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USDA to Regulate Internet Puppy Breeders!

Monday, May 14, 2012 - 3:15pm

Have you heard the news? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is finally planning to crack down on Internet puppy sales! Why, you ask? Well, believe it or not, buying a puppy online is just as bad as buying one from a pet shop—maybe even worse!

Currently, the federal Animal Welfare Act—passed 40 years ago, before the Internet even existed—only requires breeders who sell dogs to pet stores or to puppy brokers to be licensed and inspected by the USDA. The USDA has just released proposed regulatory language to close this loophole.

Don’t Be Fooled!
Many puppies sold online come from puppy mills. Most websites that sell puppies online claim to be good dog breeders—they even use fancy terms like “certified kennel”, “AKC-registered”, “pedigree” and “health certified,” and include photos of cute puppies frolicking in ideal settings. The truth is that many of these breeders are really puppy mills in disguise. Trust us, no truly responsible breeder would ever sell their dogs online and have them shipped to your doorstep.

Help the ASPCA fight this horrible industry and sign our puppy mill pledge today!

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End all puppy mills!

Chris Crane

stop puppy mills now!


Stop the puppy mills now. They don't deserve to be untreat like that.


I will believe it when I see it. They don't look out for animals now.


I'm afraid I have to agree with you, but it sure sounds good doesn't it? But at least they're paying attention and finding out that the public is sick of the suffering of animals and is not going to put up with it any longer. It would also be great if "they" could hire enough people to check on our food supply to save people from sickness and death! Well, it's a start, and a good one!


I bought my now 2 year old shiba inu online after talking to the breeder several times. He was also shipped by plane to a somewhat nearby city. I couldn't be happier with my dog. He was already house trained and well socialized with kids and animals at only four months. He came with a health guarantee as well. I took him to the vet the first week and he had NO health issues at all and two years later he still gets great vet checkups. He has allthe typical shiba traits except that due to early socialization he isn't aggressive in the least. I realize this isn't always the case but if you do your research it can turn out great for all involved.


Thank you. You made my point !!!


The dog is only two. Serious issues can often take time to develop, which is why most dogs are guaranteed healthy for only two years.

After 15 years in the business of people and pets most people say the same thing you do about how great it was that they bought a dog, sight unseen, from god knows where after a few "nice" conversations with the "breeder".

Chances are you didn't get a puppy mill dog, but you got a back yard breeder dog, which is only slightly better, as far as the dogs are treated, but it means NOTHING in terms of good genes. Much like puppy mills, the bottom line isn't about health of the breed, or the future of it, it's MONEY.

You should be ashamed really for doing so, because you not only perpetrated poor breeding practices, there are uncounted shiba inu dogs, with perfectly wonderful behavior dying every day because people like you don't "get" that you are the problem.

You got lucky. You are NOT the majority, and rationalizing your careless desicion because you did luck out is nothing short of sickening.

Real dog lovers don't but their immediate gratification over the suffering of other dogs.



I het to differ.not ALL breeders that use,a website and ship puppies are puppy mills. Many of those breeders are responsible and do it for the love of the breed.

I regularly support you (financing also). I hate to see you slamming EVERYONE, WHEN THAT'S NOT THE CASE. you stereotyped wrongly here.


why would someone pay huge amounts of money for, and have a dog shipped to them when there are thousands of dogs in shelters and foster homes???! Bet there are hundreds of dogs right down the street from you that need homes. Bet you half of them are pure bred dogs at pure bred rescues. Buying a puppy from anyone keeps people breeding them. I don't have a problem with breeding, but that can be done when the shelters are empty.