Please do NOT support a puppy mill by buying a puppy there. Not only will that give the miller revenue with which to continue their despicable abuse of breeding animals, but you will probably end up with a puppy in very poor physical and social condition which it may never be able to overcome.

I personally think your vet is absolutely wrong in recommending a puppy, anyway. Older dogs often have a difficult time dealing with relentlessly rambunctious puppy behavior. I believe your oldster would be much happier with a mature companion with a more compatible energy level.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Laurie

My suggestion is to not play games and get your heart broken with those rescue groups that just want to collect applications and drive you up the wall. Go to your county shelter or a shelter in the nearest big city. They are far more FAIR in their policies. Not to mention their adoption fees are cheaper and not based on cuteness, demand or any of that and includes a vet exam, vaccines, spay/neuter and a starter bag of food and usually a free leash and collar and often a microchip as well. I think you'd do the right thing to *not* buy from the breeder with the puppy mill reputation.

Please don't support a puppy mill by buying an animal from a mill you are only allowing the so-called breeders to continue their abuse. Visit your local Humane Society, APA, or other shelter to rescue a new friend. And I agree with laurief about looking into getting an older dog as a companion to your dog instead of a puppy.

They wouldn't consider you because you work outside the home four days a week? Why do they say that? Are the dogs left alone for an unusual amount of time? While you are gone, do they have a way to go outside or do they have to wait like maybe 12 hours? Will they be crated for long periods of time?

That doesn't make any sense to me. Most people seem to work anymore, and if they don't, they do not necessarily remain at home.

Sammy

what laurie & qq said.

I second quirky. Go to a city or county run shelter. Normally not nearly as much red tape.

Sammy, while I'm sure that the rescue groups want they think is best for the dog some of them have rediculous requirments for adopting one. I know of one locally that lost a great home for a dog because the pooch would be crated for a few hours a day, 3-4. She won't adopt to anyone that uses them.

Lisa

This reminds me of a similar situation I once had.

I had a dog that I rescued from an abusive owner. She was about 5 years old when I decided to get her a companion. That's when a 9 month old came into the picture. She was smaller and very submissive. A great match for my alpha dog. It turned out to be a perfect mix.

Years past and old dog made it to about 10 years. She had so many problems, I really thought she was in her last year. Another dog came along. We referred to her as an "interim" dog, to fill in for when old dog was not with us any more. When third dog came along, she breathed new life into old dog. Vets and every one else were very surprised. She made it for 4 more years.

My point with all of this is you never really know what new blood will do for you and and old dog. Just be very careful in how you go about the process. Take your time and don't force it.

Have you tried looking on the Internet? Google "pet rescue leagues" and you should get a nation wide site that will be very helpful to you. The photos of the animals are there for you to look at. I used this when we got our pup last April. I did take my time and look for about 2 months though.

I can't say that I have had a bad experience with rescue leagues. I know of several that do an enormous amount of good. I am very picky about who I deal with when it comes to my children with fur, and who I make donations to. I really believe in saving a life, that's why I always rescue dogs that really need it. They have all turned out to be perfect pet.

Good luck!

SG

I'm not saying that that all rescue groups are bad but any way you slice it they aren't going to get euthanized at the foster home but their time is extremely limited at the county animal services facility. Not just because of adoption but if there is a contagious illness they sometimes euthanize dogs to keep it from spreading which was on the news here.

Ditto what laurie said. (both things she said)

I would never support a puppy mill; I can't imagine you won't be able to find a shelter dog. Some rescues do have what seems like overly stringent adoption requirements, but then again there are shelters who will pretty much give an animal to anyone who walks through the door. If your most local one won't adopt to you, call around to neighboring areas to find out their adoption requirements.

And, puppies can be quite rambuctious and pretty annoying to an older dog, especially one who is not used to being pestered all the time. I would think an adult would be a better fit.

I agree with all the others about the puppy mills. You could try looking in your local paper for dogs that owners are trying to rehome. I got a five month old pug puppy that way whose owners couldn't tolerate his rambunctiousness. I think most responsible owners try to find homes for animals they can't keep before taking them to a shelter or rescue because they want to know who has them.

Stay away from the backyard breeders, though, because they are causing the overpopulation of dogs.

You could also join your local freecycle group and post a wanted ad for a small dog. You may get a free dog that way, but of course it would be 100% your responsibility to evaluate the dog's temperament, health, behavior, and compatibility before bringing him/her into your home. And if the adoption didn't work out, you can be pretty sure the previous owner wouldn't offer to take the dog back. Then again, I can't imagine a puppy miller being willing to take back a puppy or refund your money, either.

I think your best bet is to adopt from a shelter or rescue, unless you want to spend big bucks and deal with a REPUTABLE breeder. Another good option is to call around to your area vets and let them know you're looking for a small canine to adopt. Vets often know of adoptable animals within their practices.

I assume you've already checked Petfinder for available dogs in your area? I just ran a search on Petfinder for small dogs around the Worcester, MA area, and there are quite a few!

Laurie

Here is a link that might be useful: Petfinder

One thing no one touched on was sami46's comment that small dogs go faster because that's what everyone wants. I found that to be true at the shelters in our area. I had no luck there or at the rescue groups in my area which is why I chose to use a breeder. A big dog just wouldn't work for us and I also work full time so alot of the adoption agencies wouldn't even look at me. But in my case my DH and I have very different schedules so someone is almost always at home. Don't feel pressured to take a rescue just because it's PC. This is too big a committment.

Try a Breed Rescue.

Here's a place to start.

Here is a link that might be useful: BREED RESCUE

By the way, I had the same problem you experienced when I first decided to adopt a cat six years ago.

"Some wouldn't consider us because I work outside the home four days a week..."

There's an organization (they do great work even though they're nuts) in the City called "City Critters". They keep cats/kittens in cages in Petcos around the city. These animals are available for adoption. I think it's a great thing that both City Critters and Petco do. Actually, several organizations do it, now.

Anyway, I saw a cat that I wanted to adopt. I filled out the papers. They called me and told me that because I worked, they wouldn't adopt out to me. HUH? A cat is better off sitting in a cage the rest of her life than being left alone for 10 hours during the day while I worked?
*Newsflash* -- Cats sleep all day.

I went up to the ASPCA and brought my beautiful loving cat home the same day. Even though I work all day and often go out at night, my cat gets more love in the hours I'm home in one day than most shelter animals get in a lifetime.

I guess only the unemployed, the welfare moms and independantly wealthy playboys can adopt from those crazy rescue groups.

I find it very ironic that a Cat adoption would be refused because of the owner working. For cripes sake, most cats probably prefer to be left alone during the day anyway!!!!

I've adopted 3 times now (we filled our vacancy that Beauty left with a new addition this week) from a Sheltie Rescue. They can have some unusual requirements, but if you sit and talk with the people who work there, you may find that they will work with you. We do not have a fenced in yard, which is a "requirement." However, we have been successful in giving homes to our dogs because of the temperment, age and other considerations. Consider if a worker in a crowded shelter would be as familiar with the temperment and quirks of a dog as someone who has been fostering a dog. Some rescue groups may be hyper about their requirements, but I firmly believe that most of the people who work with rescued dogs firmly believe in what they are doing and that they do a good job. If you only went to one rescue, try another. They are not all the same.

Folks, if you read the original post, you will find that Sami hasn't even attempted to adopt from a breed rescue. She's been trying to adopt from a "shelter" and then turned to a puppy mill when the shelter turned her down. Under the circumstances, she might find a breed rescue that's more cooperative.

Leave no stone unturned, Sami.

Laurie

Hi all,
I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to respond, you all obviously love animals and I admire your passion. To answer some questions people have, I did try and am continuing to try petfinder.com (that's where one refused me because I work, one waited six weeks to tell me the pup was gone), the local shelters, and small dog breed rescues.No puppies available yet, our terrier mix can be aggresive with strange dogs and that's why our vet reccomends a puppy. I know puppy mills are horrible things but is there a rationale that I'd be rescuing a puppy from there? Or am I just rationalizing?
Again thanks for "listening"
Sami

So what does your vet propose happen to the puppy at the breeder's? Should it end up at a shelter? Should some crazy rescue group end up with it? Should all the puppy mill puppies be euthanized? Go get your puppy. It needs a home too. You can provide one.

"Rescuing a puppy from a puppy mill" is, indeed, your own rationalization and not an entirely illegitimate one. In reality, though, you would be supporting and funding the puppy mill, in spite of your own good intentions. Puppy mills will never be put out of business until people stop doing business with them. Think not of the one puppy you might be able to rescue, but of the multiple litters that your purchase price will allow the miller to produce.

Before bringing any new canine into your home, whether puppy or adult, make sure you have the opportunity for your dog to meet the potential newcomer before committing to adoption. If your terrier can be aggressive toward adult dogs, imagine how intolerant (s)he may be toward a bothersome puppy. Just something to keep in mind. You should have less conflict between canines if your adoptee is of the opposite gender to your existing dog.

Laurie

It's rationalizing.

Let the puppy mill give the puppies/dogs to a shelter when they're unsellable. That way, eventually, if the puppy mill owner realizes he isn't making money by selling the dogs because no-one is buying them, he'll go out of business. Someone will rescue the pups from the shelter (we hope).

Believe it or not, the pups/dogs will have a better life in a shelter than at the mill.

Puppies can be difficult to find in shelters..............young dogs are often available..........puppies less so.
Have you gone beyond your local area? Have you searched the 'Dog/Cats' classified ads in your paper. I often see puppies on Petfinder, but one has to be willing to make a drive to see them.

As Laurie mentioned, be sure to introduce your dog to the puppy before making the purchase. Your dog may be one that prefers being an only child!

I don't think it's been mentioned but dogs from the puppy mills are more likely to have health/genetic/neurologic problems. I have a friend who bought a Cairn from a pet store that was supplied by a puppy mill. LOTS of vet bills. Would you believe that a year later she bought another one from the same place! Again, lots of vet bills.

Hi All
Just wanted to let everyone who took the time to respond to my question know that last Saturday DH and I picked up our new puppy from the first rescue group we had contacted back in Jan, A rescue "fell through" and we were able to get a 13 week old yorkie/poodle mix. I have to say the rescue did have many conditions and the process was very drawn out, but in the end we're happy to say we rescued a dog. Our other dog has adjusted very well to this new creature in her domain.
Thanks again!
Sami

Intirely off the subject kinda but how many of you that want to put puppy mills out of business are willing to go and manually kill all the dogs there to put them out of their misery?

Not being mean or ugly, just curious. I would not. so what would i do as an animal lover to save these animals that are suffering so much.
You as an animal lover have a responsibility to the animals not the people who run puppy mills and if you are not part of the answer than you are part of the problem.I'm curious since i don't have an answer except to save puppy animals now. What is your solution for the here
and now.I'm not ranting I'll be glad to help if someone can help those poor suffering animals now. And i did'nt even know about them till i read about it on this forum.
So please don't holler at me.
vickie

That's wonderful! Rescuing can be very rewarding, I've found. You absolutely must post pictures.... wishing you the best of luck!

Vickie, no one is willing to kill all the dogs in a puppy mill and its not necessary either. Typically, when a puppy mill is shut down, usually by the health department or animal welfare, a rescue group will be called in to help with the dogs. If rescued, the puppy mill dogs will get vet treatment, spayed (so they don't make any more pups), fostered for socialization and then adopted out. Some never do get adopted... and some (but not all) do have to be put down.

If you want to help puppy mill dogs then you need to lobby your state legislature to make the laws, regulations, inspections and enforcement to eliminate the legal loop holes that many of these puppy mills operate through.

joepyeweed, Thanks. That i can do. Is there an organized group doing this?
vickie

The Humane Society of the United States.

Congratulations, sami46, on your new addition! May you have many happy years together.