Animal control may check it out or refer you to someone else to talk to. However, even if animal control goes to investigate, they cannot enter a home or check out the property without the owner’s consent, unless they have a warrant. If this doesn’t yield results, then move on to animal organizations.
You will have to give them basic information about yourself as well. The Humane Society will look for key signs of unethical breeding. They will start with registration and pedigrees, then talk to the breeders. Ethical breeders are knowledgeable, so they will evaluate the knowledge of the breeder. Next, they will assess where the breeders are breeding and keeping the dogs, if the breeder will even allow them to see it. These things will give them an idea of the ethics of the breeder.
You may want to try the American Kennel Club or ASPCA. They may be able to launch their own investigations. You can also contact the AKC to see if the breeder is a member, though unethical breeders can still be members without the AKC’s knowledge of their practices. Alerting the AKC may help them figure out if something unethical is occurring. These organizations may be able to send people out to investigate.
Websites such as Complaints Board and Consumer Affairs allow you to post reviews on specific breeders, or make posts about the specific breeder under headings like “dog breeders” or “pet breeders. ” When you write a complaint post, you should provide specific information. Give the name of the breeder or kennel and the location, followed by a detailed description of why you believe they are unethical. Include things like their business practices, the state of the kennel, and the health of the puppies. These key things help distinguish ethical from unethical breeders. Online reviews and complaints are a great way to make the breeder’s reputation known so other people do not deal with them.
Try asking the breeder questions about the dog or the breed and listen carefully to the answers. If it sounds like they are skirting the question or not answering, you may have an unethical breeder on your hands. Be wary of any breeder who breeds more than two breeds. Also be wary of breeders who promise “rare” dogs, or “rare” colors or sizes. [4] X Research source
Unethical breeders will often request that you meet them somewhere else to get the puppy, often before meeting you. Ethical breeders will want to meet you first before letting you take the dog, and they will want to do it where they keep the puppies. Ask for health records for the puppies. Responsible breeders will have all the tests, shots, and other records from a vet. Many unethical breeders will have the care list provided on their own letterhead, with no proof they have been seen by a vet at all.
This is why it’s important to see the puppy with the whole litter. Puppies should be socialized with the litter and their parent. Look for dirty or unhygienic living conditions. This can be a sign of poor health or health problems in the dogs.
An unethical breeder won’t have documentation of their dogs, they won’t have registration certificates, and they won’t have pedigrees. Be suspicious of registrations from other organizations. These don’t guarantee anything. Only papers from the official kennel clubs have authority.
Respectable breeders will also give you a lifelong guarantee for the health of the dog, and they will have a policy where they will take the dog if you want to give it up for any reason. Be wary of “health guarantees. " Not all breeders who have health guarantees will be unethical, but if you sign a contract or waiver, make sure to read it very carefully. These are usually given to remove any liability from the breeder.
Female dogs should only have had a limited number of litters. Most female dogs shouldn’t have litters every year.
Some unethical breeders and puppy mills may charge only from $500 to $900 for a dog, while a respectable breeder may be more expensive. [6] X Research source Many unethical breeders require a large down payment up front. Sometimes, they will take the down payment and never deliver the puppy. Or they will require you to pay hundreds of dollars before even seeing the puppy.
If the breeder will not let you see them interact with their dogs or the litter, this is cause for concern. A respectable breeder will love their dogs and have a good relationship with them.
