# CNN: Advice on how to avoid getting sick from buying puppy mill puppies **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 18, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038 "2019-12-18T18:28:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038/1 "2019-12-18T18:28:33Z")
[https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/health/puppies-infection-outbreak/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/health/puppies-infection-outbreak/index.html) > [@](#): > > Ways to avoid getting infected include washing your hands and making sure you take any new dogs to the vet for a checkup. Or not buying milled dogs in the first place. Seriously. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038/2 "2019-12-23T16:29:27Z")
FWIW, I know 3 familes who have obtained dogs from the internet or pet stores (which I assume are the milled dogs being railed against). In every case they had attempted, 2-4 times, to adopt a dog from a shelter, but had been rejected for the crimes of: Having children. Having a full time job. Not already having picked a vet. Not being willing to sign a contract that allowed an “inspector” to visit their home with little or no notice, and take the dog back for whatever reason they saw fit. Rescue groups taking becoming the shelter gatekeepers and imposing impossible standards on people who want a pet is the greatest thing that ever happened to dog sellers. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038/3 "2019-12-23T16:31:24Z")
Thing is certain breeds are pretty much available only thru breeders. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038/4 "2019-12-23T16:47:22Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Thing is certain breeds are pretty much available only thru breeders. So you buy them from reputable breeders. Not some random in a car park. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038/5 "2019-12-23T17:09:07Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > So you buy them from reputable breeders. Not some random in a car park. Or from a pet store. I thought most of them had stopped selling dogs. I worked in a pet store in the 70s and even though we took very good care of the dogs they were stuck in cages almost all the time. These were puppies and young dogs who really needed to be able to run around and play. I doubt a dog can be properly socialized in those conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038/6 "2019-12-23T17:30:12Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > FWIW, I know 3 familes who have obtained dogs from the internet or pet stores (which I assume are the milled dogs being railed against). In every case they had attempted, 2-4 times, to adopt a dog from a shelter, but had been rejected for the crimes of: > > Having children. > Having a full time job. > Not already having picked a vet. > Not being willing to sign a contract that allowed an “inspector” to visit their home with little or no notice, and take the dog back for whatever reason they saw fit. > > Rescue groups taking becoming the shelter gatekeepers and imposing impossible standards on people who want a pet is the greatest thing that ever happened to dog sellers. I see this complaint a lot but have never experienced it. We work full time and have a condo with no yard – but no rescue or shelter has ever had any issue with adopting to us. For a few years, I participated in protests of a particular pet store that was notorious for selling milled puppies with health issues. The police would stop by occasionally and harass us, apparently because protest in general just sort of bugs police. One day one of the 18-wheeler trucks full of milled puppies form Missouri caught fire on the interstate. Police and first responders arrived and pulled dead puppies out of the trailer (about 60, if I recall) and were shown on local news crying and saying “If only someone had done something to prevent this!” Yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038/7 "2019-12-23T17:42:28Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Thing is certain breeds are pretty much available only thru breeders. Eh.Unless you’re trying to adopt a mutant silver fox or something, this complaint seems overblown. Not that I don’t hear it. A friend once was very specifically looking for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She complained that she would have to buy from a breeder because you can’t get specialty breeds from rescues. I sent her a Google search I will repeat here: [https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNQ5yTJnynF1o5WNYNvy08Q6B4C8Jw%3A1577122424629&ei=ePoAXvLbJavZ5gKGp6c4&q="Cavalier+King+Charles+Spaniel+rescue"&oq="Cavalier+King+Charles+Spaniel+rescue"&gs\_l=psy-ab.12..0l2j0i20i263l2j0l6.16746.17655..19609...0.2..0.81.160.2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71.sO3hiGyBK6s&ved=0ahUKEwjy94vvpszmAhWrrFkKHYbTCQcQ4dUDCAo](https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNQ5yTJnynF1o5WNYNvy08Q6B4C8Jw%3A1577122424629&ei=ePoAXvLbJavZ5gKGp6c4&q=%22Cavalier+King+Charles+Spaniel+rescue%22&oq=%22Cavalier+King+Charles+Spaniel+rescue%22&gs_l=psy-ab.12..0l2j0i20i263l2j0l6.16746.17655..19609...0.2..0.81.160.2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71.sO3hiGyBK6s&ved=0ahUKEwjy94vvpszmAhWrrFkKHYbTCQcQ4dUDCAo) That’s 56,400 results (in 0.56 seconds). That’s only mentions of the whole phrase in quotes, so it excludes random appearances of the breed in other contexts. One of the organizations was about 30 minutes from her house. Okay, there are exceptions. If you really really need a Bergamasco, I had to go to Canada to find a breed-dedicated rescue organization: [https://www.bergamascocanada.com/rescue](https://www.bergamascocanada.com/rescue) ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038/8 "2019-12-23T19:36:02Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > FWIW, I know 3 familes who have obtained dogs from the internet or pet stores (which I assume are the milled dogs being railed against). In every case they had attempted, 2-4 times, to adopt a dog from a shelter, but had been rejected for the crimes of: > > Having children. > Having a full time job. > Not already having picked a vet. > Not being willing to sign a contract that allowed an “inspector” to visit their home with little or no notice, and take the dog back for whatever reason they saw fit. Adding to the list: Intending to let the dog outside (after proper training) unleashed and unfenced. On an 80-acre farm at the end of a dead end road. I agree, however, that it’s still necessary to be careful where one is getting a dog. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-advice-on-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-from-buying-puppy-mill-puppies/845038/9 "2019-12-24T12:24:45Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Eh.Unless you’re trying to adopt a mutant silver fox or something, this complaint seems overblown. > > Not that I don’t hear it. A friend once was very specifically looking for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She complained that she would have to buy from a breeder because you can’t get specialty breeds from rescues. > > I sent her a Google search I will repeat here: > > ["Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescue" - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNQ5yTJnynF1o5WNYNvy08Q6B4C8Jw%3A1577122424629&ei=ePoAXvLbJavZ5gKGp6c4&q=%22Cavalier+King+Charles+Spaniel+rescue%22&oq=%22Cavalier+King+Charles+Spaniel+rescue%22&gs_l=psy-ab.12..0l2j0i20i263l2j0l6.16746.17655..19609...0.2..0.81.160.2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71.sO3hiGyBK6s&ved=0ahUKEwjy94vvpszmAhWrrFkKHYbTCQcQ4dUDCAo) > > That’s 56,400 results (in 0.56 seconds). That’s only mentions of the whole phrase in quotes, so it excludes random appearances of the breed in other contexts. > > One of the organizations was about 30 minutes from her house. > > Okay, there are exceptions. If you really really need a Bergamasco, I had to go to Canada to find a breed-dedicated rescue organization: > > [Rescue Bergamasco Shepherd Association of Canada](https://www.bergamascocanada.com/rescue) Hmmm… Ok I never looked for specialty rescue groups. I was only looking at the local ones. Thanks for sharing.