The animal kingdom has had it pretty rough ever since man wandered onto the scene. During the late Pleistocene, for example, several species went extinct in North America. While experts don’t agree 100 percent (they never do!), the fact that people had recently hopped across the land bridge hardly seems like a coincidence in hindsight.

Recently, however, I was made aware of a much more modern form of animal malpractice that has snuck onto the scene in the past sixty years or so: namely, puppy mills. Now, in my family, we acquire pets through one of three methods: We take in strays, we adopt through the humane society or we take in other people’s pets if they’re moving somewhere that’s not pet-friendly or whatever. And that’s just how we roll. (We also spay and neuter all our animals, because that’s what Bob Barker commands us to do. And Bob’s word is law.)

Over the years this has amounted to what’s probably a pretty high level of pet ownership, although typically we’ve never sheltered too many at any given time. We have, to date, harbored four dogs, four cats, two birds, countless fish and other forms of aquatic life, two guinea pigs, one hamster, one newt, two chameleons and one hedgehog. If I’m forgetting any critters in the menagerie, apologies — oh snap, I am! I had a rabbit once too…

So anyway, while I was vaguely aware that buying pets from a pet store was a no-no, I couldn’t have gone into any great detail as to why. Until now. The research I conducted for an article on puppy mills has compelled me to elucidate for the How-to Stuff blog readers exactly why that adorable “doggie in the window” (yes, waggly tail and all) should generally be considered off-limits by prospective pet owners.

Here’s why — puppy mills are about as awesome as child prostitution rings, and the dogs are treated with almost unimaginable levels of cruelty before they are shipped off –  in what’s typically very poor physical and psychological condition – to become the potential pet you plan on shoving in your children’s faces while telling them they better get ready to pick up some poo.

For example, in many a puppy mill (of which there are some 4,000 in the U.S. alone) the breeding dogs are bred too early and too frequently. And what’s their reward for this copious copulation? They typically get the axe when they’re too old to do the nasty anymore. The puppies, on the other hand, often have an even grislier fate awaiting them. For starters, they’re typically bred indiscriminately which can lead to a defective genetic legacy, and they’re usually kept in small unsanitary wire cages that foster disease and cut into sensitive paws. Cages are also often overcrowded and stacked into columns (you do Not want to be the dog at the bottom of that stack) and the puppies are frequently deprived of food, water, veterinary care and proper socialization. The buildings they’re housed in frequently are not temperature-controlled and the trip to the pet store is similarly grueling.

If it turns out a puppy isn’t the most desirable looking animal or is suffering from some sort of debilitating condition, it’s usually subjected to “culling” (read: “killing”) or is sold for use in industrial research labs. For all those who do make it this far, they’re sold to anyone who will take them, no questions asked. So who knows what happens to them after that …

Disgusted yet? All the way to appalled? Luckily, there are things you can do to help halt puppy mill operations. For starters, never purchase a new pet from a pet store. It might seem like the kind thing to do, but you’re just perpetuating the cycle. Animals should always be adopted through rescue organizations or purchased from responsible breeders only. Responsible breeders will likely charge a bit more, but you’ll know you’re getting an animal that’s been bred and cared for in a healthy and kind way . Responsible breeders should be willing to show you were they raise their puppies, and you should expect them to ask you questions about your living situation so they can ensure the puppy they’ve spent time and money rearing will be going to a suitable home. They should also guarantee the pup’s health and include a return policy in case something goes wrong. You might be placed on a waiting list as well — if a breeder offers an overnight deal, chances are excellent something fishy is going on.

Another way to help is to support organizations like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) or the Humane Society, which work to fight animal mistreatment. Also, just keep an eye out in general. Puppies in the process of being shipped have been rescued by observant onlookers who heard their frenzied barking and notified the authorities.