I was in kindergarten when my family adopted our first dog. He was an eighty-pound copper boxer named Captain, who I still see with a goofy smile that only the happiest dogs seem to exhibit. As an only child growing up in the world, Captain was my best friend at home, and he exists in each memory I retain before ten.

Over the centuries, it appears that dogs have overcome their role as a working animal, and serve more in a function suitable for the owner, that of companion. It is as a result of this shift in mindset that the ongoing existence of puppy mills and other forms of cruel treatment towards dogs have offended people throughout the world. It is important to alert the public to the reality of these mills, as humans are the canine’s only voice.

Puppy mills breed dogs for the sole purpose of gaining a profit. Female dogs are bred with little to no recovery time between litters, and once they reach a stage in life where they are no longer able to be bred, they are often killed. There exists no concern for the mother’s health, and even less for the puppies she produces. The puppies are either sold over the internet or to a pet store. Either way, neither method includes any concern as to the eligibility of the potential owner or the current health of the puppy.

The conditions of these mills are as pitiable as their function, as dogs are kept in stacked wire-floored cages that have the potential to harm the animals’ limbs. Inadequate amounts of food, water and socialization lead to the production of dogs with diseases and behavioral problems, specifically those related to fear and anxiety. According to the ASPCA, though there is no accurate way to ascertain the true number, an estimated number of 10,000 puppy mills are believed to function in the United States.

However, there is a positive alternative to the puppy mills: adoption.

Rescue groups and shelters are not only beneficial to the buyer, but more importantly, to the lives of the dogs themselves. The adoption location will be able to relate information regarding the dog’s personality and quirks, which can in turn affect your decision about the canine. Adoption centers will have provided more care and regard for the safety of the dogs, both emotionally and physically, which allows for an easier transition into new homes. Saving a dog’s life by adoption will free the previously occupied kennel to allow another dog in its place, improving the adoption system overall.

Through adoption the owner not only saves the dog’s life, but the compassion is reversed when the dog assists the owner and brings happiness and love into the home. Additionally, human and dog relationships have been shown to improve cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol and is even linked with lower blood pressure, thereby decreasing heart attacks according to an article on dog behavior on Positivity.com. Furthermore, those who have had a heart attack have better survival rates just by owning a dog.

There is also something to be said for the emotional benefits dogs grant us. It is comforting to know there is another presence in the room, one that is loyal and loving; one that lives to protect you. My dog Captain assumed the gentle-giant persona when playing with me, though quickly asserting his dominant, protective side upon perceiving danger. Perhaps it was my youth’s imagination, but I always felt that Captain was as dependent on my love and affection as I was on his. It is wonderful to introduce new dogs into the family, but it should always be done safely and with total concern for the well-being of the dog in order to assume a healthy, and loving, environment.