'Amish puppy mills', back again

'Amish puppy mills' are back in the news with a recent report on ABC.  I'm not going to rehash the issue too much here as it has been discussed at length elsewhere on the blog, but simply put up a couple of links to the posts I feel are most relevant.  Pups are an emotionally charged subject and typically get a lot of ALL CAPS comments and even occasionally ones that, due to the need to maintain a modicum of profanity standards on this here blog, have to be deleted.

And this fact betrays what is to me perhaps the most interesting element of the controversy--the reaction of both activists and 'regular folks' as well.  Perhaps it is because I am not a dog person myself--though grandma has a lovely dachsund that is a big and important part of her life--yet at the same time I never cease to be amazed at the issues that get people certifiably riled up.  I guess different folks value different things in different ways and best to leave it at that for now. 

That said, in this post I attempted to make a point about the relative worth of animals.

I've also recently been informed of some rough numbers--that Plain People--Amish and Mennonites in this case--run approximately 20% of the nation's 'puppy mills'/dog breeding operations.  But what of the other 80%?  This post examines the practice of broad-brush extrapolation, based on a limited number of high-profile cases, in order to paint the Amish and their religious kin as a collection of knuckle-dragging fundamentalist animal torturers.  And also as basically the sole contributors to the industry, which is really not the case.  Amish are easy enough pickings, truth be told, as they tend to shun the spotlight and avoid the court system whenever possible, while at the same offering their foes outsize propaganda value. 

I also must admit that despite initial certainty, I feel I have become a bit confused on the actual definition of a 'puppy mill'.  Is a 'puppy mill' defined by unsanitary conditions and malnutrition?  Or is a lack of on-the-hour coddling enough to qualify a breeder as a 'puppy miller'? 

Some have pointed out that dogs are social animals which thrive on human contact, whereas cows aren't.  Fair enough, but does an otherwise healthy pup, integrated and interacting with his puppy peers, actually need individualized daily human contact as well?  And if so, what is the US RDA on that?

Final point:  some claim that, while there may be many Amish dog breeders that are not 'puppy millers' (again, whatever the term means), that there are nonetheless many who do fit the description.  Having visited Amish communities from Lancaster to Iowa, I've had the chance to observe numerous puppy breeding operations. 

But, of course I haven't seen them all, and I'm no animal inspector, and for that matter certainly wasn't doing any inspecting at the time, just observing offhand.  At the same time, since I've never seen statistics or proof from anti-puppy mill people as to the alleged mass prevalence of the substandard, sickly-mutt producing type of operation, I think I have to bow here to economic realities. 

Amish are typically intelligent businesspeople.  Think about the furniture we buy when in Lancaster.  Pretty high quality, right?  Just as with most everything else the Amish sell--those wholesome pies, painstakingly hand-stitched quilts, etc.  That's the reputation, in any case. 

So where is the economic sanity in masses of Amish breeders pumping out sub-par puppy product--dogs that die on pet store shelves or shortly after getting them home--as most of these stories and the activists that propagate them seem to imply?

Comments

[Emma]

And what about non-Amish people breeding dogs, cats and other animal as a "pass time". They are zero Amish around here and we do not lack of puppies, kitties, bunnies....

[Lisa]

I don't care if it's an amish puppy mill or non-amish. I think it is mean if cows are kept in little cages that they can't move around in. Their feet can't touch the ground and are over bred.

Please look at these pictures-
http://stoppuppymills.org/inside_a_puppy_mill.html

I'm not happy about dog breeding outside of perfect show dogs because so many dogs die everyday in shelters. But I think puppy mills need to be banned!

[Erik Wesner/Amish America]

I appreciate your point Lisa--any operation that neglects the animals' welfare and causes undue suffering is not one that I would be comfortable supporting.

I think one main issue concerns what a puppy mill is exactly--it seems there are different definitions/interpretations. What some may consider humane, others would consider cruel.

The livestock issue is another interesting question too. The conditions in which livestock animals such as hogs and poultry are kept could be considered inhumane and many do feel that way. But providing 'more humane' conditions for livestock would inevitably raise the cost of the food products derived from these animals, a change which would meet with resistance. So I think it's something that most people accept--or rather try to avoid thinking too much about as they chew the burger--while enjoying the benefit of cheaper food thanks to economies of scale and mass-production methods of the modern meat industry.

Emma as far as your point on surplus animals, I recently came across a surprising story regarding PETA: http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

[Tom Kaminski]

How about instead of banning puppy mills you ban commerical pet stores from selling pets? Since we are living in a age of people accepting the growing government intrusion and government control of our everyday lives, than it makes perfect sense to ban pet stores from selling pets and have only government offices sell dogs and cats, from government licensed breeders. The Humane Society would be a perfect start for government take over of such operations.

[Bethrusso]

What a great post - very calm and organized. I love dogs so that would be tricky for me!

You hit the nail on the head about defining the term "puppy mill". Is it based solely on the way they're treated or the number of dogs involved? Is it possible to have MANY dogs, and still be humane, clean, and properly run? I think the other obstacle is defining the term "cruel" or "inhumane" - it won't be the same definition for everyone. I don't condone shooting a suffering animal, but I can UNDERSTAND it, and can see the opposite side of someone thinking they're helping. I know especially in rural areas, that's just the way it's done - Amish or not, and whether you think it's cruel or not.

It's such an involved topic and because "pets" are involved, it IS emotional for most. Whether the owners consider them livestock or not, they know they're being bred to be pets. It's feigned ignorance that's a problem. Thanks for the post - that's a tough one.

[Erik Wesner/Amish America]

Hey a sincere thanks for your comments Beth, and good points. I have to admit that even not being a dog owner that I am quite partial to them too. And I see by your blog you are really someone that likes dogs! More credit to you for being able to take a detached look at the issue.

Maybe you could offer insight on the question i suggested, because I am actually curious and admittedly ignorant--can dogs develop properly--if that's the best way to describe it--lacking human contact, or with minimal amounts of it? I guess strays who grow up without that would be intuitively more on the wild side, but I wonder if there is any empirical info on this question. Anyway, just a thought.

[Erik Wesner/Amish America]

Tom interesting idea, I guess the only thing I could say is to be careful what you wish for! Though by the tone of your comment I am kind of guessing you're probably not wishing for that kind of solution here. Due to the animal welfare concerns above all I suppose government by default has to have a regulatory role here, but I guess that's something to delineate with care.

[Bethrusso]

Hi Erik - My expertise about dog behavior is limited to watching "The Dog Whisperer" (ha ha) so you raise a great question about just how much human contact is necessary for a dog to develop properly. Probably for most fighting the "puppy mill" cause, that's much lower on their priority list than than the dogs' physical treatment. At least awareness has been made of the issue and people can begin to get educated if they so choose.

My big surprise came when visiting Jamesport, MO at the number of Amish deer farms. The owner told me they are raised and sold to hunting lodges. They bottle feed the babies when they're a few days old so they learn to not fear people. Now when I see a deer head on a wall I'm much less impressed. :) In contrast to the dogs, those deer were treated beautifully. I personally think that's awful, too, but I'm not a hunter. Soooo many ways to look at things, huh? Love your writing and I still love the Amish. Ever been to Jamesport?

[OldKat'77]

Or ... alternatively to having Gov't run/approved/semi-owned pet stores (as Tom K. suggested in such a clever tongue in cheek fashion) why don't we just TAX everyone involved out of existence? If we happen to crush a few people that are not actually puppy-millers, oh well, that is the price they will just have to pay so we can feel good about ourselves!

In a more realistic vein, I do understand the emotional side of this issue. I have posted on other sites in the past that are animal related, and it is amazing how different people can take the same information and come up with such completely different conclusions. It is also amazing to me how some people can be so darned sure that they have all of the answers, in fact THE ONLY answers to so many issues (and EVERYONE ELSE IS WRONG!).

Soap box dismantled.

[Helen Parnell-Berry]

The problem I have with the whole issue is that the Amish always seem to be singled out on this subject. There are no Amish here in the UK but there are a lot of unscrupulous people about breeding dogs on a very large scale. We call them puppy farms here and the general public are discouraged from getting pets from them. The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) frequently prosecute those found neglecting or being cruel to animals.
Whatever the definition of a puppy mill is it makes no difference whether the owner is Amish or Baptist. Maybe it's the press/media that need to get out of the habit of sticking "Amish" in the headline when it's something negative to report.

[Bethrusso]

That's a good comment by Helen. I think probably when the Amish are singled out it's because of the perception that people have of them, and I think it just surprises many - there's a shock factor involved and that sells. Likewise, a crime in suburbia will always take the headlines over a crime in the city. I have to agree though, and if it's not relevant to the story, it shouldn't matter who's running them.

[Tom Kaminski]

Just to clarify my above post, I DO NOT want more government - in my life or in any ones elses life. Being a dog and cat owner myself, plus many fish, hamsters, rabbits, birds,etc. in the past that have come through this household, I detest cruelty to animals by people, be they Amish, Baptist, Catholic, Mormons, Jewish, etc. After all we are suppose to be the 'Higher Intelligence' around here.

I do hope some good comes from this news report, but alas I don't think any will, it was done for ratings and finding and showing 'Bad' Amish people always gos over well.

[Erik Wesner/Amish America]

Tom, good point--it is a great shock value story like Bethrusso points out, one that gets rolled out once or twice a year. It's not exactly an independent in-depth investigation.

And I certainly did not infer you wanted more government--by the tone I figured just the opposite!

[Erik Wesner/Amish America]

Helen, thanks for chiming in from the other side of the pond (even though technically I'm on your side of the pond as well!)--I'm always grateful to hear your UK perspective.

And you've given us a new addition to the vernacular: 'puppy farms'. Well, to be honest, that does sound a bit kinder and gentler, doesn't it?? Maybe these breeders just need a bit of rebranding.

[Erik Wesner/Amish America]

Oldkat agreed on the emotional side. And even though I often raise the idea of an animal is an animal is an animal (ie as in opposition to human life), dogs really aren't just another animal. They're family members and best friends. So it's hard for people to accept putting them in the same category as a cow.

[Dal90]

"Puppy mills," to me, is raising companion animals in non-home environments were they are not well socialized with other dogs and most importantly people.

I *do not* believe the livestock-like conditions of many "puppy mills" is inhumane. They are, however, not appropriate for animals meant as pets. Not for matters of cruelty, but for reasons that they are not as well adjusted for being with people.

Not all dogs need to be treated as members of the family. Military dogs come to mind, as well as working animal guard dogs who will live with the flock they protect and need to be bonded better with them then with people.

[janegael]

We do think of the Amish as providing high quality products. The problem comes when they think of dogs as "live stock" which to them means a way of doing work or making money. I have seen Amish being horses with untreated broken legs to auction. They simply do not think about an animal's pain and suffering because it is not taught in their culture to do so. An animal exists to make them a profit and it is pushed to its limit and then discarded.

Since they do not believe that animals have "feelings" they maximize their profits at the expense of the animals, in this case dogs. Smaller cages means more animals housed. Poor quality food and no vet care means more profits. They simply don't see dogs in the same light as most other Americans. Amish mills seem to have the worst conditions and when raided have dogs in absolutely horrible condition. They simply don't see the mange, broken limbs, rotting teeth and disease -- they just see something use to to make a profit. Education on propper housing and care might go a long way to giving the dogs better conditions to live in and, in the long run, better profits for the puppy breeders.

[Mr. X (AAP)]

janegael

what you are describing here also happens to human beings in corporate America

[Poisonokie]

OK - A friend sent me this, and I'm on the side of reasonable people, but I'm going to be a wise guy and say the obvious things, and that is, it is most likely that an Amish puppy Miller would, of course, have to be a Miller, and not a Yoder. I just wanted to clear that up ! Thank you all.
Poisonokie

[elam zook]

I grew up Amish and most Amish I know do not treat their animals well. This article misses the point. Yes, it doesn't matter whether the puppy mill is Amish or non-Amish but it does matter how the animals are treated and how the people who get them when they are mistreated struggle and suffer trying to heal an abused animal. I am sick of people's fantasies about the happy peaceful Amish world. That is mostly a lie and you can live in denial if you want to and allow the abuse of women and children and animals in the Amish world to continue. Yes, it isn't in every Amish family or church, I know that but it is way more common than you can imagine. Get real.

[Elena Racansky]

I am sorry, but why pick on the Amish? Only 20%?
why don't you take a closer look at those numbers.
What we do know is that there are in excess of 10,000 puppy mills in the united states.
The population of the united states is over 300million.
The population of the Amish is about 230thousand.
That means the Amish make up about .1 percent(not 10, not 1, but point 1 percent) of the total population.
There are 20% of these in Amish communities.
If you break that down:
300million(since it is over this in total we can use this number as non Amish people) have 8000(80%) which is 1 puppy mill per 37.500 non Amish people in the US.
230,000 have 2000(20%) which is 1 puppy mill per 115 people who are Amish.
Now that is quite a high concentration isn’t it?
Don’t pick on the Amish. Well, with that sort of concentration, I don't think it is picking on anyone, it is simply reporting the facts.
Not to mention that in a large number of puppy mills, dogs are 'debarked' by shoving a steel pipe into their throat. I hardly think anyone can consider this 'humane' treatment.
As to what is a puppy mill, I think that information is pretty easy to find. A mill is not based on numbers of dogs. It is the treatment and conditions. The dogs are kept with many in a single small cage. Never brushed, never cleaned. When the cages are to be cleaned they are typically grabbed by the scruff and picked up as a hose is used to clean out the cage. Fed very poor quality food. No regard for breeding standards, thus producing many puppies, a large percentage of which have degenerative eye conditions, cancers, heriditary disease. True quality breeders take care to select dogs to breed which are healthy and will not pass on avoidable illnesses to the puppies. Mills do not do this. The object is quantity. Maximum profit, lowest cost.
Elena