3.  A puppy mill is a large scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well being of the dogs. Our complaints are that these dogs are forced to mate and are kept in a brutal environment. Some common health problems that most puppies in puppy mills have are deafness, eye problems, and respiratory disorders. Also, when these puppies arrive to pet stores they sometimes arrive with ticks, Kennel cough, fleas, and heartworm. These puppies are usually housed in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. They don’t receive exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs—and it is not unusual for cages to be stacked up in columns.