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The Doggie in the Window: How One Dog Led Me from the Pet Store to the Factory Farm to Uncover the Truth of Where Puppies Really Come From
When Rory Kress began to wonder where her beloved Wheaten Terrier, Izzie, had really come from, she had no idea of the horrors she would uncover. With stunning insight and tenacity, Kress launches an investigation into the harsh realities of the American dog-breeding industry, exposing troubling ties to factory farming and big agriculture.
From a pet shop on Long Island to the puppy mills of rural Missouri, from the author’s own living room to a ride-along with a dog rescue organization, The Doggie in the Window is a must-read for all dog owners and a call to action for improving the lives of man’s best friend.
From a pet shop on Long Island to the puppy mills of rural Missouri, from the author’s own living room to a ride-along with a dog rescue organization, The Doggie in the Window is a must-read for all dog owners and a call to action for improving the lives of man’s best friend.
- GenresNonfictionAnimalsDogs
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2018
7 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
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July 18, 2018
You can also read my review @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2018/...
Why did I pick this book?
I wanted to read this book to learn more about puppy mills due to an experience we had in 2003 with a puppy we purchased from a retail pet store (one directly mentioned in the book and considered the nation’s largest retail supporter of puppy mills). At this time, I had no idea what a puppy mill even was. Growing up in the city, I just figured when it was time to purchase a puppy we would head straight to the pet store, which is exactly what we did. Our ignorance led us to the purchase of a Lhasa poo puppy. As soon as we saw her in the window, we had to have her. After bringing her home, we started having problems from day one and she ended up not being a very healthy dog physically or mentally. As time went on, we had repeat problems and had to seek help from professionals. My very good friend said to me, “It’s because she’s from a puppy mill.” Of course, I had no idea and didn’t care. We loved our new dog and wanted to do whatever we could to make the relationship work, but it seemed that no matter what we did, her behavior never truly changed. She had problems her whole life and after reading this book, I understand why.
My thoughts...
The book begins with the author’s purchase of a wheaten terrier (Izzie) from a pet store–a store that claimed to only buy their puppies from licensed breeders. As time passes, she begins having a few issues with Izzie and decides to find out where she truly came from.
"Because Izzie was one of the million dogs who are born at USDA-licensed breeding facilities every year, I’ve traveled across he country investigating this federally regulated system. I wanted to understand how the government can do a better job of upholding and enforcing the Animal Welfare Act– the role the USDA has been charged with in overseeing out nation’s breeders."
On her journey she gathers facts about the laws that keep puppy mills in place, conducts interviews, visits dog breeders, has Izzie tested, and presents all the facts in an organized and easy to read manner. Throughout the book, she weaves in some of her own experiences with Izzie and shares other aspects of her own life, including her desire to start a family.
I found the book to be a huge eye-opener, but hard to read at times. Some of the details that are shared on these puppy mills shocked me to the core. It’s hard to believe that these dog breeders who farm the dogs are human at all. The way the dogs are kept is shocking–they’re mistreated, not given the proper care, starved of food and water, and abused. Their cages are required to be a certain size, but that size seems incredibly small and the cages required for dogs that never get out of it–a mere 3.75 by 3.75 ft–disgust me. How can a dog spend it’s entire life in a cage that size?
"Breeds are brands; dogs are goods for sale. And just like any other commodity that we mass-produce in this country, dogs are being subjected to factory conditions."
The fact that the so-called USDA inspectors are barely giving a slap to the their hands is alarming and the laws need to change, in my humble opinion. The dogs’ mental and physical health is severely compromised and it trickles down to the unborn.
"Mother dogs exposed to chronic stress both before and during pregnancy tend to breed hypersensitive, psychologically abnormal, and dysfunctional puppies." – (McMillan Study)
I can’t understand how anyone can treat animals so cruelly and not think twice about it. Why are the laws and punishments so lenient? I may be a little derisive here, but it seems like the government struggles to protect children, let alone animals, but will this ever change?
I found one section very compelling as it involves an interview with a small breeder who breeds dogs in her home while giving them the best care. The question asked is, “Why breed at all when there are so many dogs in shelters needing good homes?” This is something I even asked myself before allowing my border collie to have two litters. Their response was, “Why have a child? There are orphans all over the world: underfed, undernourished, undereducated. So why would you have a child? It’s the same thing. It’s something personal, very personal. Obviously, it’s your offspring. Our dog’s puppies are not our offspring, but nevertheless, we’ve watched them grow, watched them develop." That response truly resonated with me.
Overall, the book is written well and easy to follow. I learned so much just after getting a quarter of the way through, but had to put it down a few times as it’s not for the faint of heart. Even with the harrowing details, this has to be one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read in a long time. If you have an interest in dogs and how these breeding facilities work, you need to grab a copy of this one.
5*****
I’d like to thank the author, publisher, and Edelweiss for sharing this book with me for my honest review.
Why did I pick this book?
I wanted to read this book to learn more about puppy mills due to an experience we had in 2003 with a puppy we purchased from a retail pet store (one directly mentioned in the book and considered the nation’s largest retail supporter of puppy mills). At this time, I had no idea what a puppy mill even was. Growing up in the city, I just figured when it was time to purchase a puppy we would head straight to the pet store, which is exactly what we did. Our ignorance led us to the purchase of a Lhasa poo puppy. As soon as we saw her in the window, we had to have her. After bringing her home, we started having problems from day one and she ended up not being a very healthy dog physically or mentally. As time went on, we had repeat problems and had to seek help from professionals. My very good friend said to me, “It’s because she’s from a puppy mill.” Of course, I had no idea and didn’t care. We loved our new dog and wanted to do whatever we could to make the relationship work, but it seemed that no matter what we did, her behavior never truly changed. She had problems her whole life and after reading this book, I understand why.
My thoughts...
The book begins with the author’s purchase of a wheaten terrier (Izzie) from a pet store–a store that claimed to only buy their puppies from licensed breeders. As time passes, she begins having a few issues with Izzie and decides to find out where she truly came from.
"Because Izzie was one of the million dogs who are born at USDA-licensed breeding facilities every year, I’ve traveled across he country investigating this federally regulated system. I wanted to understand how the government can do a better job of upholding and enforcing the Animal Welfare Act– the role the USDA has been charged with in overseeing out nation’s breeders."
On her journey she gathers facts about the laws that keep puppy mills in place, conducts interviews, visits dog breeders, has Izzie tested, and presents all the facts in an organized and easy to read manner. Throughout the book, she weaves in some of her own experiences with Izzie and shares other aspects of her own life, including her desire to start a family.
I found the book to be a huge eye-opener, but hard to read at times. Some of the details that are shared on these puppy mills shocked me to the core. It’s hard to believe that these dog breeders who farm the dogs are human at all. The way the dogs are kept is shocking–they’re mistreated, not given the proper care, starved of food and water, and abused. Their cages are required to be a certain size, but that size seems incredibly small and the cages required for dogs that never get out of it–a mere 3.75 by 3.75 ft–disgust me. How can a dog spend it’s entire life in a cage that size?
"Breeds are brands; dogs are goods for sale. And just like any other commodity that we mass-produce in this country, dogs are being subjected to factory conditions."
The fact that the so-called USDA inspectors are barely giving a slap to the their hands is alarming and the laws need to change, in my humble opinion. The dogs’ mental and physical health is severely compromised and it trickles down to the unborn.
"Mother dogs exposed to chronic stress both before and during pregnancy tend to breed hypersensitive, psychologically abnormal, and dysfunctional puppies." – (McMillan Study)
I can’t understand how anyone can treat animals so cruelly and not think twice about it. Why are the laws and punishments so lenient? I may be a little derisive here, but it seems like the government struggles to protect children, let alone animals, but will this ever change?
I found one section very compelling as it involves an interview with a small breeder who breeds dogs in her home while giving them the best care. The question asked is, “Why breed at all when there are so many dogs in shelters needing good homes?” This is something I even asked myself before allowing my border collie to have two litters. Their response was, “Why have a child? There are orphans all over the world: underfed, undernourished, undereducated. So why would you have a child? It’s the same thing. It’s something personal, very personal. Obviously, it’s your offspring. Our dog’s puppies are not our offspring, but nevertheless, we’ve watched them grow, watched them develop." That response truly resonated with me.
Overall, the book is written well and easy to follow. I learned so much just after getting a quarter of the way through, but had to put it down a few times as it’s not for the faint of heart. Even with the harrowing details, this has to be one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read in a long time. If you have an interest in dogs and how these breeding facilities work, you need to grab a copy of this one.
5*****
I’d like to thank the author, publisher, and Edelweiss for sharing this book with me for my honest review.
April 15, 2018
Izzie is the first and only dog I’ve ever had. And like every dog owner, I’ve always assumed that Izzie is special and unique among the rest of the canine rabble. When I walk down the street, other dogs are just dogs. They’re cute and loveable, but Izzie is set apart. To me, she’s more than a dog. And much the way most people feel about their human soul mates, I’m grateful that somehow I found her and she found me, certain that no other animal could ever take her place. And yet, by bringing Izzie into my home, I thoughtlessly supported an industry that ruthlessly harms animals just like her.
What a fantastic piece of nonfiction. When I requested this, I was not expecting this book to be so thorough, comprehensive, and, surprisingly, quite an emotional journey. 4 1/2 stars
This novel takes on the task of learning where all of the pet store puppies come from (ie. puppy mills). Kress, who impulsively purchased a Wheaten Terrier puppy from a pet store that claimed to only buy from ‘licensed USDA breeders’, explores the puppy mill industry, how it got to be the way that it is, and the laws that keep this industry that subsists on the suffering of dogs in place. Kress examines the logistics of puppy mills from many standpoints, including interviews with undercover agents, those who work in the USDA, those who rescue puppy mill dogs, and many more.
But many of the commercial breeding operations that we’ve come to call puppy mills are, in fact, 100 percent legal. Thousands of them. Yes, even the horrifying ones we’ve seen on TV. Federal employees inspect them at least once a year. The owners are licensed by the USDA.
...
Sure, she came from Long Island—but I did no rescuing. And when I was told that she came from a USDA-licensed breeder, like so many others, I heard what I wanted to. I bought the story. I bought the dog.
A bit of background on my own experience with the topic: as someone who has been fostering rescued dogs for nearly six years, I’ve had dogs in my home that have come from virtually every background, including puppy mill dogs. I’ve had the mama dogs used in these breeding operations and Kress’s descriptions truly resonated with me - dogs too afraid to move, unable to even fathom the concept of joy. My background allowed me to forge an instant connection with this novel, but I think anyone who has any interest in dogs will benefit from reading this novel.
It is no surprise to me that, upon a google search, I learned that Rory Kress is a Columbia and Princeton educated journalist. It really shows in her writing - Kress is a journalist willing to do whatever it takes to write the most thorough story as possible. She remains objective, allowing the facts she includes to speak for themselves.
The sheer amount of facts and studies provided in this novel is enough to impress. As someone who has been researching this topic for a long time, I often assume I have a good handle on the information about puppy mills in America, but I learned so much from reading this.
Where this novel really shines is in the personal details. Kress details her relationship with her own dog, Izzie, and the possible consequences Izzie suffered due to being born in a puppy mill. Kress also attends rescues, puppy mill auctions, and even heads straight to the puppy mill that Izzie was born in, leaving me as a reader caught up in Kress’s journey and satisfied at seeing the story come full circle.
I think some readers will struggle a bit with some of the sections that are more heavy in facts and studies, but if you’re comfortable reading nonfiction, it’s quite digestible.
Even with some sections being slightly dense, this is a book that deserves so much more recognition than it is likely to get.
Anyone considering getting a dog in America needs to read this book - it’s so incredibly eye opening, a book I truly wish that I could give to everyone.
September 11, 2018
For anyone who plans on purchasing a puppy or adopting a dog, this is a must read. I've heard about puppy mills but the descriptions that the author shares really brings it home. I've always been an advocate of adopting from shelters, but know that is not always what someone is looking for, especially if they want or need a specific breed. However, as stated in this book, before adopting a dog, one has to see the environment that it's currently living in as well as seeing the dog itself. I can't believe people purchase dogs sight unseen, and just believe whatever information they are told. This book had a good balance of research, first-hand experience, and personal anecdotes. The insight into puppy mills was very in-depth. I was surprised to hear about the inspection process and how it does not really enforce the laws in place. It was very interesting to read information about her dog's behavior and how being born in a puppy mill can impact the dog's personality for its entire life. This is not a book that you can read in one sitting. It is a tough book to read, especially for dog lovers, of which I am one. Check out this issue of the online magazine Shelf Awareness to read a great interview with Rory Kress from the article, The Writer's Life. http://www.shelf-awareness.com/reader...
I hope this is read widely and is a force for needed change. I definitely recommend this book to dog lovers or those involved in advocating for dogs and healthy, regulated breeding. I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher, Sourcebooks, to read. The rating, ideas and opinions stated are my own.
I hope this is read widely and is a force for needed change. I definitely recommend this book to dog lovers or those involved in advocating for dogs and healthy, regulated breeding. I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher, Sourcebooks, to read. The rating, ideas and opinions stated are my own.
October 12, 2018
This was a hard book to read for me. I can't even watch the commercials put on by the Humane Society or the ASPCA for their membership drives. So I don't know why I even grabbed this book to read when I saw it at the library. But I'm glad I did. I can see some of the emotional problems that the family's current dog has may be tied into damage done in his early weeks.
The author had purchased her first dog - a Wheaten Terrier she named Izzie - from a pet store that bragged that they received all their stock from USDA certified breeders. This is the story that she discovered as she investigated some of her dog's odd habits. Starting at the pet store, her findings are a revelation.
We don't want to take so-called 'damaged' goods so too many avoid adopting a rescue and want a puppy from the pet store or on-line breeder not knowing that - unless you can visit and see for yourself the conditions that the puppies, mother and other dogs are kept - there is a good chance you're supporting a puppy mill. That the cute, adorable puppy is already damaged by the stress it's mother experienced during the pregnancy and likely all her life as well as the stress that puppy was placed under for the first few weeks of its life.
I took copious amounts of notes about the horrific tale that led to the Animal Welfare Act - how a pet dalmation was taken from its family, sold repeatedly until it got to a lab and died while testing heart surgery procedures 9 days later. That the Animal Welfare Act was passed in 1966 which only covers the dogs and other animals that are destined for research facilities. That dogs and cats are sold by the pounds to labs still occurring today. It was modified in 1985 to require anesthesia. Seriously. It underwent further amendment in 2002 to exclude mice, rats and birds. And it NEVER covered agricultural animals - cows, pigs, chickens. . . And dog breeders.
But the most surprising part was the governmental agency that regulates the breeding of dogs in the U.S. is the Department of Agriculture. Yep, the companion animal that you let into your house, around your children, your running partner and a myriad of other experiences that you will share for years, hopefully even decades, is considered livestock.
Are you aghast at the conditions that egg-laying chickens are forced to endure? Dog breeder regulations state:
"Cage size" - must be (nose to tail + 6 inches) times 2 divided by 144 which gives the floor space. And the top of the cage is 6 inches above their head - not the top of their ears.
"Flooring"- wire mesh that enables feces and urea to pass through without damage to the legs.
Clean "Water" - must either be provided twice a day or a continual supply must be supplied but many breeders use a nib/nozzle similar what is on a rodent's water bottle which unfortunately, the dog's tongue is unable to function properly.
"Food" must be provided once a day - usually bulk kibble which is not necessarily nutritional best for a breeding or nursing dog.
"Temperature" - not below 50F without dry bedding and solid floors. Dogs are not be be in temperature conditions of above 85F or below 45F for 4 hours or more.
Exercise - if the dog is kept alone, it is regulated to have twice the cage size. If maintained in a group, the cage size space of all the dogs is added together.
There is no regulations on breeding frequency; genetic screening or human contact and socialization. End of life is to provide a method which "produces rapid unconsciousness and subsequent death without evidence of pain or distress". Usually by gunshot.
All legal but what we would call inhumane. If academic studies were performed submitting animals to the exact conditions set by the Animal Welfare Act as it currently stands, ANY study would be ineligible for publications due to its unethical treatment of animals.
The USDA fails the animals in order to appease the breeders - a teachable moment are minor non-compliances and are recorded separately from violations and are not used as a record of repeated non-compliance or increasing levels of violation. Previously, there was a website where you could look up if a breeder had any violations but during the Trump administration, it was shut down and that resource is unavailable any longer.
Inspectors at the federal level are basically filling out inspection reports with non-compliances as teachable moments. Thus they are committing a felony. Falsifying a federal document - which the inspection report is. Intent to commit fraud so these breeders can stay in business.
And it goes on and on. From a puppy livestock auction to talking with rescue organizations that some breeders are willing to pass their retired stock to in the hope that maybe they'll get adopted.
Animal behaviorists and small breeders that evaluate every possible adopter before they release one of their puppies into a questionable home.
Admittedly, not all breeders are bad but in turn, many of them turn to dog breeding because big agricultural companies have gobbled up land and resources, forcing them into the more shady businesses just to survive on the land that has been in their family for generations.
What would help - the USDA to actually enforce the current regulations and even tighten them. For federal inspectors to stop basically undermining the state inspectors who found violations days before. For the federal inspectors to enforce the regulations and report violations. For the USDA to actually remove licenses from the 'bad breeders' and prevent them from just changing the name of their company to start the entire process over again. For consumers to actually demand transparency on where their dog comes from. Dog breeding and interstate transportation needs to have all the loopholes closed - to many, they are agricultural livestock while to others, they are not. Definite rules and regulations that protect the companions we have shared our lives with for thousands of years. And enforce them across the board.
As I said at the beginning, it's a hard book to read but I am glad that I did. My eyes have been opened and I have a good idea how that doggie in the window got there. Won't make him or her any easier to resist, but the insights that Rory Kress and Izzie provided might help the next puppy.
The author had purchased her first dog - a Wheaten Terrier she named Izzie - from a pet store that bragged that they received all their stock from USDA certified breeders. This is the story that she discovered as she investigated some of her dog's odd habits. Starting at the pet store, her findings are a revelation.
We don't want to take so-called 'damaged' goods so too many avoid adopting a rescue and want a puppy from the pet store or on-line breeder not knowing that - unless you can visit and see for yourself the conditions that the puppies, mother and other dogs are kept - there is a good chance you're supporting a puppy mill. That the cute, adorable puppy is already damaged by the stress it's mother experienced during the pregnancy and likely all her life as well as the stress that puppy was placed under for the first few weeks of its life.
I took copious amounts of notes about the horrific tale that led to the Animal Welfare Act - how a pet dalmation was taken from its family, sold repeatedly until it got to a lab and died while testing heart surgery procedures 9 days later. That the Animal Welfare Act was passed in 1966 which only covers the dogs and other animals that are destined for research facilities. That dogs and cats are sold by the pounds to labs still occurring today. It was modified in 1985 to require anesthesia. Seriously. It underwent further amendment in 2002 to exclude mice, rats and birds. And it NEVER covered agricultural animals - cows, pigs, chickens. . . And dog breeders.
But the most surprising part was the governmental agency that regulates the breeding of dogs in the U.S. is the Department of Agriculture. Yep, the companion animal that you let into your house, around your children, your running partner and a myriad of other experiences that you will share for years, hopefully even decades, is considered livestock.
Are you aghast at the conditions that egg-laying chickens are forced to endure? Dog breeder regulations state:
"Cage size" - must be (nose to tail + 6 inches) times 2 divided by 144 which gives the floor space. And the top of the cage is 6 inches above their head - not the top of their ears.
"Flooring"- wire mesh that enables feces and urea to pass through without damage to the legs.
Clean "Water" - must either be provided twice a day or a continual supply must be supplied but many breeders use a nib/nozzle similar what is on a rodent's water bottle which unfortunately, the dog's tongue is unable to function properly.
"Food" must be provided once a day - usually bulk kibble which is not necessarily nutritional best for a breeding or nursing dog.
"Temperature" - not below 50F without dry bedding and solid floors. Dogs are not be be in temperature conditions of above 85F or below 45F for 4 hours or more.
Exercise - if the dog is kept alone, it is regulated to have twice the cage size. If maintained in a group, the cage size space of all the dogs is added together.
There is no regulations on breeding frequency; genetic screening or human contact and socialization. End of life is to provide a method which "produces rapid unconsciousness and subsequent death without evidence of pain or distress". Usually by gunshot.
All legal but what we would call inhumane. If academic studies were performed submitting animals to the exact conditions set by the Animal Welfare Act as it currently stands, ANY study would be ineligible for publications due to its unethical treatment of animals.
The USDA fails the animals in order to appease the breeders - a teachable moment are minor non-compliances and are recorded separately from violations and are not used as a record of repeated non-compliance or increasing levels of violation. Previously, there was a website where you could look up if a breeder had any violations but during the Trump administration, it was shut down and that resource is unavailable any longer.
Inspectors at the federal level are basically filling out inspection reports with non-compliances as teachable moments. Thus they are committing a felony. Falsifying a federal document - which the inspection report is. Intent to commit fraud so these breeders can stay in business.
And it goes on and on. From a puppy livestock auction to talking with rescue organizations that some breeders are willing to pass their retired stock to in the hope that maybe they'll get adopted.
Animal behaviorists and small breeders that evaluate every possible adopter before they release one of their puppies into a questionable home.
Admittedly, not all breeders are bad but in turn, many of them turn to dog breeding because big agricultural companies have gobbled up land and resources, forcing them into the more shady businesses just to survive on the land that has been in their family for generations.
What would help - the USDA to actually enforce the current regulations and even tighten them. For federal inspectors to stop basically undermining the state inspectors who found violations days before. For the federal inspectors to enforce the regulations and report violations. For the USDA to actually remove licenses from the 'bad breeders' and prevent them from just changing the name of their company to start the entire process over again. For consumers to actually demand transparency on where their dog comes from. Dog breeding and interstate transportation needs to have all the loopholes closed - to many, they are agricultural livestock while to others, they are not. Definite rules and regulations that protect the companions we have shared our lives with for thousands of years. And enforce them across the board.
As I said at the beginning, it's a hard book to read but I am glad that I did. My eyes have been opened and I have a good idea how that doggie in the window got there. Won't make him or her any easier to resist, but the insights that Rory Kress and Izzie provided might help the next puppy.
September 8, 2022
A very difficult book to read, but one I think everyone that is considering buying a dog should read. It's crazy that puppy mills are allowed to be in business and the laws are woefully inadequate to stop them. The author buys a dog from a pet shop and it doesn't turn out to be what she thought it was going to be and makes her curious as to how dogs are raised that are sold in pet shops. As you can probably guess, most of the backgrounds are horrendous. The biggest take away from this book is that as consumers, we can do a lot to stop puppy mills by researching where our pets come from and not buying from them.
December 18, 2017
Review to be posted closer to the publication date as per Publisher's request. Thank you to the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
March 8, 2018
Fascinating book that goes into detective work on how puppies are raised and brought to market. A must read for every animal owner and those who care about animals.
March 26, 2018
I'm a dog lover and enjoy reading books about them.
Rory Kress is a journalist. She and her boyfriend (now husband), Dan, had just moved in together and decided to get a dog. They went to what they thought was a reputable pet store and spontaneously bought a Wheaten Terrier which they named Izzie.
Rory started to wonder about Izzie's background and that led her to start investigating the commercial dog-breeding industry in the United States and this book is the result. She did a massive amount of detailed investigation, speaking with government officials and undercover agents who went into puppy mills, visiting puppy mills, breeders and dog auctions, interviewing people who have bought puppies from pet stores and puppy mills, and more. She even had Izzie analyzed to see what effect being a puppy mill puppy had on her (it did).
The book was hard at times to read given the treatment of the dogs. It's amazing that with all the regulations and laws in place that puppy mills still exist and breeding dogs are treated has horrific as they are. Yet with all this knowledge out there, buyer still turn a blind eye and buy dogs from pet stores or breeders without first checking out the conditions.
Here in Toronto pet stores can't sell cats and dogs (yay!). They can, though, sponsor adopt a thons with animals from rescues. That's how we've gotten our cats.
Adopt, don't shop!
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/03...
Rory Kress is a journalist. She and her boyfriend (now husband), Dan, had just moved in together and decided to get a dog. They went to what they thought was a reputable pet store and spontaneously bought a Wheaten Terrier which they named Izzie.
Rory started to wonder about Izzie's background and that led her to start investigating the commercial dog-breeding industry in the United States and this book is the result. She did a massive amount of detailed investigation, speaking with government officials and undercover agents who went into puppy mills, visiting puppy mills, breeders and dog auctions, interviewing people who have bought puppies from pet stores and puppy mills, and more. She even had Izzie analyzed to see what effect being a puppy mill puppy had on her (it did).
The book was hard at times to read given the treatment of the dogs. It's amazing that with all the regulations and laws in place that puppy mills still exist and breeding dogs are treated has horrific as they are. Yet with all this knowledge out there, buyer still turn a blind eye and buy dogs from pet stores or breeders without first checking out the conditions.
Here in Toronto pet stores can't sell cats and dogs (yay!). They can, though, sponsor adopt a thons with animals from rescues. That's how we've gotten our cats.
Adopt, don't shop!
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/03...
September 20, 2019
An inside look at where pet store dogs and many "internet dogs" come from. Worth reading if you are concerned about the glut of shelter dogs in this country and with advocating for humane treatment of dogs used for breeding. I also found the chapter on puppies fascinating - puppies are not blank slates. The conditions their mother is kept in absolutely can affect the temperament and neurological development of the puppy. Breeder knowledge of socialization (not just where they were raised, but how they were raised) is essential for getting a well-adjusted puppy.
July 21, 2023
I found the other book I read and reviewed on the same topic when I requested this one, which was the first I intended to read. I'm glad I read them in this order, however, as I think it allowed me to judge which was superior, and why. This one won out, by a fair margin, because it at least made some attempt at covering both sides of the issue, even if it appears, to judge from the author's claims, at least, that one side (the producers) wasn't really interested in participating. Can't blame them; so many animal activists have attacked their business that they're understandably leery of anyone who comes along asking questions.
The premise of this book was that a journalist and her boyfriend moved in together and decided to get a dog. They ventured to an upscale pet shop which promised buyers that they only purchased their puppies from "licensed USDA" breeders, which, the author came to learn, didn't mean much. As it turns out, "Izzie," the Wheaten Terrier (whom I am assuming graces the cover of the paperback edition), began life at a commercial breeding facility rather than in someone's home. I'm going to use that term here, as I do think there's a difference between what the author calls a "puppy mill" and a high-volume or commercial kennel.
The distinction is the care the animals are given. Puppy mills are, in essence, unlicensed, unregulated and usually illegal breeding operations which provide little or no care to the animals they exploit, either in terms of medical care, bathing, grooming, parasite control, or even basic creature comforts like solid floors. The worst-of-the-worst USDA licensed facilities fall into this category also, when they continue to rack up violations, which the government does nothing about (read here "teaching moment," because they DO admittedly protect each other). The animals are kept in appalling conditions which don't even meet the basic standards required by law, and are usually disposed of when they reach the end of their useful life, if they even last that long. Fortunately, due to some legitimate activism, these types of facilities are definitely on the wane, because of public education about how they operate.
I will give the author credit for being aware of, and articulating to readers, her own biases (and they're hard not to have with an issue like this, as the practices of many of these facilities, which only see dollar signs and profit margins, are indefensible and not infrequently criminal), which is why she seemingly accepts some of the claims of the various individuals she interviews at face value. I will give her more props for also stating, correctly, that "you may notice that in these pages, I did not make an attempt to convince you to adopt. Hopefully the facts that I've laid out for you can lead you to make a decision for yourself about what is right." That does contain some bias, as the "facts" presented are certainly intended to lead readers to a certain course of action, but it's nowhere near as overt as the other book I read on this topic recently.
Perhaps this is most represented in the wheaten terrier breeder she visited. Their vetting process for prospective owners is frankly what should be typical of a responsible, ethical breeder: an extensive questionnaire and a personal visit to see if it's the right fit, and be prepared to leave without a dog. The breeder made an excellent point, to the then-heavily-pregnant author: "Why have a child? There are orphans all over the world, underfed, undernourished, uneducated... even in this country... so why would you have a child? It's the same thing. It's something personal, very personal... so, yes, I feel bad that there are dogs in shelters. I feel bad that there are orphans too... but do I begrudge you for having your child and having a family? No."
I also agree with the author's statements that "breeds are brands." The types of dogs or other products like clothing and cars we choose to own says something about us, or, at least what we want to project about our own image, whether it's an English bulldog, or a vintage sports car, now that most dogs don't actually have the jobs they once had, and have been relegated to our backyards and living rooms. This is legitimately a problem, because it encourages irresponsible breeders to perpetuate unethical practices, when would-be owners act on impulse to own the latest "thing" rather than to carefully consider what's right for both them and their companion animal. The two most-well known examples of this are the "Disney" phenomenon, when a particular breed of dog becomes instantly popular (think 101 Dalmatians, or - I'm dating myself - the "Yo quiero Taco Bell" Chihuaua from decades past, now, or huskies and malamutes which skyrocketed in popularity after they portrayed the "Dire Wolves" in Game of Thrones) due to a release of a movie or TV show, and the celebrity dogs which were popularized by their owners, like Paris Hilton's Chihuahua Tinkerbell, and, increasingly, so-called "designer dogs."
This is one of the slickest marketing campaigns I've ever seen, and, sadly, one of the most successful - this coming from a former market research data analyst - the notion that someone could produce and market some grade, cross-bred dog that a buyer could essentially get from a local shelter, slap a fancy label on it, make some false claims ("hypoallergenic") and sell it for thousands. I'm referring here to the cocka-shitsa-poop-a-doodle-doos, or what the hell ever they're called these days. And the public just laps it up, pardon the pun. Some people even buy the notion that these dogs can be "hypoallergenic!" Wow - crack a science book; there ain't no such thing. They may not shed AS MUCH as some other breeds, but people are allergic to dog dander, not the hair, and no dog doesn't produce dander (dry skin flaking), just like no person doesn't.
I honestly think the "designer dog" trend came about at least in part because purebreds had become so unhealthy that crossbreeding was an attempt to try to decrease all the health problems, due to "hybrid vigor." Most purebreds, especially popular breeds like the ones people like to carry around in their purses, have become so inbred that physical problems are almost inevitable, like the 70-odd percent of Golden Retrievers dying of genetic cancer, or deafness in Dalmatians, or heart problems in giant breed dogs, or hip and elbow problems in Shepherd breeds, and the worst of the worst, the suffocating breathing problems which affect various breeds of brachycephalic dogs like pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs, Shih Tzus and other short-snouted dogs, which, as the author correctly notes, struggle to breathe from the day they're born.
The author obviously invested a lot of time and effort into this fairly well-composed book, which almost read like a series of articles. She even traveled extensively to learn as much as possible about the world of dog breeding - from academics in their ivory towers (more below), to rescues (somewhat surprisingly, one of the primary ones she visited turned on her for some reason, even requesting that her comments be stricken from the record and her material not be used for the project, apparently after the "rescuer" witnessed the author speaking to some breeders), to specialty breeders, like the wheaten breeder described above, to commercial producers at dog auctions, USDA and other government officials, activists and even legislators. Last but not least were some of the victims of the dog breeding industry, who purchased dogs who became sick and/or died, or who were misrepresented, costing their owners thousands in unanticipated expenses. It seems everyone is anxious to contribute their two cents to this issue, which is a fairly persistent one in the public eye.
I think the biggest issue I had with the material was the author's usually uncritical acceptance of anything someone with a some pretext at authority or an advanced degree claimed, but as a professional researcher in some capacity for almost 20 years, there are "studies" and then there are studies, and many of those herein described, especially by so-called animal behaviorists, don't pass muster: not even close. The most significant issues were with the claims of Karen Ogden, an animal behaviorist at University of Pennsylvania. I'm certainly not the first to point out the glaring flaws in her methodology. I will concede my own limitations, here: I have not read "hundreds" of studies about dog behavior, so I am not an expert, and this is not my field. Second, I am relying heavily, but not entirely, on the material as filtered through the lens of the journalist author, who is likewise not a specialist in the field. What I have seen, including articles published in academic journals, doesn't fall too far from the tree of what is herein described in the book, however. Here are some thoughts.
I frankly ended up with a headache from all the eye-rolling after reading some of this junk science. For example, a Ph.D.-holding researcher uses the example of her own prematurely-weaned dog who apparently ended up with a plethora of medical and behavioral problems... and she blames everything on early separation. I'm not stating that early weaning, in this case, five weeks old, isn't harmful, but I am stating that this person has NO EVIDENCE that that is what caused her dog's problems. She claims, for example, that early separation from the litter caused him cognitive damage so severe that a "rescue" (see my other review for a discussion on why these so-called rescues, especially "breed-specific rescues" are often brokers in sheep's clothing) called her personally to come and take him, "knowing that it would take an animal behaviorist expert like her to raise him and not euthanize him." Or any professional trainer worth their salt.
Her conclusion as to why the dog ended up like this: "Epigenetic stress passed down by the mother dog." The very notion of epigenetics, those factors which occur before birth, or even conception, which may lead to an adverse outcome later in life, is a highly controversial topic (i.e., the notion of genetic trauma, to which Ogden alludes), so this seems a flimsy claim at best, not befitting a data scientist, in my opinion. Again, I'm not saying it doesn't exist, but there's no conclusive evidence that it does.
Back to "Linus," the "cognitive vegetable" who took years to rehabilitate. So... ostensibly he wasn't the only dog weaned at five weeks at that facility, or in general, for that matter - if it happened in that dog's case at that particular facility, it's reasonable to conclude that early weaning was a fairly common practice. So, my question would be: were there others like him, even in the same litter? If so, how many? How frequently did that happen? If not very frequently, what factors could account for this singular case? Was it "early separation," or other underlying causes, and how do you know? Was it some kind of disease which caused brain damage? An underlying genetic condition? An infection? A birth injury, oxygen deprivation, rejection by mom, because dogs often abandon and refuse to feed sickly pups who are likely to die, to increase the chances of survival for those who have a chance? Where's the evidence it was early separation that caused all this? There isn't any; there is just the manifest presence of this "scientist's" confirmation bias. This is what real science is supposed to counter, not promulgate.
The worst of the claims presented here, in my opinion, concern "the capacity to feel joy." IN DOGS! These claims were made in response to the "testing" of dogs on a battery of tasks, but, again, Ogden apparently does not take into account more variables than I can even conceive or count: not breed (some are clearly demonstrated to be more intelligent than others), sex, training, both early and later in life, underlying medical conditions, socialization to factors such as loud noises, environment, desensitization. This scientist equates the failure of a dog to tear apart a room full of boxes to find a toy as a negative (which no dog of mine would do, because they would be trained to be respectful of space and not to be destructive, which would be seen as evidence of "childhood trauma" or some such nonsense). Ogden even claims that Izzie, in this case, was "disadvantaged" from feeling "true joy," because she was born at a commercial kennel and not in someone's home: she had a good time, apparently, but couldn't feel REAL and abiding JOY.
Total junk science. This is just straight-up anthropomorphizing and projection. What's the difference, in a DOG, and how do you prove it? "She was happy she did it, but she wasn't thrilled, and I think that's what puppy mill breeding takes away from these dogs is real joy." Total, utter, bull$***. I wonder what the conclusion would have been had she been told that the dog was born in a home (whether true or not). There are ways of testing a researcher's biases as well.
Now, you could conduct a REAL study which could be fairly definitive: my methodology, to start, would be to take two dogs of a particular breed, known for a certain trait: energy level, either low or high (i.e., a giant or a terrier breed), intelligence, prey drive, whatever, and breed THOSE SAME TWO individuals to produce a series of litters. You keep ALL of the dogs in the study in exactly the same environment, from birth (ideally, the lab where the person is conducting the study) to decrease the effects of outside variables - known and unknown - which may affect the outcome. Then, you separate the pups from mom at intervals of, let's say, two weeks: four weeks (requiring a short period of bottle feeding by the researcher), six, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen weeks, and, when they are, say, a year old, put them through an identical battery of tests.
The point here is, EVERYTHING is the same: the two parents, so genetics aren't a factor; the conditions under which the dogs are housed, such as lighting, environment, exposure to certain stimuli, like those commonly encountered in outdoor spaces with a yard, food, training, or lack thereof, and, ideally, the same person cares for them - these variables should be identical for an empirical, valid study. Some caregivers love dogs, and others don't, for example, so one may lavish attention on one set of dogs while another may treat others harshly, affecting the outcome.
The only way to know for certain whether ONE VARIABLE such as early weaning is responsible for cognitive performance or behavior is to count EVERYTHING. Did any of the pups have a disease, or infection, or anything that may account for their performance later in life? Hell, does birth order have anything to do with it? Spring vs. fall litters? Zodiac sign! (LOL) Do larger pups eventually perform better than smaller ones, or vice versa? THIS is how you conduct a legitimate statistical analysis: account for all the outside variables to eliminate them to the greatest degree possible, and then put the subjects through a series of cognitive tests like Izzie and other privately owned pets were subjected to here. That MAY tell you whether early separation, and that alone, accounts for performance later in life.
Maybe these studies exist, but I haven't seen that they do. I also believe that this is also why few people are listening to them, frankly. As some dog trainers I greatly respect have noted, these academics with their fatally flawed methodologies (if those represented here are accurately described) essentially live in an echo chamber which reinforces their own confirmation bias and that of their peers. I wonder if this scientist asks FIRST whether a dog was born in a home or at a kennel? That should remain unknown to the testers until ALL the data are in, because it can affect, even in an unconscious manner, the behavior of the researcher toward the dog.
As a former professional researcher, do your own research, but I can definitively state that these methods are utter bunk, if, as I stated, they are accurately described by the author of this book, and that's also the primary reason why so-called animals behaviorists have little credibility in the animal industry. Their conclusions and claims are utterly unsupportable, which in turn produces legitimate issues with the laws, which one lobbyist claims are based on emotion, not science, or junk science like that described above - for example, a violation can be issued for peeling paint or rust, which doesn't affect the animals in the slightest.
There are legitimate and very serious problems in the dog-breeding industry, and the science above ain't helping. Despite the problems, however, books like these, and the numerous media pieces on the bad actors have brought about slow change. At the end of the day, as usual, it's not government legislation (this book does a great job of pointing out all the flaws of that broken system, which protects the producers in the animal industry to a far greater extent than it does the animals), so, the answer is, as per usual: vote with your wallet.
As I've advocated elsewhere, and as the book does a fairly decent job of as well, don't let the screeching harpies dictate to you your conscience. If you want a purebred dog of a certain breed, that's what you should have in your life. See my other review for the reasons why I say that, but do conduct the research and do the work before you acquire a pet, however that happens, even if it's only for the sake of your own financial interest. The book points out the numerous cases of people sold defective dogs, who cost their owners thousands in unanticipated vet bills, with the end result still being a dead dog and a traumatic experience for the whole family, souring future generations on having beloved pets due to a fear of prematurely losing them.
At the end of the day, I'm glad that this issue is being brought to light, as the industry certainly needs to be exposed to some daylight, and I do hope that the bad actors are put out of business, as they also give legitimate kennels a bad name. I just wish that books like these were founded on more evidence than emotion.
The premise of this book was that a journalist and her boyfriend moved in together and decided to get a dog. They ventured to an upscale pet shop which promised buyers that they only purchased their puppies from "licensed USDA" breeders, which, the author came to learn, didn't mean much. As it turns out, "Izzie," the Wheaten Terrier (whom I am assuming graces the cover of the paperback edition), began life at a commercial breeding facility rather than in someone's home. I'm going to use that term here, as I do think there's a difference between what the author calls a "puppy mill" and a high-volume or commercial kennel.
The distinction is the care the animals are given. Puppy mills are, in essence, unlicensed, unregulated and usually illegal breeding operations which provide little or no care to the animals they exploit, either in terms of medical care, bathing, grooming, parasite control, or even basic creature comforts like solid floors. The worst-of-the-worst USDA licensed facilities fall into this category also, when they continue to rack up violations, which the government does nothing about (read here "teaching moment," because they DO admittedly protect each other). The animals are kept in appalling conditions which don't even meet the basic standards required by law, and are usually disposed of when they reach the end of their useful life, if they even last that long. Fortunately, due to some legitimate activism, these types of facilities are definitely on the wane, because of public education about how they operate.
I will give the author credit for being aware of, and articulating to readers, her own biases (and they're hard not to have with an issue like this, as the practices of many of these facilities, which only see dollar signs and profit margins, are indefensible and not infrequently criminal), which is why she seemingly accepts some of the claims of the various individuals she interviews at face value. I will give her more props for also stating, correctly, that "you may notice that in these pages, I did not make an attempt to convince you to adopt. Hopefully the facts that I've laid out for you can lead you to make a decision for yourself about what is right." That does contain some bias, as the "facts" presented are certainly intended to lead readers to a certain course of action, but it's nowhere near as overt as the other book I read on this topic recently.
Perhaps this is most represented in the wheaten terrier breeder she visited. Their vetting process for prospective owners is frankly what should be typical of a responsible, ethical breeder: an extensive questionnaire and a personal visit to see if it's the right fit, and be prepared to leave without a dog. The breeder made an excellent point, to the then-heavily-pregnant author: "Why have a child? There are orphans all over the world, underfed, undernourished, uneducated... even in this country... so why would you have a child? It's the same thing. It's something personal, very personal... so, yes, I feel bad that there are dogs in shelters. I feel bad that there are orphans too... but do I begrudge you for having your child and having a family? No."
I also agree with the author's statements that "breeds are brands." The types of dogs or other products like clothing and cars we choose to own says something about us, or, at least what we want to project about our own image, whether it's an English bulldog, or a vintage sports car, now that most dogs don't actually have the jobs they once had, and have been relegated to our backyards and living rooms. This is legitimately a problem, because it encourages irresponsible breeders to perpetuate unethical practices, when would-be owners act on impulse to own the latest "thing" rather than to carefully consider what's right for both them and their companion animal. The two most-well known examples of this are the "Disney" phenomenon, when a particular breed of dog becomes instantly popular (think 101 Dalmatians, or - I'm dating myself - the "Yo quiero Taco Bell" Chihuaua from decades past, now, or huskies and malamutes which skyrocketed in popularity after they portrayed the "Dire Wolves" in Game of Thrones) due to a release of a movie or TV show, and the celebrity dogs which were popularized by their owners, like Paris Hilton's Chihuahua Tinkerbell, and, increasingly, so-called "designer dogs."
This is one of the slickest marketing campaigns I've ever seen, and, sadly, one of the most successful - this coming from a former market research data analyst - the notion that someone could produce and market some grade, cross-bred dog that a buyer could essentially get from a local shelter, slap a fancy label on it, make some false claims ("hypoallergenic") and sell it for thousands. I'm referring here to the cocka-shitsa-poop-a-doodle-doos, or what the hell ever they're called these days. And the public just laps it up, pardon the pun. Some people even buy the notion that these dogs can be "hypoallergenic!" Wow - crack a science book; there ain't no such thing. They may not shed AS MUCH as some other breeds, but people are allergic to dog dander, not the hair, and no dog doesn't produce dander (dry skin flaking), just like no person doesn't.
I honestly think the "designer dog" trend came about at least in part because purebreds had become so unhealthy that crossbreeding was an attempt to try to decrease all the health problems, due to "hybrid vigor." Most purebreds, especially popular breeds like the ones people like to carry around in their purses, have become so inbred that physical problems are almost inevitable, like the 70-odd percent of Golden Retrievers dying of genetic cancer, or deafness in Dalmatians, or heart problems in giant breed dogs, or hip and elbow problems in Shepherd breeds, and the worst of the worst, the suffocating breathing problems which affect various breeds of brachycephalic dogs like pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs, Shih Tzus and other short-snouted dogs, which, as the author correctly notes, struggle to breathe from the day they're born.
The author obviously invested a lot of time and effort into this fairly well-composed book, which almost read like a series of articles. She even traveled extensively to learn as much as possible about the world of dog breeding - from academics in their ivory towers (more below), to rescues (somewhat surprisingly, one of the primary ones she visited turned on her for some reason, even requesting that her comments be stricken from the record and her material not be used for the project, apparently after the "rescuer" witnessed the author speaking to some breeders), to specialty breeders, like the wheaten breeder described above, to commercial producers at dog auctions, USDA and other government officials, activists and even legislators. Last but not least were some of the victims of the dog breeding industry, who purchased dogs who became sick and/or died, or who were misrepresented, costing their owners thousands in unanticipated expenses. It seems everyone is anxious to contribute their two cents to this issue, which is a fairly persistent one in the public eye.
I think the biggest issue I had with the material was the author's usually uncritical acceptance of anything someone with a some pretext at authority or an advanced degree claimed, but as a professional researcher in some capacity for almost 20 years, there are "studies" and then there are studies, and many of those herein described, especially by so-called animal behaviorists, don't pass muster: not even close. The most significant issues were with the claims of Karen Ogden, an animal behaviorist at University of Pennsylvania. I'm certainly not the first to point out the glaring flaws in her methodology. I will concede my own limitations, here: I have not read "hundreds" of studies about dog behavior, so I am not an expert, and this is not my field. Second, I am relying heavily, but not entirely, on the material as filtered through the lens of the journalist author, who is likewise not a specialist in the field. What I have seen, including articles published in academic journals, doesn't fall too far from the tree of what is herein described in the book, however. Here are some thoughts.
I frankly ended up with a headache from all the eye-rolling after reading some of this junk science. For example, a Ph.D.-holding researcher uses the example of her own prematurely-weaned dog who apparently ended up with a plethora of medical and behavioral problems... and she blames everything on early separation. I'm not stating that early weaning, in this case, five weeks old, isn't harmful, but I am stating that this person has NO EVIDENCE that that is what caused her dog's problems. She claims, for example, that early separation from the litter caused him cognitive damage so severe that a "rescue" (see my other review for a discussion on why these so-called rescues, especially "breed-specific rescues" are often brokers in sheep's clothing) called her personally to come and take him, "knowing that it would take an animal behaviorist expert like her to raise him and not euthanize him." Or any professional trainer worth their salt.
Her conclusion as to why the dog ended up like this: "Epigenetic stress passed down by the mother dog." The very notion of epigenetics, those factors which occur before birth, or even conception, which may lead to an adverse outcome later in life, is a highly controversial topic (i.e., the notion of genetic trauma, to which Ogden alludes), so this seems a flimsy claim at best, not befitting a data scientist, in my opinion. Again, I'm not saying it doesn't exist, but there's no conclusive evidence that it does.
Back to "Linus," the "cognitive vegetable" who took years to rehabilitate. So... ostensibly he wasn't the only dog weaned at five weeks at that facility, or in general, for that matter - if it happened in that dog's case at that particular facility, it's reasonable to conclude that early weaning was a fairly common practice. So, my question would be: were there others like him, even in the same litter? If so, how many? How frequently did that happen? If not very frequently, what factors could account for this singular case? Was it "early separation," or other underlying causes, and how do you know? Was it some kind of disease which caused brain damage? An underlying genetic condition? An infection? A birth injury, oxygen deprivation, rejection by mom, because dogs often abandon and refuse to feed sickly pups who are likely to die, to increase the chances of survival for those who have a chance? Where's the evidence it was early separation that caused all this? There isn't any; there is just the manifest presence of this "scientist's" confirmation bias. This is what real science is supposed to counter, not promulgate.
The worst of the claims presented here, in my opinion, concern "the capacity to feel joy." IN DOGS! These claims were made in response to the "testing" of dogs on a battery of tasks, but, again, Ogden apparently does not take into account more variables than I can even conceive or count: not breed (some are clearly demonstrated to be more intelligent than others), sex, training, both early and later in life, underlying medical conditions, socialization to factors such as loud noises, environment, desensitization. This scientist equates the failure of a dog to tear apart a room full of boxes to find a toy as a negative (which no dog of mine would do, because they would be trained to be respectful of space and not to be destructive, which would be seen as evidence of "childhood trauma" or some such nonsense). Ogden even claims that Izzie, in this case, was "disadvantaged" from feeling "true joy," because she was born at a commercial kennel and not in someone's home: she had a good time, apparently, but couldn't feel REAL and abiding JOY.
Total junk science. This is just straight-up anthropomorphizing and projection. What's the difference, in a DOG, and how do you prove it? "She was happy she did it, but she wasn't thrilled, and I think that's what puppy mill breeding takes away from these dogs is real joy." Total, utter, bull$***. I wonder what the conclusion would have been had she been told that the dog was born in a home (whether true or not). There are ways of testing a researcher's biases as well.
Now, you could conduct a REAL study which could be fairly definitive: my methodology, to start, would be to take two dogs of a particular breed, known for a certain trait: energy level, either low or high (i.e., a giant or a terrier breed), intelligence, prey drive, whatever, and breed THOSE SAME TWO individuals to produce a series of litters. You keep ALL of the dogs in the study in exactly the same environment, from birth (ideally, the lab where the person is conducting the study) to decrease the effects of outside variables - known and unknown - which may affect the outcome. Then, you separate the pups from mom at intervals of, let's say, two weeks: four weeks (requiring a short period of bottle feeding by the researcher), six, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen weeks, and, when they are, say, a year old, put them through an identical battery of tests.
The point here is, EVERYTHING is the same: the two parents, so genetics aren't a factor; the conditions under which the dogs are housed, such as lighting, environment, exposure to certain stimuli, like those commonly encountered in outdoor spaces with a yard, food, training, or lack thereof, and, ideally, the same person cares for them - these variables should be identical for an empirical, valid study. Some caregivers love dogs, and others don't, for example, so one may lavish attention on one set of dogs while another may treat others harshly, affecting the outcome.
The only way to know for certain whether ONE VARIABLE such as early weaning is responsible for cognitive performance or behavior is to count EVERYTHING. Did any of the pups have a disease, or infection, or anything that may account for their performance later in life? Hell, does birth order have anything to do with it? Spring vs. fall litters? Zodiac sign! (LOL) Do larger pups eventually perform better than smaller ones, or vice versa? THIS is how you conduct a legitimate statistical analysis: account for all the outside variables to eliminate them to the greatest degree possible, and then put the subjects through a series of cognitive tests like Izzie and other privately owned pets were subjected to here. That MAY tell you whether early separation, and that alone, accounts for performance later in life.
Maybe these studies exist, but I haven't seen that they do. I also believe that this is also why few people are listening to them, frankly. As some dog trainers I greatly respect have noted, these academics with their fatally flawed methodologies (if those represented here are accurately described) essentially live in an echo chamber which reinforces their own confirmation bias and that of their peers. I wonder if this scientist asks FIRST whether a dog was born in a home or at a kennel? That should remain unknown to the testers until ALL the data are in, because it can affect, even in an unconscious manner, the behavior of the researcher toward the dog.
As a former professional researcher, do your own research, but I can definitively state that these methods are utter bunk, if, as I stated, they are accurately described by the author of this book, and that's also the primary reason why so-called animals behaviorists have little credibility in the animal industry. Their conclusions and claims are utterly unsupportable, which in turn produces legitimate issues with the laws, which one lobbyist claims are based on emotion, not science, or junk science like that described above - for example, a violation can be issued for peeling paint or rust, which doesn't affect the animals in the slightest.
There are legitimate and very serious problems in the dog-breeding industry, and the science above ain't helping. Despite the problems, however, books like these, and the numerous media pieces on the bad actors have brought about slow change. At the end of the day, as usual, it's not government legislation (this book does a great job of pointing out all the flaws of that broken system, which protects the producers in the animal industry to a far greater extent than it does the animals), so, the answer is, as per usual: vote with your wallet.
As I've advocated elsewhere, and as the book does a fairly decent job of as well, don't let the screeching harpies dictate to you your conscience. If you want a purebred dog of a certain breed, that's what you should have in your life. See my other review for the reasons why I say that, but do conduct the research and do the work before you acquire a pet, however that happens, even if it's only for the sake of your own financial interest. The book points out the numerous cases of people sold defective dogs, who cost their owners thousands in unanticipated vet bills, with the end result still being a dead dog and a traumatic experience for the whole family, souring future generations on having beloved pets due to a fear of prematurely losing them.
At the end of the day, I'm glad that this issue is being brought to light, as the industry certainly needs to be exposed to some daylight, and I do hope that the bad actors are put out of business, as they also give legitimate kennels a bad name. I just wish that books like these were founded on more evidence than emotion.
January 17, 2019
This is a very well-researched investigative journalism book about commercial dog breeding in general as seen through the eyes of an individual who unwittingly bought a puppy mill dog. The author gives a thorough explanation of the laws currently in place, the regulatory agencies tasked with enforcing them, the effects of commercial breeding on puppies, and the options we as a society have to address the issue. At the end of the book, she actually travels in person to the commercial establishment where her own dog, a wheaten terrier named Izzie, was bred, to come face to face with the reality of the situation.
This is really a great book. The author never lectures; she just provides information and lets the readers make their own decision. I do object to Dr. Karen Overall’s assessment of Izzie as a dog that “feels no joy.” A) Joy is a human emotion that has no way of being assessed in dogs. B) If dogs were able to experience joy, Izzie certainly sounds like she could, despite Dr. Overall’s lab tests. She doesn’t use her feet to explore? Heck, some of our extremely well-bred guide dogs aren’t that exploratory in nature either, and that sure as heck isn’t because they’re from a puppy mill. Izzie’s noise phobia? Annoying, but not all that different from my own dogs’ issues. Frieda is terrified of my computer noises, and Duncan barks his idiot head off at any outside noise or sight, and neither of them came from a puppy mill. So, I’m sorry, but I disagree with Dr. Overall, and think that the author was a little quick to accept her judgments as gospel.
This is a really solid and non-preachy look into a pretty terrible industry. I defy anyone to read it and then go out and buy a pet store puppy.
This is really a great book. The author never lectures; she just provides information and lets the readers make their own decision. I do object to Dr. Karen Overall’s assessment of Izzie as a dog that “feels no joy.” A) Joy is a human emotion that has no way of being assessed in dogs. B) If dogs were able to experience joy, Izzie certainly sounds like she could, despite Dr. Overall’s lab tests. She doesn’t use her feet to explore? Heck, some of our extremely well-bred guide dogs aren’t that exploratory in nature either, and that sure as heck isn’t because they’re from a puppy mill. Izzie’s noise phobia? Annoying, but not all that different from my own dogs’ issues. Frieda is terrified of my computer noises, and Duncan barks his idiot head off at any outside noise or sight, and neither of them came from a puppy mill. So, I’m sorry, but I disagree with Dr. Overall, and think that the author was a little quick to accept her judgments as gospel.
This is a really solid and non-preachy look into a pretty terrible industry. I defy anyone to read it and then go out and buy a pet store puppy.
December 10, 2020
This book was well researched and very informative. I appreciated that, despite the author's obvious love of dogs, she attempted to speak to each side and to understand the whole picture. It was very hard for me to read at times without crying and needing to hug my puppy mill survivor, one of the lucky ones who was retired a month before her 10th birthday by being sent to a rescue, instead of being put down. As much as I hate the industry that did this to her, I know there's no way of changing it without becoming informed. The examination of the USDA and the Animal Welfare Act, states laws and regulations, dogs as pets vs livestock, responsible breeders, dog auctions, etc. - all of this was so well discussed. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in dogs.
May 30, 2024
It was a good book and very informative about puppy mills. I was lost and began to lose interest with all the legal mumbo jumbo. I became more interested about 1/2 way through when actual cases of persons purchasing puppies from puppy mills were mentioned.
December 26, 2018
What happens when a reporter buys a dog from a pet shop and then gets curious about where the dog came from? You get this book, which is excellent reporting on a very emotional subject.
The author, Rory Kress, wonders where her dog, a Wheaton terrier named Izzie, got some of her odd habits and phobias. Kress starts looking into pet shops and where they source their puppies. The pet shop she got Izzie from buys only from USDA-approved breeders. (Yes, that’s US Department of Agriculture. More on this later.) In investigating how the USDA oversees dog breeders, she finds that the laws are weak, and the oversight is lacking -- to say the least. She demonstrates instances where a local inspector finds numerous issues with a breeder’s location, only to have the USDA inspector give the breeder a clean bill within a day or two. Even if the USDA inspectors find violations, they rarely pull a breeder’s license.
The USDA is supposed to be overseeing dog breeding operations because dogs are considered livestock. Yes, livestock like pigs, cows, chickens. Even though most animals under the USDA's oversight do not end up, as Kress says, sleeping in your bed.
The conditions in some of these puppy mills are truly horrific. USDA regulations allow dogs to be kept in cages barely large enough for them to turn around, with floors of wire mesh that cause injury to their feet. The cages are stacked one on top of each other, and the dog’s waste simply falls through to the cage below. Dogs are to be given water twice a day for an hour each time -- regardless of the heat. Breeding females produce litters with every heat, year after year, until they are no longer of use to the breeder (at which point they are usually simply shot.) And the USDA has no requirement that the dogs be allowed out of their cages – some breeding females never, ever, ever see grass, much less walk on it. Other conditions that have been documented: Dogs with open wounds, dead puppies that the breeder doesn’t even notice.
Breeders whose licenses have been pulled have numerous ways of staying in business. One breeder had their license revoked, and the pet stores in New Jersey that were buying the puppies simply purchased the breeding operation and kept the same people in place to manage the business. No problem legally and if you were in the market for a puppy and wanted to do some due diligence, you wouldn’t find the old owners’ names or their violations.
In addition, breeders have quite a strong lobby and are able to thwart legislation that improves the conditions of the dogs, and therefore reduces their profits. They insist that animal welfare organizations are radical.
The current administration has helped breeders by removing the online USDA information on puppy breeders that used to be available. Seriously – this was a top priority for this administration and happened within a month or two of the inauguration.
While reading this book, I started to wonder how breeding dogs and puppies are protected in Chicago, where I live. I was relieved to find out that in an attempt to eliminate puppy mill dogs, breeders are not allowed to sell dogs through pet shops here. Only rescue dogs are supposed to be available in pet stores. (Last year when I got my kittens, the store had only adolescent and adult dogs available from the local anti-cruelty society – no puppies.) Then I wondered about a particular pet shop that specializes in toys and teacups. I looked at their website and was surprised to find many pure-bred puppies available at that shop. How is it possible, I wondered, for so many pure-bred puppies to be rescues? Turns out that my question was answered soon after in an article in the Chicago Tribune about how breeders have found a loophole in Chicago’s ordinance and manage to get their puppy-mill dogs into pet shops here. An investigation revealed that a breeder in Iowa and one in Missouri (where puppy mills are prolific,) to get around the law in Chicago, have created non-profit “rescues.” The investigation showed that one day there were no puppies in the “rescue” but that the next day “rescue” puppies were shipped to Chicago. Where did they come from? In the same shipment, the same breeds of the same age were shipped to pet stores in other locations. The conclusion seems obvious.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/lo...
I read this book because I want a dog – and I want a puppy. I’ve been researching what breed of dog I want and evaluating sizes, tendencies, health issues, energy levels, etc. I’ve heard of puppy mills, but didn’t fully understand what that meant, what the implications were, how a puppy mill affects the breeding dogs and the puppies. I haven’t decided yet what type of dog I will get, but I have more information now than I started out with. I'm grateful to the author for digging into this subject and not turning away, because it's an ugly issue that's hard to face. And I'm grateful that she shared her own experiences, and Izzie's experiences, and wrote the story in such an engaging way.
I would recommend that anybody looking for a dog, avoid pet shops no matter what. If you want a pure-bred dog, buy from a breeder that allows you on the property, allows you to meet the mother dog and the father dog if it’s on the property. See how the dogs are housed. Get their medical records and information about the lineage and their medical history. Don’t let the breeder ship the dog to you. Don’t meet the breeder at a “more convenient” location because this is how they hide their facilities. If you want a pure-bred dog and don’t want to go to a breeder, don’t go to a pet store. Go to a shelter or rescue, because a pure-bred dog that is past its cute tiny puppy stage will usually end up in a rescue. Yes, that may be a puppy mill dog, but if you get the dog this way, you will not be supporting the puppy mill.
The author, Rory Kress, wonders where her dog, a Wheaton terrier named Izzie, got some of her odd habits and phobias. Kress starts looking into pet shops and where they source their puppies. The pet shop she got Izzie from buys only from USDA-approved breeders. (Yes, that’s US Department of Agriculture. More on this later.) In investigating how the USDA oversees dog breeders, she finds that the laws are weak, and the oversight is lacking -- to say the least. She demonstrates instances where a local inspector finds numerous issues with a breeder’s location, only to have the USDA inspector give the breeder a clean bill within a day or two. Even if the USDA inspectors find violations, they rarely pull a breeder’s license.
The USDA is supposed to be overseeing dog breeding operations because dogs are considered livestock. Yes, livestock like pigs, cows, chickens. Even though most animals under the USDA's oversight do not end up, as Kress says, sleeping in your bed.
The conditions in some of these puppy mills are truly horrific. USDA regulations allow dogs to be kept in cages barely large enough for them to turn around, with floors of wire mesh that cause injury to their feet. The cages are stacked one on top of each other, and the dog’s waste simply falls through to the cage below. Dogs are to be given water twice a day for an hour each time -- regardless of the heat. Breeding females produce litters with every heat, year after year, until they are no longer of use to the breeder (at which point they are usually simply shot.) And the USDA has no requirement that the dogs be allowed out of their cages – some breeding females never, ever, ever see grass, much less walk on it. Other conditions that have been documented: Dogs with open wounds, dead puppies that the breeder doesn’t even notice.
Breeders whose licenses have been pulled have numerous ways of staying in business. One breeder had their license revoked, and the pet stores in New Jersey that were buying the puppies simply purchased the breeding operation and kept the same people in place to manage the business. No problem legally and if you were in the market for a puppy and wanted to do some due diligence, you wouldn’t find the old owners’ names or their violations.
In addition, breeders have quite a strong lobby and are able to thwart legislation that improves the conditions of the dogs, and therefore reduces their profits. They insist that animal welfare organizations are radical.
The current administration has helped breeders by removing the online USDA information on puppy breeders that used to be available. Seriously – this was a top priority for this administration and happened within a month or two of the inauguration.
While reading this book, I started to wonder how breeding dogs and puppies are protected in Chicago, where I live. I was relieved to find out that in an attempt to eliminate puppy mill dogs, breeders are not allowed to sell dogs through pet shops here. Only rescue dogs are supposed to be available in pet stores. (Last year when I got my kittens, the store had only adolescent and adult dogs available from the local anti-cruelty society – no puppies.) Then I wondered about a particular pet shop that specializes in toys and teacups. I looked at their website and was surprised to find many pure-bred puppies available at that shop. How is it possible, I wondered, for so many pure-bred puppies to be rescues? Turns out that my question was answered soon after in an article in the Chicago Tribune about how breeders have found a loophole in Chicago’s ordinance and manage to get their puppy-mill dogs into pet shops here. An investigation revealed that a breeder in Iowa and one in Missouri (where puppy mills are prolific,) to get around the law in Chicago, have created non-profit “rescues.” The investigation showed that one day there were no puppies in the “rescue” but that the next day “rescue” puppies were shipped to Chicago. Where did they come from? In the same shipment, the same breeds of the same age were shipped to pet stores in other locations. The conclusion seems obvious.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/lo...
I read this book because I want a dog – and I want a puppy. I’ve been researching what breed of dog I want and evaluating sizes, tendencies, health issues, energy levels, etc. I’ve heard of puppy mills, but didn’t fully understand what that meant, what the implications were, how a puppy mill affects the breeding dogs and the puppies. I haven’t decided yet what type of dog I will get, but I have more information now than I started out with. I'm grateful to the author for digging into this subject and not turning away, because it's an ugly issue that's hard to face. And I'm grateful that she shared her own experiences, and Izzie's experiences, and wrote the story in such an engaging way.
I would recommend that anybody looking for a dog, avoid pet shops no matter what. If you want a pure-bred dog, buy from a breeder that allows you on the property, allows you to meet the mother dog and the father dog if it’s on the property. See how the dogs are housed. Get their medical records and information about the lineage and their medical history. Don’t let the breeder ship the dog to you. Don’t meet the breeder at a “more convenient” location because this is how they hide their facilities. If you want a pure-bred dog and don’t want to go to a breeder, don’t go to a pet store. Go to a shelter or rescue, because a pure-bred dog that is past its cute tiny puppy stage will usually end up in a rescue. Yes, that may be a puppy mill dog, but if you get the dog this way, you will not be supporting the puppy mill.
January 26, 2023
Every time I go into Barnes and Noble I check the shelves for animal related books to see if there is a new book on dogs I've missed. I actually found and read this book several years ago and am picking it up again this year as part of my own writing project I'm currently working on. MIND. BLOWING. That is what I would call the body of research Rory Kress did for this book. I am a huge proponent of responsible dog ownership, and that includes responsibly sourcing dogs. Kress bought her beloved Wheaton Terrier Izzie out of a pet store window - something we now know is a no-no. Not a no-no because these dogs do not deserve a good home. They absolutely do! But because the purchase of dogs from pet stores is one of the primary ways we perpetuate the operation of puppy mills, moving in the opposite direction of what we actually want, and this is a fairly universal "we". Puppy mills must be exposed, shut down, and eradicated. We all want this. The Doggie in the Window explains the myriad of reasons this has been and continues to be such a difficult task. But if knowledge is power, this book at least delivers power into the hands of those looking to add a dog to their family... power to know that the first eight weeks of a puppy's life created a life-long impact, power to understand the lack of regulation behind a puppy's "construct", and power to believe that if we just leave the puppy in the window, eventually it will be surrendered to rescue where it can find the love it needs without feeding the greed of an industry so heartbreakingly dismissive of man's best friend.
May 3, 2018
I liked The Doggie in the Window by Rory Kress, however it was not an easy book to read. Honestly, I thought I had requested an e-book sample, but quickly realized I had purchased the book. Otherwise, I don't think I would have read the book. I gave this book 5 stars, it was well written and researched and because of the importance of the book.
I love all animals, especially dogs, so it was a very important book to read. Everyone has heard about puppy mills and imagine how bad they are, but R Kress brings the reality to the reader. Kress also talks about the regulations surrounding the breeding of dogs or actually, the lack of regulations and the lack of compliance in this business. The lack of humane regulations and the enforcement of the regulations by the inspectors was very concerning. Changes must be done to make the breeding of dogs more humane, as dog are not livestock.
The author did a lot of research into this business and personally conducted interviews with dog breeders, and at times I thought she put herself at risk.
I would highly recommend this book to readers who: love animals, especially dogs, believe that dogs/animals should be treated humanely, and like well written books. My caveat is: it is a difficult book to read.
I love all animals, especially dogs, so it was a very important book to read. Everyone has heard about puppy mills and imagine how bad they are, but R Kress brings the reality to the reader. Kress also talks about the regulations surrounding the breeding of dogs or actually, the lack of regulations and the lack of compliance in this business. The lack of humane regulations and the enforcement of the regulations by the inspectors was very concerning. Changes must be done to make the breeding of dogs more humane, as dog are not livestock.
The author did a lot of research into this business and personally conducted interviews with dog breeders, and at times I thought she put herself at risk.
I would highly recommend this book to readers who: love animals, especially dogs, believe that dogs/animals should be treated humanely, and like well written books. My caveat is: it is a difficult book to read.
April 23, 2018
The book is a masterpiece of investigative reporting as Rory Kress uncovers the shocking world of government regulated dog breeding. Her writing style is fresh, honest and brilliant; her research meticulous and chilling, all of which keep the story compelling, educational and heartbreaking. Through interviews with USDA representatives, veterinarians, breeders, behavioral scientists, and pet store owners, she reveals what lies behind the purchase of the pets we love. What is especially fascinating are the experiences of pet owners who have tried searching for where their dogs came from. Kress's quest to determine her beloved Wheaton terrier's place of birth is harrowing. But with that, she opens the reader's eyes to what dog-lovers need to be evaluating when we buy a dog. Hopefully, Kress' exceptional journalistic expose will lead to fundamental changes in the breeding and inspection of the animals we adore. This is a must -read, fantastic book.
February 8, 2023
This is going on my list of must-read books for family and friends (and ideally all dog owners and prospective dog owners). With all the problems in the world, personal and large scale, it’s difficult to rank animal welfare. Even so, puppy mills are deeply cruel, inhumane, and problematic. It is truly heartbreaking and appalling that so many consumers are so blissfully unaware of where their pet dog came from, or the existence of puppy mills which treat dogs in a way that would make most people physically ill.
I had knowledge of puppy mills and pet stores, but had no idea how intertwined the US government was in the regulation of these facilities. And despite this intertwinement, the regulations are so relaxed that abuse is essentially mandated. I wish I could broadcast the information in this book on my person for all to see.
Wonderful reporting and investigation from the author. She did an incredible, thorough job.
I had knowledge of puppy mills and pet stores, but had no idea how intertwined the US government was in the regulation of these facilities. And despite this intertwinement, the regulations are so relaxed that abuse is essentially mandated. I wish I could broadcast the information in this book on my person for all to see.
Wonderful reporting and investigation from the author. She did an incredible, thorough job.
April 4, 2018
A sharply investigative book exposing the pet industry in the US but with great heart. This book breaks new ground on the commercial pet trade that is eye opening. This is not a "puppy mill" book but something far broader and eye opening. It is an essential read not only for anyone thinking about acquiring a dog, but also gives a profound understanding of the pet you already own. The author's very personal narrative intertwined with that of her Izzie makes the journey one you want to complete to the end.
September 5, 2019
We all know that puppy mills are horrible places. The real takeaway from this book is that, even when a pet store or pet-finder app says they only get puppies from USDA-licensed breeders, it's likely the puppies come from a place that most of us would find abhorrent. Enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act is embarrassingly lax and, really, cannot be called enforcement at all.
The relationship between the author and her dog is front and center. She absolutely loves her sweet pup, and don't we all? This book will disturb you. In a good way.
The relationship between the author and her dog is front and center. She absolutely loves her sweet pup, and don't we all? This book will disturb you. In a good way.
March 22, 2022
As a veterinarian, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I thought I knew what I needed to know about puppy mills, but Rory Kress's deep dive explains how dogs are legally treated as livestock and just how poorly their conditions are monitored. The book is also very well-written, as many books by journalists are. The author knows how to keep the reader engaged as they travel with her on her personal journey to find where her own dog was born and explore the shocking, hidden maze of the puppy mill industry. This book should be required reading for every dog lover!
October 15, 2024
This book was a really interesting (and difficult) read. The author has a really great writing style/provides lots of details (policy related and personal anecdotes) that its obvious she is a journalist. This book was really sad about how common puppy mills/online and in person dog auctions are and how not much is being done with legislation/the USDA to regulate this. Also really sad how easy it is for people even interested in animal welfare to fall for online puppy sales. Overall a really interesting read.
January 19, 2025
AMAZING! This book covers every aspect and opinion on regulations (and enforcement of) in commercial dog breeding, along with a history of commercial dog breeding in Amercia, the ethics and science of dog care, and extensive interviews with a diverse array of qualified individuals on the matter.
It has really elevated my personal understanding of the issues, from being someone who didn't really understand the issues with buying a puppy, to someone with a deep understanding of how buying a puppy supports a system that I do not agree with.
Stunning and I would recommend it to anyone!
It has really elevated my personal understanding of the issues, from being someone who didn't really understand the issues with buying a puppy, to someone with a deep understanding of how buying a puppy supports a system that I do not agree with.
Stunning and I would recommend it to anyone!
April 12, 2018
Wow. I knew puppy mills were terrible and I've used the #AdoptDontShop hashtag on Instagram multiple times, but I had no idea just how complicated the dog situation is in America. This book is filled with jaw-dropping facts that ensure you'll never look at a dog the same way again. Despite packing in a ton of information, Kress keeps the pace moving nicely by weaving in her relationship with her own dog. This book is an absolute must-read for every animal lover.
November 22, 2017
For anyone who plans on purchasing a puppy or adopting a dog, this is a must read. I've heard about puppy mills but really have never the descriptions that the author sees and relates. I've always been an advocate of adopting from shelters and seeing the dog before I adopt it. My gut instinct tells me that before adopting a dog, one has to see the environment that it's currently living in.
June 12, 2018
Wow, this book is amazing, I learned so many things about the puppy mill industry that I didn’t know even when I consider myself highly educated in it. I love it so much I want to buy hundreds of books to pass out and encourage anyone and everyone to read. I hope this is read widely and is a force for needed change.
Thank you Rory! Well written
Thank you Rory! Well written
June 16, 2018
This book had a good balance of research, first-hand experience, and personal anecdote. I appreciated the insight into puppy mills, which was much more in-depth than what you can learn from a documentary. I was fascinated by the insights into her dog's behavior and how being born in a puppy mill can impact the dog's personality for its entire life.
December 4, 2022
Being an animal advocate and animal rescuer for many years, I was already familiar with a quite a bit in this book. Having said thar, I found it to be ifilled (maybe too much) with details, numbers, facts, etc and reads more like a document rather than a story. One could get easily bored and miss some very important and critical facts.
April 30, 2018
The author buys a puppy from a pet store and then realizes the the dog was probably from a puppy mill. She discusses the impacts of puppy mills on the mother dog, the puppy and society as a whole as she traces her own purchase. A good and educational read.
March 6, 2020
Excellent book about dog breeders, brokers, puppy mills, and the (lack of) regulation and inspectors by a journalist who bought a puppy from a pet store licensed by the USDA and then decided to find out what that actually means and where her puppy came from.
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