If you’re ready to find your “furever friend,” you've come to the right place. happyvalentinesday2016i.com advertises puppies for folks throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, New York, Michigan, and Indiana, and we strive to make each purchase a memorable and exciting one for everyone involved. We are not a puppy mill but rather a classified website where sellers and breeders can list their animals and find loving, caring homes for their furry friends.
What to Look for in a Breeder
Before you visit any breeder, prepare yourself with a list of questions. A responsible, honest breeder will appreciate your responsibility and won’t be shocked or hurt by questions like:
- How often do you breed your dogs?
- How long have you bred dogs?
- Before you bred them, did you screen for health problems common to the breed? May I see the results?
- Why did you choose to breed these two dogs?
- Do you belong to a breed club? Do you subscribe to its ethical code?
- Do puppies come with a veterinary health certificate or health guarantee?
- Have your dogs earned any titles?
- What are the negatives and positives of owning this breed?
- Can you provide references from other buyers?
Keep in mind that a responsible breeder will also carefully question you. Although the questions may seem personal, rest assured that his or her intentions are good, and that he or she only wants to ensure the puppies go to lifelong, loving homes. Since there is no canine version of the Better Business Bureau and anyone can put up a sign saying he or she is a dog breeder, it’s the buyer’s responsibility to carefully screen the breeder to ensure he or she is following responsible, reputable breeding practices.
When you visit, take note of lighting, ventilation, state of repair, cleanliness, exercise areas, kennel size, and overall appearance. Is there an isolation area for newborns, show dogs, and sick dogs? Are elimination and bedding areas clean? Is fresh water available? Are the animals raised on a generic diet, or are they given a high-quality food? Does the breeder properly store medications, keep good records, and take the appropriate steps to prevent worm infestation? Also take note of the socialization of the puppies and the condition of the dogs.
Puppy mills should never be confused with legal breeders who follow state and federal laws. Professional kennels pride themselves on meeting stringent legal requirements, and these facilities should not be labeled "puppy mills," just because they breed dogs or have more than one breed of dog.
In the end, it is your good judgment that counts the most, so pay careful attention to the environment, the breeder, and the puppies themselves to ensure a positive buying experience.
Our Involvement
We aim to make the website a safe, friendly place where we can match breeders and families. We continuously scan the listings on our site for fraudulent content and scams. Once we are notified of a potential puppy mill or dishonest seller, we investigate, pull the ads, and ban the advertisers if necessary. Above all, we care about the listings with our organization, and we will remove any suspicious or known puppy mills from the website. We expect that advertisers be truthful, adhere to the law, and provide accurate descriptions of the puppies they raise and sell.
That said, we simply do not have the manpower or time to personally inspect or certify each breeder that lists on our site. Since we sell ads for only $15, it would not be cost-effective for our team to travel to other states to certify or inspect breeders. Instead, we rely on our customers and word-of-mouth reports, and we promptly remove any dishonest breeders from our site.
Is happyvalentinesday2016i.com a Puppy Mill?
As a service that connects breeders and buyers, we understand the common misconception that our website is a puppy mill. While there is no one tried-and-true definition of what makes a property or breeder a “puppy mill,” there is an overall consensus that puppy mills are kennels that:
- House more dogs than allowed by law without a kennel license;
- Have had their license revoked;
- Lack adequate socialization, water, food, and veterinary care;
- Force adult dogs to breed over and over to produce litter after litter; or
- Are not properly cared for, filthy, and unsanitary.
Happy Valentines Day does not condone these situations, properties, or environments in any way, shape, or form. While you’re searching for a new puppy, keep in mind that the lines between a breeder and a puppy mill are fairly gray, and what some activists portray as a typical “puppy mill” would send the average PA dog owner to jail for animal abuse.
On the other hand, according to the ASPCA, “Puppy mills are large-scale commercial dog breeding operations where profit is placed above the well-being of animals. Bred without consideration of genetic quality, this produces generations of dogs with unchecked hereditary defects.”
As a provider of puppy classified listings in Lancaster, we know how our county is viewed when it comes to puppy mills. While the Amish community often has a poor reputation in terms of raising and caring for dogs, the reality is that puppy mills are located nationwide, mainly in agricultural states on farms across the Midwest. Regardless of where you look for a puppy, it’s important to conduct your research, ask questions, and take note of the condition of the property and dogs ensure that your new puppy has been cared for and is healthy.
Happy Valentines Day Cares
Above all, your satisfaction and the health and safety of the puppies are our top priorities. We understand the stereotypes surrounding websites that list animals for sale, and we want to hit home the fact that we are a classified site, not a puppy mill. When you find a puppy on happyvalentinesday2016i.com, you have the opportunity to personally visit the breeder from whom you are buying before you complete the purchase to ensure that the puppy comes from a loving, caring home.
Please note that we do not take liability for any puppy as we are not sellers, but if, for any reason, you are not comfortable with a seller or the conditions in which a puppy is living, , and we will conduct an in-depth investigation into the property.