Is the Biden dog from a puppy mill?

Vice-President-elect Joe Biden is taking a lot of heat for buying a puppy from a breeder earlier this month, but the heat is not just coming from advocates of shelter and rescue dogs.

The VP-to-be bought a German Shepherd pup from a Pennsylvania breeder who was cited several days later by the state Department of Agriculture for several violations, including a failure to produce proof of rabies vaccinations and maintenance issues. All the breeder could offer in her defense was a big “Oops,” insisting the records were lost the night before Biden’s visit as she was cleaning up.

No one has accused the breeder, Linda Brown of Wolf Den Kennel, of running a puppy mill, but one blogger called her a “high-volume commercial breeder,” which in the dog-breeding business must be just short of accusing someone of owning a puppy mill. And according to the inspection report, the kennel was not as well maintained as it could have been and there was a strong smell of ammonia (urine) present.

Brown has a license to keep more than 250 dogs on her property and had 85 there when an inspector showed up. Which makes us wonder: If that’s not a puppy mill, what is?

Of course, Biden did himself no favors by choosing a purebred puppy rather than a shelter/rescue dog.  One Web site, Bidendog.com, calls Brown a “less-than-reputable breeder” and urges Biden to forget the puppy and opt for a shelter dog. There’s an online petition that visitors can sign.

Nothing like putting pressure on the incoming President, who is still undecided about what kind of dog to get for daughters Malia and Sasha. An Obama dog might be the most talked-about and controversial decision that President-elect Barack Obama makes as he enters the White House.

Do you think Biden should change his mind about getting a puppy from this breeder? Do you think he took appropriate steps to find a reputable breeder before buying the puppy from Wolf Den Kennel?

Comments

[Persian Cats]

I completely agree with the above comment, the internet is with a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.

[David Gonzalez]

I just read some of the comments above and I am sickened by how some folks go after this one breeder who sold a dog to Mr.Biden. I heard that other breeders in the area were upset at the fact that the Vice President chose Linda Brown and not the other breeders in the area. As soon as this took place I started to see the blogs and dirty comments from these breeders..........GET OVER IT!...The VP choose Linda Brown! jeolasy will get you know where. I plan to purchase a dod from the same kennel and I have had the prevlidge of inspecting the site. This woman has nothing but LOVE and DEDICATION for every animal on her property. THIS WAS SO EVIDENT DURING MY VISIT!

[k-9 care]

As of April 21st 2009, this Breeder/ Kennel failed it's 4th inspection for the year 2009.

http://services.agriculture.state.pa.us/KennelInspections/Reports/DisplayReport.aspx?ID=6b2f90c7-5da1-407d-9317-d85e9339eef6

7 more Unsatisfactory results and 4 more warnings, including 3 wardens witnessing a pack of dogs attacking a single dog in one pen!

""There were a large number of dogs in the outside front yard area. This warden along with the other two wardens witnessed the majority of the dogs attacking one dog in this area. The owner then went into the yard and broke up the attack and separated the dog being attacked from the others. The owner reported there were no injuries to the attacked dog."" ( quote from inspection report)

Also, Ms. Brown at the time was in possesion of 85 adult dogs and **37** Puppies !!!!!! Sounds like she is still mass breeding to me !
Also, why haven't we heard anything about Mr. Biden's shepherd pup, surely he should be out of "training" by now.,,, Then again, maybe not....

[zooee]

There are literally millions of orphaned children in the world, so why
breed one of your own...all people should stop making babies until all the orphans have homes. Many of these children may die as well, or have disadvantaged lives. However, this thought is absurd. There are all kinds of people and all kinds of dog lovers. Yes puppy mills are criminal activity, morally wrong. Shut them down. It is not morally wrong to buy a dog from a caring breeder. No, I am not a dog breeder. I contribute to and support dog rescue groups.
These PETA groups and others, should spend their time helping to raise funds for shelters, actively pursue state laws to close
mills, etc. Leave people alone who have taken the charge of dog ownership seriously, hopefully caring and living with their dog of choice for 16-18 YEARS. Caring dog owners, who choose a particular breed through their knowledge or experience DO NOT create puppy mills. It is greed, greed, greed. GO after that and that alone. Yes, encourage others to help solve the problem that GREED has created by adopting from dog shelters, but stop bullying people who choose a dog for other valid reasons ! ! !

[Lilu]

Absolutely pathetic. There's no reason to demonize someone for buying a puppy instead of adopting-just like there's no reason to demonize someone for adopting instead of buying.

Why don't people understand that you should get the animal(s) that have a connection with you, regardless of where you find them?

[Sheds]

This breeder has been taking advantage of the publicity, too, appearing on CNN and MSNBC and giving interviews about the new Biden puppy from her "loving" home. I hope the Biden family is embarrassed by this and rethinks its decision to adopt this dog.

[Liz]

Biden should have thought about this before he BOUGHT a dog when there are so many wonderful dogs in shelters (including German Shepards) or rescue organizations that need homes. But he SHOULD NOT "FORGET THE PUPPY" he just bought. It needs a loving home too.

The only good knews is this will pressure Obama to do the right thing--adopt a shelter/rescue dog.