There’s no guarantee from kennel club

With all of this talk of cities banning the sale of mill-bred puppies at pet stores, it left me wondering what sort of reassurance I have when purchasing a pet. If I buy a dog with American Kennel Club (AKC) registration papers, does this guarantee the health or quality of the dog or ensure that the dog came from a reputable breeder — not a puppy mill?

I made calls. I sent emails. I read articles. I’ve discovered the AKC does not guarantee the health or quality of the dog or ensure that the breeder is reputable. We need to do our research. Visit the breeder in person or better yet, forget the papers and save a homeless animal’s life by adopting. Google “AKC and puppy mill” and see for yourself.

Jen Krause
Burbank

Editor’s note: The writer is co-founder of Citizens for Rescue-Only Pet Stores.