Commercial Dog Breeding

Photo: Noble County Zoning. Marlin Bontrager, supplier to
The Family Puppy (Troy, Novi, Flint).

Many Michigan residents oppose the sale of dogs and cats from mass breeding facilities due to documented neglect at commercial animal breeding facilities, which are often known as puppy and kitten mills. The abuses are well documented and include over-breeding; inbreeding; minimal to non-existent veterinary care; lack of adequate food, water and shelter; lack of socialization; lack of adequate space; and the euthanization of unwanted animals.

(Photo: USDA. Melvin Nisley Iowa; Supplier to
The Barking Boutique Grandville.)

Puppies sourced from warehouse-like
kennels are often inbred, over bred carrying
congenital defects, as well as, illnesses
from living in unsanitary conditions.

The inhumane conditions in these facilities can lead to health and behavioral issues with the animals, which many consumers are unaware of when purchasing animals from pet stores due to both a lack of education on the issue and misleading tactics of pet stores.

Health and behavioral issues, which may not present themselves until years after the purchase of the animals, can impose exorbitant financial and emotional costs on Michigan families.

There are approximately 15 puppy retail stores in Michigan. The two largest retail outlets, Petland (Novi) and The Family Puppy (Troy, Novi, Flint), have been linked to large-commercial kennels located out of state. When pet stores purchase from distant states, families can not easily visit, see the conditions or meet the parents before purchasing the puppy.

Even the smaller pet stores, like The Barking Boutique (Grandville) are facing multiple complaints of fraud involving the health, origin and breed of the puppies. Some complaints also involve deceptive financing offers.

(Photos: USDA. Cloveridge Kennels Iowa; 2011-2015; 90 adult dogs;
primary supplier to The Barking Boutique Grandville; warehouse-like facility,
wire floors, serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act, matted hair,
cloudy enlarged eyes.)

Recently obtained public shipping records show that Michigan puppy stores are not setting new industry standards, rather they have established a puppy pipeline to hundreds of puppy farms in the Midwest, including Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Oklahoma.; while at the same time architecting a new marketing package led by Petland which involves “showcase kennels” with upgrades or new buildings.

One weekly delivery may come from
six different breeders and take
18 hours round trip. Instead the stores rely on
puppy brokers, transporters an online
ordering systems, such as PetKey.

Michigan does not have disclosure laws related to breeder or broker information. Stores often show selected “showcase kennels” in their stores or minimally online while actually sourcing from a variety of undisclosed sources. For example, The Barking Boutique (Grandville) sources from over 80 breeders, yet only eight breeders are listed on their website. Sourcing from 80 breeders can only be accomplished via an established network and online tools.

One puppy transport company, Puppy Travelers, offers a glimpse into the inner workings and logistics involved in moving puppies across the country. Puppy Travelers operates out of the Neosha Missouri distribution ‘hub’ - home to brokers Pinnacle Pets and Bateman Diversified. According to their website, they have established pickup locations throughout the Midwest and follow four primary delivery routes.