Inside the Puppy Mills

Richard Weaver, owner of RCW Kennels, insists to NEWSWEEK that he loves every dog in his kennel and that it is not a puppy mill.
They all say that. I went to one where the owner pointed out a little dog to me that she said, "We rescued her from a puppy mill." They just don't see themselves as puppy mills. In a lot of cases these are rural people who have found a way to make money with their property, and in many respects they are otherwise nice, decent people. They just don't look at dogs the way I do. They look at them as commodities and nothing more.

What is it that you're looking for when you go undercover to a puppy mill?
I'm looking for any type of cruelty. Mass breeding is by nature cruel, but I'm looking for untreated injuries, sickness, inadequate housing, cages that are too small, cages that can cut the dogs, cages with no place to go to get out of the elements, no place to rest, no flat resting surface. In some cases all these puppies have is wire to walk on, their entire lives. I look for large numbers of dogs, anything that might indicate that the owners are not caring properly for these animals. I'm also looking for any evidence that they are selling underage dogs, and for lack of ventilation.

Do you bring a hidden camera?
Yes, almost always. But we are very aware of and respect various state laws with regard to shooting undercover, so we make sure we are legal. In some states you can't shoot audio, for example, while in other states you need two-party approval, while in others only one side needs to be aware.

What are some of the most disturbing things you've seen in these puppy mills?
I've seen so many things, from bleeding paws to absolutely filthy dogs, especially the popular breeds with longer hair, like Pomeranians and Yorkies and so forth. But the most disturbing thing for me is the behavior of the dogs. They don't behave like your dog or my dog. They are wary of humans. They want to reach out and want your attention, but they're afraid of you at the same time. There's the endless circling in cages, which indicates that the dog is not well adjusted. It's a consequence of living in a small cage his whole life.

What are the living conditions of the puppies at these places?
Horrible. Some of them live in rabbit hutches with no heat, no air conditioning, no protection from the elements. Sometimes they don't even have a roof over their heads. I'm thinking right now about the puppies in Oklahoma, with the ice storm they're having. There are dogs right now in puppy mills there that are shivering and huddling close together, trying to stay warm. But as long as they are alive, and producing more puppies, the people running these places don't care about the suffering.

How long have you worked for the Humane Society as an undercover investigator?
I've been here about a year and a half. I was an investigative news producer in the television news business, and I'm an animal lover who has always been interested in animal-related issues.