I am currently working on a chart that details the relative advantages of getting a dog from a responsible breeder, a pet store, a "backyard" (irresponsible) breeder, a shelter, or a rescue. It's hard, because I don't know how to use HTML, and I'm trying to do the best possible research, which takes time.
In the meantime, I have some links that are hard to look at, but tell a very important truth about the real meaning of "USDA licensed". Pet stores are fond of telling people that their puppies come from "state licensed" or "USDA licensed" breeders. This is designed to make you think that their puppies came from a private home, where someone with a few beloved dogs chose to breed them and home-raise the puppies. In truth, only large-scale breeding operations can even become USDA-certified. Beyond that, USDA standards are extremely lax--a dog can live her entire life, and raise dozens of puppies, in a space barely big enough for her to turn around in. Additionally, the very minimal standards are rarely enforced, or we would be seeing puppy mill busts all the time--Missouri has over 1,000 large-scale dog breeding operations, and many with ongoing violations are never punished in any way, much less shut down.
What does "USDA licensed" mean?
Frequently asked questions about pet stores and puppy mills
Save Money, Save Lives does not yet have a Facebook group, but there are some related-interest groups that you may want to become a member of:
Pro-Spaying and Neutering
Against the sale of puppies in Columbia
Against Animal Cruelty
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