Pa. begins 'puppy mill' crackdown

[bigfanx]

Goldenlover: Seems you've been diligent... I'm hoping your puppy will be healthy for a long time to come.

We all like success stories... hope you will contribute. Maybe you will keep us posted on your pup's progress?

[Becky]

Has anyone purchased any Labrador Retrievers from Greenfield Puppies in Lancaster? If so, what was your experience?

[Carrie]

Has anyone purchased puppies from David Stoltzfus out in Lancaster? What experience did you have?

[Krystal]

I just purchased a pug from Rippling Springs. I drove approx an hour to get there and spent almost an hour with John and the puppies. He made us feel so comfortable and had all the right papers. I couldn't be happier with my new edition. John allowed us to see all his animals and all were extremely friendly. I would recommend John and his litters to anyone interested in getting a puppy.
Brody is the best little guy ever. he is great with people and kids.. and he fits perfectly into our family.

[Kathy]

I purchased a Bichon from Rippling Springs. My Bichon is happy and healthy. The place looked very clean and Roxanne was very informative. You can tell she cares that the puppies go to good homes. I would recommend going to her.

[lovaldgs]

Rippling Springs is a group of breeders that have banded together to sell their puppies. They represent many kennels.

Be sure you see the actual place puppies were bred and raised and see the parents! If the person you are dealing with won't do that....walk away...they're hiding something!

LOVEALLDGS

[Carrie]

I purchased a boxer from Roxanne. Our puppy is about 4 months old now and very healthy and happy. We drove from Cleveland, Ohio to Roxanne's farm outside of Harrisburg. She was great to deal with. We met the mother, Dixie and were able to interact with her and the other puppies. Roxanne was thorough with the information that she gave us and was open to answering all of our questions.

I researched the kennel before going. There are great webistes online that show all of the dog warden's inspection reports. L&R Kennels, which is Roxanne's farm, has passed all of their inspections and from what I saw, there were no problems. Of course I'm not a professional inspector, but I know enough to know if something looks clean and liveable.

I thank Roxanne for our amazing baby girl and I would go back to her again in a heartbeat.

[lovaldgs]

Latest news on puppy mills....please read carefully and stay away from breeders listed....

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20091...

LOVEALDGS!!!!!!!!

[bichon buyer]

I bought a bichon a few days ago from a greenfield puppy breeder. Its seems as though all vaccinations may have been done on site. I know absolutely nothing about puppy mills or kennels in pa. Should I be concerned that something may be wrong with my puppy? What is a puppy mill and what should I be looking for?

[Dominique]

I am very interested in getting a dog. I would love to get a rescue dog. But I have found that dealing with rescues can be a little trying. I know that they have the best interest of the dogs at heart, and I really do appreciate that. But the long interview process is very discouraging for me. I found greenfield puppies on the internet. I was going to contact a breader about a dog that I liked on the site. Before I did, I noticed something. A whole lot of their dogs, like over half, come from breeders whose last name is Stoltzfus(sometimes spelled Stoltzfoos) or Kauffman. These are names that I rememeber reading about in articles on puppy mills in the Lancaster area. This leads me to belive that either the site is just another front for puppy mill sellers or the site is run by people who don't know what is going on. I wouldn't buy from them.

[Honey Brook Resident]

A friend of mine has a 2 yr. old Yellow Lab mix that needs a good home. His name is Milkshake and he's a good dog. They have little kids now and it's too much for them to keep the dog any longer. Don't know how we would end up communicating.

[lovaldgs]

Bichon buyer - open this link and learn about puppy mills.
http://www.nppmwatch.com/

Dominique - click on the link in post 413 as it names some of the breeders. Rescue places have to be strict with who they let adopt their dogs for the sake of the dog and owners. It has to be a good match as the don't want the dog to end up on a merry go round going from one home to another. They want their placement to be a "forever home".!

Good luck on your search for your new family member.

LOVALLDOGS!!!!!!!!!!

[A Dog Lover]

Why aren't these articles being published in the Lancaster Newspaper? Or maybe they are being published there.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20091...

[lovaldgs]

Dog lover,
Sometimes they are published but it is rare and I often wonder who runs the Lancaster papers.....why don't you send a letter to the editor and ask why.....

The Philly Inquirer has a wonderful reporter Amy Worden who has been writing articles for a few years on puppy mills and exposing some of the cruel breeders that run these awful places.

I know her articles in such a large newspaper has helped raise the public's awareness of this cruelty. Thank you Amy!

The more the general public is educated on how and where to buy/adopt a dog and how to avoid puppy mills, the more these awful places will close down.

LOVEALLDOGS!!!!!!!!!!

[bigfanx]

This is good.... more PA breeders face cruelty chargers.

BEWARE....

from the article: "Tracking identification tags attached to the dogs' cages and the animals, the Pennsylvania SPCA filed animal-cruelty charges against these kennel owners: Loren Nolt of East Earl, James Zimmerman of Ephrata, Nathan Myer of Lititz, Ella Mae Zimmerman of New Holland, Steve Stoltzfus of Gap, and John S. Fisher of Gordonville."

[lovaldgs]

Good goin' bigfanx for posting this info. Buyers beware!!! Stay away from Lancaster Breeders!!!!

Bill Smith of Main Line Rescue went to Ohio to rescue some of the dogs that were up for auction and had been sent there by breeders in PA to quickly get money for their dogs and stay under the radar of PA Dog Regulation Board. Thanks to him and the SPCA these kennels were fined and many have since shut down. YIPEEEE.

One of the major problems is Jesse Smith of the Dog Bureau who made the comment when interviewed that the rescue groups who rescue the puppies in these mills are being counterproductive. WHAT???????

When the PA dog bureau thinks like that what chance do the dogs have and why so many of these mills have been allowed to prosper.

In other words leave the dogs there to suffer and die while Harrisburg gets their act together??

Thank heavens for Bill Smith and his rescue group along with other rescue groups that take the dogs from these awful places. Keep doing it!! The dogs need you!

LOVEALLDOGS

[Shepherd Guy]

Hi everyone. I'm so glad I found this site. Tons of helpful information! I'm in the process of looking for a German Shepherd puppy for the family. I can't find any pups in the local shelters, so unfortunately I'm looking carefully through Greenfieldpuppies. I came across a man named Abner Glick from Delta, Pa.(Lancaster County) He has a decent amount of Shepherd pups. Has anyone dealt with him before? I don't want to make the 2 hour drive out to Lancaster only to find a puppy mill. Thank you.

[Honey Brook Resident]

I think if you read all the posts, you'll find that Greenfield Puppies is associated with puppy mills.

[lovaldgs]

Greenfield Puppies brokers out puppies...in other words they advertise for the breeders, therefore you have no idea who the breeder is and most if not all are definitely puppy mills!

With regards to your question of this breeder. He is also a member of LancasterPuppies.com that is a known outlet for commercial breeding kennels, better known as puppy mills.

You must be aware of any website advertising puppies as they can say anything and there is no law to stop that kind of lying.

There must be a German Shepherd breeder near you that you don't have to drive two hours for a dog. Check with your local vets and ask them for a reference for a good breeder in your area. Did you do a search on petfinder.com for German Shepherds....they may have many or could recommend where you can get one.

German Shepherds must be well bred as they have many genetic diseases some of which do not show up until later in life. Buy only from a reputable breeder that can show you the line the dog is from as well as the history for any health issues. E.G. hips cleared, eyes cleared, etc.

BEFORE purchasing a puppy be sure to talk to vet who signed health certificates. Don't take word of breeder. A good breeder hides nothing and interviews a prospective family just as much as you should interview the breeder.

Good luck with your search.

LOVEALLDOGS!!!!

[bigfanx]

Shepherd Guy: Use the link below to begin your search. There is SO MUCH information; you'll be glad you took the time to read about the dogs offered. ALL of the links will be from rescues, grouped by state. The PA listing show their GSDs on PetFinder. Some links are individual websites.

A side note about PetFinder... use caution. Some ads have been placed by low-end breeders.

Here's the link: let us know when you adopt.

http://www.rescuecanines.com/germanShepherd.h...