I feel so bad..

I heard a story yesterday on the news about these puppies being rescued from a puppy mill outside of the city. My heart broke when I heard the condition they were in. Apparently a local groomer had rescued 24; fur matted, skin infections, blind, and some had tumors growing the size of an apple.

This morning I heard the name of the breeder and where the farm was; the same name and place that we got Mala. I was literally sick to my stomach.

First and foremost because I felt bad for all the dogs.

Second because I bought Mala from a puppy mill.

I am no dummie. I am politically savvy, environmentally conscious, level headed, intuitive and fairly intelligent. How did I not know that I was buying a dog from a puppy mill?

I thought about it all day. The breeder was an older man. He was very friendly and appeared to be kind. It was winter so the dogs were in a barn. His house was on a farm. He had other animals around. The place appeared to be just that, a farm. Mala was playing with her brothers and sisters. They had a decent size penn. So it didn't even cross my mind.

I guess that's because I think of a puppy mill as a dingy dirty area with dogs cooped up in kennels, never having fresh air. This place didn't appear to be like that.

In the breeders defense (if there is any) he apparently has been suffering from cancer for the last two years and he called the government to come take some of his dogs because he couldn't care for them.

We got Mala a 1yr and half ago, so maybe things weren't so bad. Or maybe they were and I missed it. I guess that's what bothers me the most. I was so caught up in getting my 'puppy' that maybe I didn't want to see anything bad.

Don't get me wrong I would have bought Mala regardless because I don't think she should have to pay for others incompetence. But I would have reported the breeder.

We live and we learn and I will never buy a puppy from a non registered breeder nor a pet store. I will adopt before I ever buy again. I wish I could adopt all those sick dogs, especially the old ones that I know people won't want. I know the puppies rescued will go fast if they aren't already gone. It's the ones that are older and sick that I feel for. Unfortunately we're moving and my parents only want 3 new roommates, no more :(

So let this be a lesson to everyone. Puppy mills don't always look like Cruella Devil's residence!