Dogs’ Best Friend Needs To Show It

If dogs are “man’s best friend” and those of us who love them know the title is earned - they need friendship in return. What does it take to be a dog’s best friend?

The question comes to mind in the aftermath of the appalling story that emerged after police raided a Newport, Wash., puppy mill known as Mountaintop Kennels. There, police found 220 dogs, plus an undetermined number of carcasses. Some living dogs were neglected, hurt or dying, with ears hacked off, fur coated with reeking waste.

Complaints from neighbors had prompted the investigation. Police arrested the kennel’s owners. Animal lovers went to work finding decent homes for the dogs, which include retrievers, mastiffs and bulldogs.

Investigators say they found $20,000 in a safe and took calls from people from across the country who had bought dogs from the kennel for as much as $1,200.

How many buyers had an inkling something was amiss - and did nothing?

What, aside from prosecution of the suspects, can people do to prevent this kind of horror story?

Puppy mills could not exist without their customers.

So, if you are looking for a dog, where do you go? To one of those tailgate puppy peddlers who park along the city’s arterials? To a pet shop or backyard breeder whose objectives are volume and profit?

Even if you feel you can’t afford to spend hundreds of dollars on a top-flight purebred, the American Kennel Club offers good advice: Before you buy, investigate.

Investigate the breeds. They differ in important ways. Some breeds are inclined to roam, yap, fight, work, hunt - and will detest apartment life. Some breeds require intense grooming. An irresistible puppy can grow into a king-sized, bad-tempered, heavy-shedding nightmare. Dogs live 12 years on the average. That’s a long time to live with an impulsive mistake.

Investigate breeders. Find people who are into dog shows and ask them for recommendations. Contact one of the many dog-fanciers groups. Call a veterinarian.

A good breeder can make the difference between a dog that will brighten your life for years and a dog that you’ll regret. Conscientious breeders strive to breed out traits such as viciousness, yappiness and excessive shyness as well as deformities that can cripple a dog later in its life. And they breed for traits that will make a dog a joy. But reckless breeders contaminate bloodlines, perpetuating misery for dogs and owners alike.

Yes, it takes a little time to shop, responsibly, for a canine companion. But isn’t it worth a few days of effort to keep business away from the puppy mills? Be a dog’s best friend.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = John Webster/For the editorial board