One of the questions I get asked the most when talking to people about this blog is “What made you start the blog?”. To be honest, it was a culmination of a few things that began in November 2007. November was when our Morkie, Paddington, started favouring one of her legs. Immediately I knew something was up. I have written about her luxating patella surgery, and the ordeal we went through with that. Not only money wise, but recovery period. Paddington has problems in BOTH of her knees and after discovering this and speaking with many many people about it, I realized what I had suspected all along: Paddington came from a puppy mill.
Now when we got Paddington, I had no clue what a puppy mill was or that places like that even existed. I cringe at the fact that I unwittingly supported this horrendous industry. Having said that, I wouldn’t trade Paddington for the world – I love her to pieces and will fix any problem she gets because there is no other option for me. Her well being is of the utmost importance.
A puppy mill (or sometimes referred to as a puppy farm) is defined as a breeding operation where dogs are kept in substandard living conditions and are repeatedly bred for financial gain, often bred too young and far too often. Puppy mills often consist of the dogs being kept in small cages their entire lives and never let to experience what being a dog actually is all about. It is a form of cruelty and 100% neglect. Puppies are often separated from their mothers too soon and are rarely properly socialized.
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Liz Bradley is a dog lover who lives in Ottawa, Ontario with her husband,