Are there Amish puppy mills in Delaware? (Dover, Wyoming: appointed, loft)

[vanguardisle]

This is a question close to my daughter's heart. We are thinking of moving to Delaware and my daughter recently learned that the Amish communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania are very involved in the running of awful puppy mills where the breeding animals are kept in wire cages their whole lives and never shown any love or medical care They are treated like livestock breeding machines. Does Delaware have puppy mills like those in other states? I have been told there are Amish markets where the Amish come to sell to the public in Delaware . Do they sell puppies too?Please remember that the cute puppies sold in stores may come from a mom who has lived a horrible life. Better to get a dog at a shelter I think.


I have always respected the Amish and was disappointed to learn this is going on . I hope Delaware is diiferent or that at least there are stronger laws to protect animals from abuse .

[Honeycrisp]

Unfortunately puppy mills are all over - many yrs ago there was a documentary on 20/20 or 60 Minutes etc that filmed puppy mills - the are pm's everywhere - NY, NJ, PA, Iowa, Idaho, Montana and the least likely places - whether they're actually Amish, I dont know - you and your daughter can google for more specific info - but there are unscruptulous breeders all over who could care less about their animals - hopefully there's legislation out there to protect the dogs but many remain hidden in barns and the like. And it's not restricted to dogs, it's also horses (in the big city and in small towns) and more. Back to puppies, it's always better to get a 'rescued' dog rather than a cute puppy in a store - as soon as that puppy's sold, another will be there to replace it - it's about supply and demand. That said, if you're interested in DE, I wouldnt let that keep you away, you could always become active in animal rights etc, wherever you move.

[rdlr]

I'm very friendly with the Amish community around Dover, Wyoming, and West of Dover. I think I would have heard about those mills, since I'm in and out of Amish houses every week. I know nothing about those here.

[vanguardisle]

Originally Posted by Honeycrisp

And it's not restricted to dogs, it's also horses (in the big city and in small towns) and more. .

I didnt know puppy mill type operations included horses. My daughter loves horses too. That is a sad fact to learn. Thank you for telling me. I will look into it more. I know puppy mills are everywhere I guess I was just more shocked to learn the Amish people were heavily involved in it.

[vanguardisle]

Originally Posted by rdlr

I'm very friendly with the Amish community around Dover, Wyoming, and West of Dover. I think I would have heard about those mills, since I'm in and out of Amish houses every week. I know nothing about those here.

That is a relief. It must be nice to be invited into their world. It seems like such a peaceful more simple way to live. How did you make friends with them?

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by vanguardisle

That is a relief. It must be nice to be invited into their world. It seems like such a peaceful more simple way to live. How did you make friends with them?

When I was a child, about 7-8 years old, my parents bought a farm across the road from an Amish farm. There was a little girl there my age, and I would see her playing around the barns. We hollered back and forth to one another, and eventually met face to face. We quickly became friends, and she invited me to her home. My parents didn't mind at all...back in the mid 40's everybody was trustworthy. When I went to school, I checked out library books for my friend, Alma, because she couldn't read. We went up into the hay loft of their barn, and I taught her what I had learned. My teachers thought I read all those books. Our friendship led me to being accepted by her large family who taught me canning, cooking, sewing, and good work ethic. My friend, Alma and I are still good friends, each of us 74 years old now. My husband and I live in a small town and have been in Delaware all of our lives. Alma pulls up in her horse & buggy now and then, just to say hello. She left for a few years, to Ohio, then came back here. I know all of her family, her extended family, and visit them. When any of them need a ride somewhere farther than their horse will travel, they know they can call me. They do have cell phones, acceptable to their teachings. I've been very fortunate.

[vanguardisle]

Originally Posted by rdlr

When I was a child, about 7-8 years old, my parents bought a farm across the road from an Amish farm. There was a little girl there my age, and I would see her playing around the barns. We hollered back and forth to one another, and eventually met face to face. We quickly became friends, and she invited me to her home. My parents didn't mind at all...back in the mid 40's everybody was trustworthy. When I went to school, I checked out library books for my friend, Alma, because she couldn't read. We went up into the hay loft of their barn, and I taught her what I had learned. My teachers thought I read all those books. Our friendship led me to being accepted by her large family who taught me canning, cooking, sewing, and good work ethic. My friend, Alma and I are still good friends, each of us 74 years old now. My husband and I live in a small town and have been in Delaware all of our lives. Alma pulls up in her horse & buggy now and then, just to say hello. She left for a few years, to Ohio, then came back here. I know all of her family, her extended family, and visit them. When any of them need a ride somewhere farther than their horse will travel, they know they can call me. They do have cell phones, acceptable to their teachings. I've been very fortunate.

That is a beautiful story. And I didn't know the Amish used cell phones lol. I guess nobody can do without them.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by vanguardisle

That is a beautiful story. And I didn't know the Amish used cell phones lol. I guess nobody can do without them.

Yes, non-electric is fine. They have a hook-up to their gas run generators which charge their phones. When they build new homes, they include rough-in electric, plumbing and heat. They don't utilize these, and don't fully connect them. There's a big market here for Amish built homes. The Amish live in them awhile, and sell the homes for a good profit.

[vanguardisle]

Originally Posted by rdlr

Yes, non-electric is fine. They have a hook-up to their gas run generators which charge their phones. When they build new homes, they include rough-in electric, plumbing and heat. They don't utilize these, and don't fully connect them. There's a big market here for Amish built homes. The Amish live in them awhile, and sell the homes for a good profit.

I thought the Amish lived in their own private communities where others did not fit and and were not welcome ? How can they sell the house to an outsider ?

[LibraGirl123]

Originally Posted by vanguardisle

I didnt know puppy mill type operations included horses. My daughter loves horses too. That is a sad fact to learn. Thank you for telling me. I will look into it more. I know puppy mills are everywhere I guess I was just more shocked to learn the Amish people were heavily involved in it.

I think many, many of us were shocked when this puppy mill business came to light a number of years ago.

I don't believe that the Amish feel that what they are doing is cruel. In their community, dogs are considered livestock, a commodity, and it's another way for them to earn a living.