Considering the emotional stress I'm under right now, it was still not a good time to post it.
This is like having loved ones waiting on death row when they haven't done anything to deserve it.
I abhor puppy mills myself.
A woman up the pike from me jumped on the "Doberman bandwagon" back in the 70s and -literally- bred the dog my great uncle gave her as a gift to -death-.
2-3 litters -every- year for 5 years straight until the dog dropped dead from the strain on her body.
I also had the sickening duty of nursing one of her pups back from the brink of crippling rickets and the worst worm infestation imaginable.
I have never seen anything so miserable in my life.
She also had I don't know how many peek-a-poos and such procreating in a hideous "kennel" behind her house.
I have one bitch that I'd dearly love to have puppies from because she's everything a good dog should be but I never will because if she had a *large* litter, I'd be overwhelmed by it all since I simply would -never- allow them to leave this property.
I would be solely responsible for them for their entire lives, just as I am for the 4 "kids" I have now.
For what it's worth, I do work for a breed organization - GRREAT (Golden Retriever Rescue, Education and Training), although we do take in mixed breeds that have recognizable golden characteristics. But my wife and I own two rescued mutts. :-)