"How much is that doggy in the window?" Let's face it; it's hard to resist those deep brown puppy dog eyes, looking at you as you walk by the window display in the local pet store. Pet stores make their profit on these impulse buys, where a person can't walk buy without walking inside and purchasing a new furry friend. Yet many of the puppies that are sold in commercial pet stores are not healthy, and may carry defects and diseases what will hurt them later in life. Instead of splurging on a Pomeranian because she was "just too cute to pass up," veterinarians suggest that consumers research their pet first.

Some pet stores dogs come from reputable breeders and may make excellent pets. Yet others come from puppy mills. These are commercial breeding facilities that mass produce dogs for resale. They are not healthy, and often encourage breeding between related dogs. Birth defects and diseases acquired from cramped quarters are rampant, but many puppy mills send their pups out before someone can note the dangerous diseases that puppy may have.

Most of the puppy mills in the United States are located in Midwestern states like Nebraska, Iowa, or Arkansas. According to one pet activist group, the Midwestern states have a cumulative 5,000 puppy mills. In Missouri, puppy breeding is a booming business that brings in about $50 million a year. Because these mills produce so many dogs in such a short amount of time, the mills do not prioritize cleanliness. Normally, a puppy mill is filthy, and the dogs suffer from inadequate shelter. Many caretakers fail to feed the puppies and their parents adequately, and give them dirty, soiled water as refreshment.

The dogs are forced into incessant breeding, and are not in contact with humans. Even the puppies are not normally fondled, so they are often not as friendly as owners would like. Oftentimes puppy mills are more concerned with the profit of plenty of puppies than they are with the welfare of the dogs. Breeders tend to put more care into how the puppies are raised, and keep their dogs in better conditions. While puppy mills normally cut costs and leave their animals in the cheapest locations, breeders provide kennels, plenty of food, exercise, and human attention for their animals.

If you buy a pet raised in a puppy mill, he or she will probably not be as socialized as you would like. Puppy mill puppies do not like to cuddle with their owners, and may be prone to bite or nip. These puppies may have diseases because of the unsanitary conditions they came from. These pets are more prone to have worms or other internal illnesses. Puppies from these mills normally have not been given the shots that they need, so they are more prone to catch fatal illnesses.

Also, the bad breeding practices at puppy mills may lead to genetic deformities that you may not notice until after you have purchased your pet. The puppies are normally only 4 or 5 weeks when they are taken from their mother. This is too young for the pups to be weaned, but brokers take them anyway, and sell them to pet stores where they are spruced for display and purchase. While some puppy mills may not intend to misuse their pets, the sad truth is that they are often more concerned with costs than the actual maintenance of their animals. Even if the dog has American Kennel Club papers, it does not mean that he or she is healthy. If you are looking at a puppy in the pet store window, make sure to ask where it came from to make sure that it is a healthy dog, and is not from one of these mills.