About Puppy Mills

Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, strongly opposes commercial breeding facilities. Such operations produce large numbers of purebred or hybrid (purebred mixes) pets as a “product” — without concern for their physical, social, or emotional needs. With the high number of homeless pets already in the community, commercial breeding mills also contribute to the pet overpopulation problem.

Life for dogs in commercial breeding facilities, sometimes referred to as puppy mills, is incredibly cruel. They dogs are confined to cages and they are not socialized to people or other dogs.The adult dog breeding stock often spend their entire lives continually producing more puppies, often to the point of exhaustion. Also, many such breeding facilities have been the focus of cruelty investigations or raids for housing dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, not providing necessary veterinary care, and not giving the dogs access to food and water.

The puppies from breeding facilities are sold to the public via the Internet or newspaper ads, or to brokers and pet shops across the country. Because of irresponsible and over-breeding, as well as lack of quality care, puppy mill puppies may have an array of immediate veterinary problems, have behavioral or social issues, or harbor genetic diseases. Such medical and behavior issues can cause life-long suffering for the dogs, as well as a financial burden to the unsuspecting consumer.

While Lollypop Farm acknowledges the existence of professional, responsible breeders, we recommend that people adopt companion animals from a shelter or rescue group as there are many homeless pets in the Greater Rochester and surrounding communities.

You can make a difference!

• Avoid “buying” purebred or mixed breed puppies, kittens, or other pets from pet stores, the Internet or newspaper ads!
• Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue, and encourage others to adopt rather than buy pets — they’ll be helping the animals and themselves!
• Spread the word about the horrors of puppy mills and other irresponsible breeders!
• Shop in responsible pet supply stores like PetSmart and Pet$aver Healthy Pet Superstore, which help shelters and rescue groups place homeless animals!

If you're interested in a purebred dog

• Visit your local animal shelter where many purebred dogs may be available for adoption.
• Every AKC registered breed has one or more Rescue Groups formed to help purebred dogs in need of new homes. The American Kennel Club provides a list here: http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm
• The Genesee Valley Kennel Club has information on responsible breeders of purebred dogs. Responsible breeders never sell puppies to dealers or pet shops or ship a puppy to a buyer without meeting them first. They operate in an open, undisguised manner, allowing and even encouraging potential buyers/adopters to visit and tour their facilities and meet their breeding dogs.