by Victoria Fisher
Pine Bluff Kennels boasted on its website that its puppies were born and raised on a 90-acre farm filled with "scenic and beautiful" hills and valleys.
The truth was far less picturesque: The Humane Society of the United States found the kennel's nearly 700 dogs stuffed in cramped rabbit hutches, running circles in their own feces.
The grim discovery came when HSUS personnel and about 50 people from humane organizations across the country converged on the Lyles, Tenn. facility to help rescue the animals, effectively taking part in what has been named the largest puppy mill rescue in Tennessee state history.
Reality Check
The HSUS helped safely move all the dogs from the facility to an HSUS-operated emergency shelter. Many of the dogs suffered significant health problems, ranging from painful open wounds to painfully matted hair—a far cry from the happy, pristine place depicted on the Pine Bluff Kennels website.
If there's ever a case for keeping consumers from buying dogs from the Internet, this was it.
The images plastered on the Pine Bluffs website were far cries from the images of the puppies who were actually living there, which is why no one should ever buy a puppy without seeing where they and their parents are raised and housed. Just because a website says the animals are "home raised" or "family raised" doesn't make it true. Many puppy mill operators pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads.
The Answer is Adoption
Adopting a dog instead of buying one is the surest way to strike a blow against puppy mills. To find the perfect match, you'll want to choose the right one for you and your lifestyle. Animal shelters have dozens of dogs, many of them purebreds, just waiting for homes. There are also breed-specific rescue groups for every breed of dog, including "designer" or "hybrids" like Labradoodles and Puggles.
For more information on adopting a pet, visit our Proud To Adopt page.
