Policies on large kennels/breeders

We get several e-mails weekly, asking us to kick certain sellers off of the site, for having to many breeds, or selling to young.

While Midwest Pet Finder does not endorse large breeding operations, we also cannot control them. As long as the puppies do not appear unhealthy in the photos, or are not being sold prior to weaning. There is nothing we can do about this.

There is no law at this time, against the sale of puppies under 8 weeks of age. However, we do know that it is virtually impossible for a puppy to be completely weaned and vaccinated prior to 6 weeks of age. Ads for puppies being released prior to 6 weeks of age, will be removed without refund.

One state in our coverage area does have a "puppy lemon law". That state is Minnesota, and that law can be viewed here: http://www.petshoppuppies.com/Lemon_Laws/Minnesota.htm

Kennels that are USDA licensed, are required to wait until the puppies are 8 weeks old, before they are released. However, we do not regulate this either. If you know a kennel is USDA licensed, and they are advertising that puppies are ready to go before 8 weeks, Please contact the USDA.

We do not have the authority to convict breeders of animal cruelty. If you feel a breeder is guilty of this, or is running a puppy mill, please contact the Humane Society in their area.

There are proper channels to take, in order to shut down a large breeding facility, or puppy mill. Going after the advertising site and/or newspapers is not one of them. Going after the purchaser of the puppies, is also not one of them. Stopping the avenues of selling the puppies, does not hurt the breeder, it hurts the puppies. Regardless of how they got here, they are here, and they need homes.

Proper steps need to be taken to stop the breeding, before it happens. Stopping the "bad breeder", before they can breed, is the only way to contain this problem. These steps include:

• Contacting the Humane Society and/or local law enforcement.

• For USDA facilities, contact the USDA.

• Working with state representatives, to get stronger laws in place, to regulate breeding facilities.

Finally, Any other disputes between buyers and sellers, need to be settled that way. We do not get involved in disputes. We will notify the seller that you have made a complaint, but that is as far as we can go. If a seller is receiving several complaints, from several different parties. They will eventually be removed.

Midwest Pet Finder cannot accuse breeders without proof. If you wish to file a complaint against a breeder, please have documented proof that the breeder has been both, charged and convicted, of animal cruelty. If this proof exists, those breeders are not welcome here.

Thank you,

Layla - www.midwestpetfinder.com

© 2005, Midwest Pet Finder