It’s being termed Canada’s Puppy Mill Scandal.
Reader’s Digest writer Ray Argyle tells Bayshore Broadcasting News there are 2 to 3-thousand puppy mills operating in Canada “in varying degrees of disgrace.”
Argyle says he too was a victim of purchasing a pet from what he believes was a puppy farm.
He says he and his partner purchased a dog from a breeder in Quebec through a newspaper ad.
Argyle says almost from day one the animal had behaviour problems.
They tried medications and professional training but it didn’t help.
Argyle goes on to say that finally the dog was in such distress and causing so many problems, they had to put the dog down–calling it the saddest day of his life.
As Argyle wrote his article, he discovered there are a million dogs or puppies in Canadian homes, from puppy mills and causing distress for themselves and the owners.
He says puppy mills usually are located in rural areas such as we have in Bruce, Grey, Huron and Simcoe counties.
He says puppy mills are allowed to flourish in Canada and the U. S. because the laws for the most part are weak and ineffective.
Argyle says in Canada the law considers companion animals to be property without a lot of real protection from abuse and cruelty.
Argyle suggests if you’re thinking of buying a dog from a breeder, make sure you can go to the breeder’s premises so you can see first-hand the conditions under which the animal was bred and raised.
However, he says the best thing to do is go to your nearest animal shelter and see if there’s an animal there for you.
He says the shelters have lots of animals that have been cared for and treated by experts and ready for adoption.
By the way, Argyle and his partner have a new puppy in their lives now named Morag, who is a happy, healthy animal that has come from a reputable breeder in Ontario.
Argyle’s article on Canada’s Puppy Mill Scandal is featured in the July edition of Reader’s Digest.