44 Dogs/Puppies rescued from puppy mills across the Midwest

[LaRen616]

Chicago's Anti-Cruelty Society coordinates effort to rescue dogs from puppy mills | Dogs up for adoption soon | abc7chicago.com

"In most of these cases, they are female dogs who were bred every time they went into heat, which is usually three times a year. So a 7-year-old dog may have been forced to have as many as 21 litters."

[GSDBESTK9]

Three times a year?????

[Miikkas mom]

Years ago, my hubby and I rescued a black cocker spaniel from a puppy mill. She was just under two-years old when we got her and she had already had 2 litters! (she was probably bred at her first heat at, what, 6-7 months old! ) First thing we did was to get her spayed!! She turned out to be such a sweet, sweet dog – a true little sweetheart! I miss her! Puppy mills should be outlawed!

[selzer]

No, dogs go into heat twice a year. It is RARE for a dog to have a funky cycle where it may go into heat three times. That is usually a split heat -- dogs are generally not fertile in a split heat. There may be dogs who cycle every four months -- but that would be very strange. Dogs generally have heat cycles 6-7 months apart. So your 7.5 year old female MAY have had 14 litters.

Mikka'sMom, your pup could have been bred at 12 months, and again at 18 months. She would have been finished with her puppies and back to her normal self before 22 months.

Cocker spaniels are smaller dogs. They mature faster than shepherds do. She could be an adult at 12 months old. I do not know why a puppy mill would give up such a great producer before she was two years old. If they were all about the money, I mean, you would think they would keep her until she was 7 or 8.

I am curious what some group from Utah is doing in the Midwest. Strange.

[selzer]

Before you can outlaw them, you have to define them.