Posted by melodyo
on August 19, 2008, 2:06 pm, in reply to "hobby to respectable breeder to puppy mill"
I have never been a breeder so my opinions are probably very narrow. I am not limiting my response to canines because "puppy mills" also happen in the world of cats, reptiles, aviaries, etc., but are just not as publically offensive for some reason.
I am not quite sure about what a "hobbyist" is in breeding or how breeding can be a hobby. Hobbies can get obsessive/compulsive which would lead to milling and hoarding.
My hobby (passion) and my life is taking care of my four legged canine/feline family, and any others that may need my help. They are vetted, altered and either join my family or I find them another suitable family. If they weren't altered, I would be having babies everywhere and either trying to find them homes, but more than likely becoming a hoarder because I wouldn't be able to find homes and I would not euthanize them because of that.
To me a respectable breeder would not have more than one or two bearing age females, and would be very discriminating when and if those females would have their litters. I wouldn't think they would have litter after litter, everytime a female was in season. I also wouldn't think a respectable breeder would sell the offspring to just anyone either individually or by the whole litter, just for the money.
The difference, to me, between hoarders and millers is money. Hoarders keep, millers sell.
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