10/29/2025
Before adding a furry friend to your family this holiday season, take a moment to learn the truth behind those adorable puppy ads. Many come from backyard breeders or puppy mills that put profit over welfare. 🐾
You’ve probably heard the phrase “adopt don’t shop.” It began as an animal welfare slogan meant to raise awareness about shelter overpopulation and the cruelty of puppy mills. The message started with good intentions, encouraging people to adopt instead of buying dogs from irresponsible breeders or pet stores.
Over time, though, the phrase has become oversimplified and sometimes divisive. Here’s why:
1️⃣ It lumps ethical breeders in with puppy mills.
“Don’t shop” suggests that anyone who buys a dog is doing something wrong, but that isn’t always true. Responsible breeders focus on health, temperament, and structure. They carefully screen homes, and take dogs back for life. These breeders are not contributing to overpopulation. They are preserving breeds responsibly.
2️⃣ It ignores individual needs.
Some people need specific traits for service work, sports, or allergies that may not be found in shelters. Choosing a purpose-bred dog from an ethical breeder is a thoughtful and informed decision, not the same as supporting a puppy mill.
3️⃣ It can create shame instead of education.
The phrase can make people feel judged or guilty, which pushes them away from learning what responsible adoption or buying truly means. We need understanding and education, focusing on how to make ethical choices, not just where the dog comes from.
About 90% of puppies sold in pet stores, especially in shopping malls, come from puppy mills. These large-scale breeding operations treat dogs like products instead of living beings. Dogs are often kept in tiny wire cages stacked on top of each other, without bedding, exercise, or enrichment. Many live their entire lives confined in filth and rarely see sunlight. Because these breeders prioritize quantity over quality, puppies often suffer from health problems like hip dysplasia, heart disease, Parvo, seizures and behavioral issues such as fear or aggression.
“AKC registered” does not guarantee that a dog comes from an ethical breeder. The AKC does not strongly enforce breeding standards. For example, merle poodles are not a naturally occurring color in the breed, meaning a merle dog was mixed in at some point. Some of these backyard breeders list them as AKC parti or chocolate poodles.
Reputable breeders have a proven history of producing healthy, well-tempered puppies. They care deeply for every litter and usually only have one to three per year, depending on how many dogs they own and their ability to provide proper care and socialization. Ethical breeders will never allow their dogs to end up in shelters. They always take them back or make arrangements for a suitable home.
This holiday season, adopt or shop responsibly.
Whether you bring home a shelter dog or work with an ethical breeder, make sure your decision supports compassion, not cruelty. ❤️🐶d ate
