More on Puppy Stores from Peta: http://www.peta.org/feat/grrrspr00/humane.html
More on Puppy Stores from No Puppy Mills: http://www.nopuppymills.com/
Compare "Broker Prices" to what the puppies sell for in the stores!

10 Reasons Not to Buy from Pet Shops: http://www.lynyearhavanese.homestead.com/files/petshop.html
Hypothetical profit per puppy mill puppy:

 

Revenue per puppy

Cost of puppy
Purebred puppy papers
Food costs    
Kennel costs
Overhead & administration
Vet checkup & shots
Spay/neuter
Puppy guarantee
Transportation
Total costs   

Hypothetical profit per puppy


Note 1: Wholesale Broker Prices: http://www.kimtownsend.com/prices.html
Note 2: Also see:http://www.petboardoftrade.com/default.aspx

PuppyMill (2)

    $100

    $   0
         2
         4
         4
       15
    none
      n/a
    none
      n/a
    $ 25

    $ 75
Wholesaler (1)

    $400

    $100
  included
         2
         3
       10
         5
      n/a
    none
        5
   $125

   $275
Pet Store

  $1,000

  $   400
included
          4
        10
        20
     none
       n/a
          0
included
$    434

$    566
Questions to ask the pet store owner:

1. Do you know where this puppy come from?  Why not?

2. You say it's registered and has papers. If it's "purebred" why doesn't it have AKC papers?  Why not?

3. Do you know anything about the organization that provided the puppy's pedigree paper's?  Why not?

4. Does this organization inspect the kennel where this puppy came from? Why not?

5. May I visit the breeder's facilities? (I don't care where they are located.)  Why not?

6. May I take pictures of the breeder's facilities?  Why not?

7. May I see the puppy's vet record?  Why not?

8. May I take the puppy to my regular vet for a check-up before I buy it?  Why not?

9. May I take the puppy for an in-home trial?  Why not?

10. Can I return the puppy and get my money back if I'm not satisfied?  Why not?
The Bottom Line:  Cute Puppies = Big Profits = Big Business = Big Lobbying Money = Limited USDA Inspections
Lacey is a 10 year old female English Springer Spaniel that was bred continuously (every 63 days) by a puppy mill owner. Lacey was 50 days pregnant when found by Paw's Place Animal Rescue. Lacey had seven puppies,  however three died in the birth canal because Lacey lost all muscle control due to excessive breeding.
Four puppies were born live but were small and not very healthy. Two died three days after birth.
This is Lacey's last litter. Lacey will not have any more puppy mill puppies.

Lacey is only one of many. There are thousands more being continuously bred to produce "cute puppies."