And... just how do they *know* this? Is someone over there going over the thousands of litters born in this country each year, figuring out exactly how many litters are bred by whom and checking to see whether to dogs are all socialized properly and that the papers don't have any false info on them, etc. etc... you want the AKC to become a policing organization? If the dog is purebred, it's purebred - regardless of its health problems or the health problems of its parents. There are breed clubs that promote ethical breeding, that's not the AKC's job. If people didn't BUY the puppy mill puppies, there wouldn't be any puppy mills. Breeders should screen buyers, buyers should screen breeders.
The AKC's Position statements
Breeding Restricions
The American Kennel Club strongly supports and actively promotes a wide range of programs to educate the public about responsible breeding practices and the responsibilities of dog ownership.
The American Kennel Club opposes the concept of breeding permits, impact fees, breeding bans or mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, we support reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of responsible breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously.
...1. AKC's current inspection program shall include kennels/individuals offering dogs for sale at auctions.
2. The American Kennel Club considers auctions and raffles not to be reasonable and appropriate methods to obtain or transfer dogs.
3. All dogs sold at auctions, regardless of age, must be permanently identified by either readable tattoo or microchip prior to being sold at auction. Dogs sold at auctions without the required identification will become ineligible for registration and shall be placed on permanent referral.
4. The American Kennel Club discourages Parent Club rescue groups from purchasing dogs at auctions. Although Parent Clubs may be doing good things for individual dogs purchased at auctions, it perpetuates the problem and tends to create a seller's market. Reciprocally, auctioneers seek more dogs of those breeds to offer at auctions. AKC applauds the work of Parent Club rescue groups on many fronts. However, AKC believes that the purchasing of dogs at auctions is not overall in the best interest of purebred dogs.
...Enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act
The Federal Animal Welfare Act administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is intended to regulate commercial breeders, dealers and caretakers of dogs. USDA has regularly strengthened the standards for humane care and treatment of dogs and other animals by persons regulated under the Act. The American Kennel Club supports increasing the number of USDA enforcement personnel dealing with commercial dog operations and strong enforcement of the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act.
Proper Care and Humane Treatment of Dogs
Dog owners bear a special responsibility to their canine companions to provide proper care and humane treatment at all times. Proper care and humane treatment include an adequate and nutritious diet, clean water, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive human companionship, and training in appropriate behavior. The American Kennel Club does not believe that dogs should be kept in circumstances or numbers where these needs can not be adequately fulfilled. Anyone convicted of animal cruelty will have all AKC privileges suspended.
Protection for Puppy Purchasers
The American Kennel Club supports reasonable laws and regulations intended to protect the pet-buying public in obtaining a sound dog of the breed represented. Breeders and/or sellers should be responsible for providing certain refunds, replacements or reimbursements should the dog sold become ill or die from a condition contracted prior to the purchase. Such remedies should be conditioned upon the buyer's scrupulous adherence to the care and feeding program prescribed by the breeder and/or seller, as well as a timely examination by a state licensed veterinarian. Breeders and/or sellers should provide buyers with a written bill of sale detailing the responsibilities of both the buyer and seller. This bill of sale should also detail any exclusions to refunds, replacements or reimbursements.
"Puppy Mills" and Sale of Puppies Through Pet Shops
The American Kennel Club endorses breeding of dogs by responsible breeders for the purpose of improving breeds of purebred dogs. We oppose random, large scale breeding of dogs solely for commercial purposes. We believe all breeders bear a responsibility to assure that those who purchase their dogs understand and are capable of carrying out their responsibilities as owners.
The AKC believes the solution to the problem of random, large scale breeding for commercial purposes is scrupulous enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act and state and local regulations governing the humane care of animals. We further recommend and support programs that teach the public to purchase puppies from responsible breeders and to avoid impulse buying of dogs.