.

[Moondog]

1. The law of unintended consequences

once again jumps up and bites us in the ass.

We are in violent agreement.