At Bailing Out Benji we are committed to ending the puppy mill industry through education, advocacy and research. We believe that an informed public will help us achieve that goal.
We always advocate for pet adoption first and foremost and encourage everyone to look for their next best friend from their local rescue or shelter. This is made very easy thanks to websites like Petfinder and AdoptAPet. Through those, you can easily search through your local animal welfare organizations or you can even look at adoptable dogs and puppies from breed specific rescues.
We know that many families have a hard time finding an animal through a rescue or shelter, which is why we provide our research for free to make sure that customers don’t accidentally support puppy mills as they continue their search. It is up to each and every one of us to help take the cruelty out of our decisions and by doing a little research, it can save your puppy’s parents (and your family) a lot of heartache.
It is easier to find a puppy mill than a responsible breeder. Unfortunately, places like puppy stores, online brokering websites and newspaper ads make it really easy for puppy mills to hide among more reputable facilities to sell a lot of puppies to the unsuspecting public.
So what can the every day person do (besides adopt) to make sure they aren’t funding the puppy mill industry through their purchases?
The most impactful thing they can do is ask questions and get to know their puppy’s breeder before sending any money along. This will not only help avoid supporting puppy mills, but this will help families from getting scammed by people who don’t even have puppies to sell.
Below is a list of questions that we feel are the most important for consumers to ask! While not every facility will meet every green flag, this serves as a way for families to determine their own comfort level with the facility or family they will be buying from.
Think Benji Before You Buy and do your research to avoid supporting an inhumane breeding operation.
Not every breeder will check every box below, and that’s okay! This information is meant to help you gauge your own comfort level, not serve as a pass/fail test.
Either keeps the adult dogs or ensures they go to families and responsible rehoming agencies
Is not concerned about the life of the parent dogs after they serve their breeding purpose
Prioritize health, temperament, and breed standards
Focus on profit with minimal concern for dog welfare
Limit breeding to ensure the health of the dogs
Overbreed dogs, often without regard for their health
Puppies and adult dogs are well-socialized with humans and other dogs
Puppies and adult dogs lack socialization, resulting in fearful or aggressive behavior
Clean, spacious environments with personal care
Overcrowded, unsanitary cages with little to no care
Regular vet check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings. Adult dogs are proven to be healthy before breeding
Minimal or no veterinary care, leading to health issues
Open about breeding practices, communicates openly with potential buyers and allows them to meet the parent dogs.
Avoids scrutiny, isn’t answering questions easily, often won’t allow in-person visits
Conducts thorough genetic testing to avoid health issues in parent dogs and puppies
Rarely performs health tests, leading to hereditary diseases
Provides contracts with return policy and lifelong support
No contracts or follow-up support after sale
Fair prices that reflect the cost of care and testing
Prices may be lower or deceptively high, prioritizing profit over care
Follows all local, state and federal laws when it comes to licensing and inspections
May be licensed or unlicensed. May not keep the parent dogs in conditions that would meet local, state or federal laws
Our directory allows you to search more than 5,000 state-licensed and/or federally licensed breeders to review inspection reports, compliance history, and regulatory oversight. Using public records from state departments of agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), we organize complex information into one accessible place.
In order to avoid buying from puppy mills, we always suggest that the families:
Research the breeder and ask to view their three most recent state or USDA inspection reports (including dog counts).
Visit the property to make sure you approve of how the parent dogs are living.
Ask what genetic health tests the parent dogs have received to ensure that the puppies are healthy and won’t have genetic issues pop up later on in life.
Steer clear of any sales or adoption method that doesn’t allow you to know the history of your puppy and where they came from before you buy them.
One of the things that we always suggest is getting in contact with the National Breed Club of your interested breed and begin your search for a reputable breeder there.
Many breed clubs are also very active in their own breed specific rescue and could also help you find an adoptable dog. To view a list of national breed clubs, click here. Purdue University also has a resource page for consumers for those looking to buy but are having a hard time finding a breeder.
This is not an endorsement of any breeder or breed club.
If you have located a breeder and researched them thoroughly on your own but still want to double check that you aren’t supporting a puppy mill, please contact us through the form below and we will provide any additional information that we have on that facility.
