Sooner or later, most pet owners will face the question of what to do with their pets when travel, illness, or family emergencies disrupt the normal routine. When you're away from your pets, you want to know that they are receiving the best care possible.
At Winding Creek Kennels, your dogs and cats receive all that and more at a convenient location close to your home and travel. We are a distinguished full service pet boarding facility, a kennel & cattery with country charm where guests are treated as if they were our own children. Our primary consideration is to provide a safe, clean, loving, and healthy atmosphere for your pets while you are temporarily unable to care for them.
We are a family owned & operated pet care facility, where professionalism and customer service is second only to the proper & healthy care of our guests. Winding Creek was established in 1993 by owners Ed & Joan Klink, who continue to live on the premises to ensure that your pet is given the best attention possible. In addition, several animal caretakers live on the premises to ensure the safety of our boarding guests. We have staff overseeing the facilities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as well as excellent veterinarians on call.
We are situated on 36 beautiful acres in the country, conveniently located between Gwinnett and Athens / Clarke County, just off Hwy 316 or Atlanta Hwy.
We offer unique care for pets as we tend to buck many of the trends in the kennel industry. Many pet care providers today use all indoor type enclosures not much bigger than crates, then pets are rotated into “group” play times. Imagine yourself on vacation, checking into a hotel and never getting outside for fresh air. At Winding Creek we do things very differently. We never blend pets, unless in the same family, and only at the owner’s request. We oppose the trend of “group play times.” Although the concept of pets playing together sounds great, the reality is that pets can and will get hurt. We offer play times and nature walks, but each pet receives personalized attention, as all of our activities are done individually. With professional, well trained staff, we provide all of our guests with generous amounts of love and attention and we remain strong in our position that your pet will have a much more rewarding experience.
Our Canine accommodations are large indoor / outdoor style suites with private inside areas connected to full-sized 17-foot long outdoor enclosures. Each pet has over 22 feet of indoor / outdoor run space. The outdoor terraces are very spacious and completely covered to allow your pet to exercise in all types of weather. Inside enclosures are heated and air conditioned, with exhaust systems and ceiling fans to provide proper ventilation and air exchange. We also offer king-sized accommodations designed for giant breeds, or families with 3 or more dogs. Each pet is provided with raised platform kennel decking along with bedding. Soothing piped-in pet music plays 24 hours a day.
Our Cattery provides each of our cat boarders with a comfortable and roomy condo in a bright and airy room with large windows. Television or music plays 24 hours a day as a way of lessening stress and simulating their home environments. Naturally, the cattery is temperature controlled with heating, air conditioning, & exhaust systems for proper ventilation and air exchange. We also have a unique outdoor play area for our cats, a cat patio -- our 'Catio', with ramps, climbing trees and high perches - our feline guests can go into the fully enclosed Catio to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine!
Winding Creek draws it's customer base from a large area. Although we are located between Gwinnett and Athens / Clarke County, pet lovers come from all over, including Atlanta, because they want the very best. In the Atlanta Magazine 'Ultimate Pet Guide' Winding Creek was “considered one of the favorite and most frequently recommended boarding facilities”
In addition to our pet boarding, we also offer activities, our homemade treats, bathing services, nail trims, brushing sessions, and selected retail items. For your further convenience, we also offer a pet taxi pick-up & delivery service.
At Winding Creek Kennels, your dogs and cats receive all that and more at a convenient location close to your home and travel. We are a distinguished full service pet boarding facility, a kennel & cattery with country charm where guests are treated as if they were our own children. Our primary consideration is to provide a safe, clean, loving, and healthy atmosphere for your pets while you are temporarily unable to care for them.
We are a family owned & operated pet care facility, where professionalism and customer service is second only to the proper & healthy care of our guests. Winding Creek was established in 1993 by owners Ed & Joan Klink, who continue to live on the premises to ensure that your pet is given the best attention possible. In addition, several animal caretakers live on the premises to ensure the safety of our boarding guests. We have staff overseeing the facilities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as well as excellent veterinarians on call.
We are situated on 36 beautiful acres in the country, conveniently located between Gwinnett and Athens / Clarke County, just off Hwy 316 or Atlanta Hwy.
We offer unique care for pets as we tend to buck many of the trends in the kennel industry. Many pet care providers today use all indoor type enclosures not much bigger than crates, then pets are rotated into “group” play times. Imagine yourself on vacation, checking into a hotel and never getting outside for fresh air. At Winding Creek we do things very differently. We never blend pets, unless in the same family, and only at the owner’s request. We oppose the trend of “group play times.” Although the concept of pets playing together sounds great, the reality is that pets can and will get hurt. We offer play times and nature walks, but each pet receives personalized attention, as all of our activities are done individually. With professional, well trained staff, we provide all of our guests with generous amounts of love and attention and we remain strong in our position that your pet will have a much more rewarding experience.
Our Canine accommodations are large indoor / outdoor style suites with private inside areas connected to full-sized 17-foot long outdoor enclosures. Each pet has over 22 feet of indoor / outdoor run space. The outdoor terraces are very spacious and completely covered to allow your pet to exercise in all types of weather. Inside enclosures are heated and air conditioned, with exhaust systems and ceiling fans to provide proper ventilation and air exchange. We also offer king-sized accommodations designed for giant breeds, or families with 3 or more dogs. Each pet is provided with raised platform kennel decking along with bedding. Soothing piped-in pet music plays 24 hours a day.
Our Cattery provides each of our cat boarders with a comfortable and roomy condo in a bright and airy room with large windows. Television or music plays 24 hours a day as a way of lessening stress and simulating their home environments. Naturally, the cattery is temperature controlled with heating, air conditioning, & exhaust systems for proper ventilation and air exchange. We also have a unique outdoor play area for our cats, a cat patio -- our 'Catio', with ramps, climbing trees and high perches - our feline guests can go into the fully enclosed Catio to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine!
Winding Creek draws it's customer base from a large area. Although we are located between Gwinnett and Athens / Clarke County, pet lovers come from all over, including Atlanta, because they want the very best. In the Atlanta Magazine 'Ultimate Pet Guide' Winding Creek was “considered one of the favorite and most frequently recommended boarding facilities”
In addition to our pet boarding, we also offer activities, our homemade treats, bathing services, nail trims, brushing sessions, and selected retail items. For your further convenience, we also offer a pet taxi pick-up & delivery service.
A major concern to pet owners is fire. We have all heard the horrifying stories about a vet facility in Gwinnett that burned to the ground in the middle of the night with all pets perishing in the fire. Another story about a horse stable near Alpharetta burning to the ground with all horses killed. These things actually happened and they make us all very nervous about leaving our beloved pets anywhere. Quite frankly, the same concern is true of leaving your pet at home when you are not around to let them out in case of a fire or other emergency. Your home is just as likely to catch on fire as any other type of facility, in fact your home is perhaps more prone to a fire as it consists of many more flammable objects as compared to a commercial building (drapes, carpets, wood furniture, many electronic devices, etc.)
Ed & Joan Klink, owners of Winding Creek, have the same concerns and fears. As pet owners our entire lives, we have always worried about our pets getting hurt when we are away from home. Due to our own concerns and worries, at Winding Creek we have implemented very strict systems & procedures to protect our boarding guests from emergencies, smoke, or fire.
First and foremost, we have a very sophisticated, state of the art fire / smoke protection system. We start with the latest smoke detectors scattered throughout the office, cattery, and kennel facilities. These are all wired together, powered with 110v electrical system and battery backup. We then add another dimension of protection by placing heat flash sensors directly above any device that might produce a flame. These heat flash sensors are over all our furnaces, hot water heaters, dryers, etc. throughout the entire kennel & office. Heat flash sensors do not detect smoke, but rather measure temperature rise. They will set off the alarm if the temperature flashes up over a certain point in a very short period of time. By itself the smoke detectors & heat flash sensors are a fairly good protection system, but one of the problems we face in boarding facilities for cats & dogs, is lots of hair flying around that can reduce the effectiveness of the smoke detectors (or so we are told by the experts). So, we add yet another dimension of protection by using infrared sensors that run the entire length of all our kennel facilities. Should anything block the path of these sensors (ie. smoke), the alarms are activated. All of these fire / smoke systems are powered with 110v electricity, linked to a control panel which drives the system, then provided with battery back up should the power go out. To alert our on site staff of an immediate problem, we have loud sirens mounted to the outside at both end of our buildings that will literally wake you from a dead sleep. The most important safety measure is the phone connection to the company which monitors our facilities 24 hours a day. Should a smoke detector, heat flash sensor, or infrared beam go off, the monitoring company calls the fire department in addition to the owners and staff on site. The monitoring system also tells you exactly where the alert was activated (which building, which sensor, etc). To ensure a communication link is always working between Winding Creek and the monitoring station, we have 2 phone lines and a separate dedicated cellular line set aside for the 24 hour system.
In addition to the smoke / fire protection system outlined above, another key factor in safety and fire protection is our procedures. Our staff have very thorough check lists that must be marked off & noted several times a day, including late in the evening. Every pet is checked, every appliance (computers, furnaces, A/C systems, washers / dryers, refrigerators, etc.) checked, all lights checked, all hoses, plumbing fixtures checked, etc. At the end of the day a supervisor must do a thorough walk through of the entire facilities ensuring that everything is in good order. Then later that night, another staff member (the on-site residence staff) again does a 100% walk through of the entire facilities. Any discrepancy is written up and discussed the next morning. We also schedule routine maintenance every 3 months. Each smoke detector & heat flash sensor is cleaned, blown out with high air pressure, and checked to ensure they are working properly.
Another key factor is our storm monitoring. Both our on-site caretaker residences have the storm monitoring radios that are set to alert whenever a storm is in our area. We have a simple rule, any time we have storms (thunder & lightning), we must have staff out in the kennel facilities with the pets. We do this for a couple of reasons - First, we have many dogs that have severe storm fright and we want to be sure they do not hurt themselves. Secondly, it is during these storms when we could most potentially be hit by lightening, or have wind / tornado damage to any of the buildings. Staff are present in the facilities with the pets being boarded, a cell phone ready to call for help should any problems arise.
Another factor in fire protection is the basic construction of our building. Our cement floors, cinder block walls, chain link, metal roofing, etc. are more resistant to fire.
Another key factor to fire prevention is our local Fire department. We are very lucky to have a pro-active fire department. They stop by on a yearly basis to go over any changes to our facilities and update their files and contacts. Our fire department has a binder that shows our entire physical layout of all buildings, the location of all gas lines and shut offs, the location of all electrical systems (meters, transformers, electric panels) etc. and a listing of all our emergency contacts. They are very familiar with our facilities and know exactly where all pets are housed. We go over our emergency plans with them should the need ever arise. As a result of their pro-active initiative, our area has actually had a better insurance rating thus giving us reduced fire insurance rates in our area.
And last but not least, should we have an emergency, we have a plan in place to move every pet to safety. Fortunately, we have lots of fenced in land to temporarily relocate every pet. Needless to say, we have been here just over 20 years now and have never had a fire or structural damage by a storm, but should we ever have a problem, our staff are well trained to handle any emergency.
Ed & Joan Klink, owners of Winding Creek, have the same concerns and fears. As pet owners our entire lives, we have always worried about our pets getting hurt when we are away from home. Due to our own concerns and worries, at Winding Creek we have implemented very strict systems & procedures to protect our boarding guests from emergencies, smoke, or fire.
First and foremost, we have a very sophisticated, state of the art fire / smoke protection system. We start with the latest smoke detectors scattered throughout the office, cattery, and kennel facilities. These are all wired together, powered with 110v electrical system and battery backup. We then add another dimension of protection by placing heat flash sensors directly above any device that might produce a flame. These heat flash sensors are over all our furnaces, hot water heaters, dryers, etc. throughout the entire kennel & office. Heat flash sensors do not detect smoke, but rather measure temperature rise. They will set off the alarm if the temperature flashes up over a certain point in a very short period of time. By itself the smoke detectors & heat flash sensors are a fairly good protection system, but one of the problems we face in boarding facilities for cats & dogs, is lots of hair flying around that can reduce the effectiveness of the smoke detectors (or so we are told by the experts). So, we add yet another dimension of protection by using infrared sensors that run the entire length of all our kennel facilities. Should anything block the path of these sensors (ie. smoke), the alarms are activated. All of these fire / smoke systems are powered with 110v electricity, linked to a control panel which drives the system, then provided with battery back up should the power go out. To alert our on site staff of an immediate problem, we have loud sirens mounted to the outside at both end of our buildings that will literally wake you from a dead sleep. The most important safety measure is the phone connection to the company which monitors our facilities 24 hours a day. Should a smoke detector, heat flash sensor, or infrared beam go off, the monitoring company calls the fire department in addition to the owners and staff on site. The monitoring system also tells you exactly where the alert was activated (which building, which sensor, etc). To ensure a communication link is always working between Winding Creek and the monitoring station, we have 2 phone lines and a separate dedicated cellular line set aside for the 24 hour system.
In addition to the smoke / fire protection system outlined above, another key factor in safety and fire protection is our procedures. Our staff have very thorough check lists that must be marked off & noted several times a day, including late in the evening. Every pet is checked, every appliance (computers, furnaces, A/C systems, washers / dryers, refrigerators, etc.) checked, all lights checked, all hoses, plumbing fixtures checked, etc. At the end of the day a supervisor must do a thorough walk through of the entire facilities ensuring that everything is in good order. Then later that night, another staff member (the on-site residence staff) again does a 100% walk through of the entire facilities. Any discrepancy is written up and discussed the next morning. We also schedule routine maintenance every 3 months. Each smoke detector & heat flash sensor is cleaned, blown out with high air pressure, and checked to ensure they are working properly.
Another key factor is our storm monitoring. Both our on-site caretaker residences have the storm monitoring radios that are set to alert whenever a storm is in our area. We have a simple rule, any time we have storms (thunder & lightning), we must have staff out in the kennel facilities with the pets. We do this for a couple of reasons - First, we have many dogs that have severe storm fright and we want to be sure they do not hurt themselves. Secondly, it is during these storms when we could most potentially be hit by lightening, or have wind / tornado damage to any of the buildings. Staff are present in the facilities with the pets being boarded, a cell phone ready to call for help should any problems arise.
Another factor in fire protection is the basic construction of our building. Our cement floors, cinder block walls, chain link, metal roofing, etc. are more resistant to fire.
Another key factor to fire prevention is our local Fire department. We are very lucky to have a pro-active fire department. They stop by on a yearly basis to go over any changes to our facilities and update their files and contacts. Our fire department has a binder that shows our entire physical layout of all buildings, the location of all gas lines and shut offs, the location of all electrical systems (meters, transformers, electric panels) etc. and a listing of all our emergency contacts. They are very familiar with our facilities and know exactly where all pets are housed. We go over our emergency plans with them should the need ever arise. As a result of their pro-active initiative, our area has actually had a better insurance rating thus giving us reduced fire insurance rates in our area.
And last but not least, should we have an emergency, we have a plan in place to move every pet to safety. Fortunately, we have lots of fenced in land to temporarily relocate every pet. Needless to say, we have been here just over 20 years now and have never had a fire or structural damage by a storm, but should we ever have a problem, our staff are well trained to handle any emergency.
Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are blood parasites which commonly infect dogs, coyotes and foxes. Since the 1970s, heartworm infection has spread throughout the US and into many parts of Canada. The parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes; thus, areas heavily populated by mosquitoes (including Georgia) have a relatively high incidence of heartworm disease. The worms live in the blood of an animal's heart and in the blood vessels that go from the heart to the lungs. The adult worms living in these places produce thousands of microscopic larvae called microfilaria. These larvae circulate throughout the infected animal's body in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it sucks out blood containing the larvae. After about two weeks in the mosquito, the larvae transform so that they can infect other dogs. Without this step (spending time inside a mosquito), the larvae cannot infect other animals, which means that mosquitoes are necessary to the heartworm life cycle. Once the larvae have become infective, they are transmitted to other animals that are bitten by the mosquito. In these new host animals, the larvae then develop into the large adult worms that live in the heart. This process of development into an adult heartworm takes about six months. The mature adult heartworms are about 14 inches in length.
A dog that becomes infected with heartworms may not develop symptoms of heartworm disease for 1-2 years. Symptoms of heartworm disease include weight loss, loss of stamina, increased respiratory effort, coughing and enlargement of the abdomen. These are advanced symptoms as most dogs do not show symptoms in the early stages. Prompt detection and early treatment are vital to a successful cure.
If not detected early and treated properly, heartworm disease can lead to congestive heart failure and death. Routine heartworm testing is the recommended way to make these early diagnoses. A routine heartworm test takes just a few minutes; all that is needed is a small amount of blood. The test is very accurate in detecting heartworms. If the dog shows heartworm symptoms or tests positive on this routine blood test, additional tests will be needed to confirm the infection and evaluate the extent of the damage caused by the heartworms. These tests, usually including x-rays, urinalysis, and other sophisticated laboratory tests, are needed before treatment can begin. Treatment is usually medical, although in rare instances some animals require surgery.
Heartworm disease can be prevented with a monthly medication, but all dogs over six months of age must have a heartworm test before starting a preventive. (This is because severe or fatal reactions may occur if some preventives are given to dogs with heartworm disease, and also to prevent diagnostic confusion later on). Monthly heartworm preventives do an excellent job of keeping larvae from developing into adult worms thereby preventing heartworm disease. Current heartworm preventives are 100% effective if given every month as directed. There are several highly effective preventatives available in both oral and topical forms. As an added bonus, these preventatives can also control other parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, ear mites, fleas, ticks and sarcoptic mange, depending on the preventative. Puppies can start on heartworm prevention at 4 weeks of age. Many people mistakenly believe that indoor dogs do not need heartworm prevention. This is not true since mosquitoes often make their way indoors. Trips outside to play and go to the bathroom and car rides also expose these dogs to mosquito bites. Like all prescription medications, heartworm preventives must be given as directed. If your dog is not taking a heartworm preventative we urge you to contact your veterinarian right away to schedule a heartworm test and have them prescribe a preventative that best suits your dog's individual needs. In recent years, veterinary researchers have developed medications and procedures that have vastly improved the prevention and treatment of canine heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is now easily preventable, and most infected dogs survive thanks to prompt detection and intervention.
At Winder Animal Hospital we see many cases of heartworm disease each year: believe us when we tell you that good prevention and early detection of disease prevents needless suffering and expensive treatment. Cats can also be infected with heartworms even though they are not a natural host. The disease process is very different in cats than in dogs and often the only symptom is sudden death. Please discuss feline heartworm disease with your cat's veterinarian.
Richard L. Duffey, DVM
Winder Animal Hospital
163 W. Athens Street
Winder, GA 30680
Phone: 770-867-9821
Fax: 770-867-1367
winderah@yahoo.com
www.windervet.com
A dog that becomes infected with heartworms may not develop symptoms of heartworm disease for 1-2 years. Symptoms of heartworm disease include weight loss, loss of stamina, increased respiratory effort, coughing and enlargement of the abdomen. These are advanced symptoms as most dogs do not show symptoms in the early stages. Prompt detection and early treatment are vital to a successful cure.
If not detected early and treated properly, heartworm disease can lead to congestive heart failure and death. Routine heartworm testing is the recommended way to make these early diagnoses. A routine heartworm test takes just a few minutes; all that is needed is a small amount of blood. The test is very accurate in detecting heartworms. If the dog shows heartworm symptoms or tests positive on this routine blood test, additional tests will be needed to confirm the infection and evaluate the extent of the damage caused by the heartworms. These tests, usually including x-rays, urinalysis, and other sophisticated laboratory tests, are needed before treatment can begin. Treatment is usually medical, although in rare instances some animals require surgery.
Heartworm disease can be prevented with a monthly medication, but all dogs over six months of age must have a heartworm test before starting a preventive. (This is because severe or fatal reactions may occur if some preventives are given to dogs with heartworm disease, and also to prevent diagnostic confusion later on). Monthly heartworm preventives do an excellent job of keeping larvae from developing into adult worms thereby preventing heartworm disease. Current heartworm preventives are 100% effective if given every month as directed. There are several highly effective preventatives available in both oral and topical forms. As an added bonus, these preventatives can also control other parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, ear mites, fleas, ticks and sarcoptic mange, depending on the preventative. Puppies can start on heartworm prevention at 4 weeks of age. Many people mistakenly believe that indoor dogs do not need heartworm prevention. This is not true since mosquitoes often make their way indoors. Trips outside to play and go to the bathroom and car rides also expose these dogs to mosquito bites. Like all prescription medications, heartworm preventives must be given as directed. If your dog is not taking a heartworm preventative we urge you to contact your veterinarian right away to schedule a heartworm test and have them prescribe a preventative that best suits your dog's individual needs. In recent years, veterinary researchers have developed medications and procedures that have vastly improved the prevention and treatment of canine heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is now easily preventable, and most infected dogs survive thanks to prompt detection and intervention.
At Winder Animal Hospital we see many cases of heartworm disease each year: believe us when we tell you that good prevention and early detection of disease prevents needless suffering and expensive treatment. Cats can also be infected with heartworms even though they are not a natural host. The disease process is very different in cats than in dogs and often the only symptom is sudden death. Please discuss feline heartworm disease with your cat's veterinarian.
Richard L. Duffey, DVM
Winder Animal Hospital
163 W. Athens Street
Winder, GA 30680
Phone: 770-867-9821
Fax: 770-867-1367
winderah@yahoo.com
www.windervet.com
Example of Heartworm Diseased
Feline Heart.
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Example of Heartworm Diseased
Canine Heart.
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There has been a growing trend among pet owners to purchase biologicals (vaccines) at feed stores, through mail order catalogs, or over the Internet and to administer these products to their pets at home. Veterinarians strongly discourage this practice for the following reasons:
First, the purpose of a vaccine is to produce an appropriate response from the immune system leading to protection against infectious disease. It is essential that an animal be in the best of health prior to immunization. For this reason, veterinarians require a complete physical examination prior to inoculation. Administering a vaccine to a less than healthy animal could lead to failure in immunization. In addition, whatever problem may be affecting the pet could be seriously exacerbated by the stress of inoculation.
Second, the handling and administration of vaccines can impact their efficacy. Veterinarians order vaccines direct from manufacturers or medical distributors and refuse delivery for biologicals that are improperly packaged or arrive unrefrigerated. Many nonprofessional sales outlets can not insure the proper shipping, handling, and storage of these medical products. Improperly handled vaccines may have lost their viability and not provide expected protection. Although administering injections may appear simple, this is a medical skill which does require proper training. Site preparation, depth and location of injection are just a few of the factors that can affect proper immunization. Also, adequate immunity in a previously unvaccinated pet requires adherence to a strict booster schedule. Failure to do so will leave a pet unprotected.
Third, in this day of fear over medical hazards, the proper disposal of medical and biological wastes is a very serious concern. Simply throwing used needles, syringes, and biologicals away with household garbage violates regulations and creates liability for the pet owner if sanitation workers are accidentally exposed.
Finally, while vaccines are a critical part of preventive health care, they are not without risk. Although rare, adverse reactions may occur. In the event of a reaction, the speed with which emergency care is provided may make the difference between life and death. The USP Veterinary Practitioners Reporting Program has received numerous reports describing allergic reactions that occurred after an owner vaccinated a pet at home. Twelve recent reports involved dogs, four of which did not survived the reaction. One of the dogs died while on route to the veterinary hospital, two arrived at the veterinary facility alive but subsequently died despite therapy, and one dog died at home without treatment after showing signs of weakness for several hours.
For these reasons, Shoal Creek News encouraged its readers to have their pets vaccinated against infections diseases by a licensed veterinary professional.
Ralph M. Askren, DVM
Shoal Creek Animal Clinic, P.C.
2226 Barnett Shoals Road
Athens, GA 30605
706-369-0962 Voice
706-369-0950 Fax
http://www.shoalcreek.com
animalclinic@shoalcreek.com
First, the purpose of a vaccine is to produce an appropriate response from the immune system leading to protection against infectious disease. It is essential that an animal be in the best of health prior to immunization. For this reason, veterinarians require a complete physical examination prior to inoculation. Administering a vaccine to a less than healthy animal could lead to failure in immunization. In addition, whatever problem may be affecting the pet could be seriously exacerbated by the stress of inoculation.
Second, the handling and administration of vaccines can impact their efficacy. Veterinarians order vaccines direct from manufacturers or medical distributors and refuse delivery for biologicals that are improperly packaged or arrive unrefrigerated. Many nonprofessional sales outlets can not insure the proper shipping, handling, and storage of these medical products. Improperly handled vaccines may have lost their viability and not provide expected protection. Although administering injections may appear simple, this is a medical skill which does require proper training. Site preparation, depth and location of injection are just a few of the factors that can affect proper immunization. Also, adequate immunity in a previously unvaccinated pet requires adherence to a strict booster schedule. Failure to do so will leave a pet unprotected.
Third, in this day of fear over medical hazards, the proper disposal of medical and biological wastes is a very serious concern. Simply throwing used needles, syringes, and biologicals away with household garbage violates regulations and creates liability for the pet owner if sanitation workers are accidentally exposed.
Finally, while vaccines are a critical part of preventive health care, they are not without risk. Although rare, adverse reactions may occur. In the event of a reaction, the speed with which emergency care is provided may make the difference between life and death. The USP Veterinary Practitioners Reporting Program has received numerous reports describing allergic reactions that occurred after an owner vaccinated a pet at home. Twelve recent reports involved dogs, four of which did not survived the reaction. One of the dogs died while on route to the veterinary hospital, two arrived at the veterinary facility alive but subsequently died despite therapy, and one dog died at home without treatment after showing signs of weakness for several hours.
For these reasons, Shoal Creek News encouraged its readers to have their pets vaccinated against infections diseases by a licensed veterinary professional.
Ralph M. Askren, DVM
Shoal Creek Animal Clinic, P.C.
2226 Barnett Shoals Road
Athens, GA 30605
706-369-0962 Voice
706-369-0950 Fax
http://www.shoalcreek.com
animalclinic@shoalcreek.com
Don’t be fooled by the numerous “Best Of” awards: Best of Gwinnett, Best of Athens, etc. In many cases, these 'awards' are a total SCAM.
Businesses should be ashamed to show these types of phony awards.
Scam artists will send businesses an e-mail announcing that their business has won a 'prestigious award', ie. “The 2014 Best Of” (insert your city name) Award in the category of (your type of business)!!! Just click the link to claim your award.
These websites offer awards that “must be purchased". Generally $79.99 / $179.99 / $198 along with a press release announcing the 'award'. They want you to purchase a plaque to hang in your office along with an image of the award for your website. These scam artists usually do not list their own street address or phone number and the only contact is via email through their site. It's a high production, money making operation that sends out thousands of emails announcing 'winners' and trying to get business owners to buy their awards. There is no actual selection process / criteria other than a mailing list.
As an example of these bogus awards, check out the following links:
Once again, don’t be fooled by these awards. The best way to select a good boarding facility for your pet is to personally go out and visit the facilities in person, meet their staff and discuss your specific concerns about the care of your beloved pet.
Winding Creek has been offered these bogus awards many times over, but we refuse to buy an award and pretend that we were selected over all others. We prefer to let you, the customer, be the judge of our facilities.
Popular Local Awards:
Some cities & counties have their own “Best Of” awards generally sponsored through a local newspaper or publication. As an example, Athens has what they refer to as their “Best of Athens Awards” sponsored by the Athens Banner-Herald newspaper. However, in order to be listed as an option for voting (what is referred to as a “Click-to-Vote option”), a business must pay a fee of $99 to be listed. As a business, if you do not pay to be listed, you will not be included in the survey. There is an option to “write in or type in” a business name, but this would naturally take time as you have to type in the full business name along with the city & state each time you vote. The other skew to this type of survey is there is no limit to how many times you can vote for a particular business. Businesses are able to have their employees, friends, & family members vote repeatedly. Needless to say, if you are not listed in the survey, even if you are the hands down best, your odds of getting the most votes are slim. This type of survey certainly has more merit than the bogus purchased awards mentioned previously, but not necessarily the best way to determine if a boarding facility is the best for you and your pet.
If You Really Want To Find A Good Boarding Facility For Your Pet, Follow The Guidelines Below:
Before boarding your pet, we strongly encourage pet owners to take the time to visit any boarding facilities that you might be considering. Don't just visit the office area, insist on seeing the actual area where the pets are boarded. Are the kennels and surrounding areas clean? Does the pet have a large enough area to move around freely and breathe fresh air or is the pet housed in a very small crate type enclosure? What kind of disinfectant is used to sanitize the pet accommodations? How often are the dog & cat accommodations cleaned and sanitized? Talk to the owners and staff, do they appear to be knowledgeable?
A few good rules to follow in selecting a kennel:
At Winding Creek, we encourage you to visit and tour our facilities at any time during our posted business hours. We will walk you throughout the facilities, discuss your specific boarding needs, and answer any questions you may have.
Businesses should be ashamed to show these types of phony awards.
Scam artists will send businesses an e-mail announcing that their business has won a 'prestigious award', ie. “The 2014 Best Of” (insert your city name) Award in the category of (your type of business)!!! Just click the link to claim your award.
These websites offer awards that “must be purchased". Generally $79.99 / $179.99 / $198 along with a press release announcing the 'award'. They want you to purchase a plaque to hang in your office along with an image of the award for your website. These scam artists usually do not list their own street address or phone number and the only contact is via email through their site. It's a high production, money making operation that sends out thousands of emails announcing 'winners' and trying to get business owners to buy their awards. There is no actual selection process / criteria other than a mailing list.
As an example of these bogus awards, check out the following links:
- http://www.bbb.org/memphis/migration/other-news/2011/10/us-commerce-associations-business-vanity-awards-may-have-little-value/
- http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/US-Commerce-Association/internet/US-Commerce-Association-US-Local-Business-association-SCAM-Vanity-Awards-that-they-sel-792892
- http://scamswehavegotten.blogspot.com/2009/07
Once again, don’t be fooled by these awards. The best way to select a good boarding facility for your pet is to personally go out and visit the facilities in person, meet their staff and discuss your specific concerns about the care of your beloved pet.
Winding Creek has been offered these bogus awards many times over, but we refuse to buy an award and pretend that we were selected over all others. We prefer to let you, the customer, be the judge of our facilities.
Popular Local Awards:
Some cities & counties have their own “Best Of” awards generally sponsored through a local newspaper or publication. As an example, Athens has what they refer to as their “Best of Athens Awards” sponsored by the Athens Banner-Herald newspaper. However, in order to be listed as an option for voting (what is referred to as a “Click-to-Vote option”), a business must pay a fee of $99 to be listed. As a business, if you do not pay to be listed, you will not be included in the survey. There is an option to “write in or type in” a business name, but this would naturally take time as you have to type in the full business name along with the city & state each time you vote. The other skew to this type of survey is there is no limit to how many times you can vote for a particular business. Businesses are able to have their employees, friends, & family members vote repeatedly. Needless to say, if you are not listed in the survey, even if you are the hands down best, your odds of getting the most votes are slim. This type of survey certainly has more merit than the bogus purchased awards mentioned previously, but not necessarily the best way to determine if a boarding facility is the best for you and your pet.
If You Really Want To Find A Good Boarding Facility For Your Pet, Follow The Guidelines Below:
Before boarding your pet, we strongly encourage pet owners to take the time to visit any boarding facilities that you might be considering. Don't just visit the office area, insist on seeing the actual area where the pets are boarded. Are the kennels and surrounding areas clean? Does the pet have a large enough area to move around freely and breathe fresh air or is the pet housed in a very small crate type enclosure? What kind of disinfectant is used to sanitize the pet accommodations? How often are the dog & cat accommodations cleaned and sanitized? Talk to the owners and staff, do they appear to be knowledgeable?
A few good rules to follow in selecting a kennel:
- Show up to tour the boarding facility unannounced with no appointment. The only rule you must follow is to show up during the kennel's posted business hours. Be very skeptical of any boarding facility that insists that you make a specific appointment or come at specified times to tour. What are they hiding?
- When you arrive to tour, you should be able to go throughout the entire Canine and/or cattery facilities (with escort - no boarding facility should allow you to walk through their facilities without an escort). You will be surprised to find that many boarding facilities will not allow you to actually go throughout the boarding facility. They may take you to a window for viewing the kennel area instead. You may be told that their insurance does not allow a customer to walk through the kennel area, or some State agency forbids a customer to go beyond a certain point. You may even be told that touring the facility disturbs the boarding guests. This is of course all nonsense, and a good reason to be skeptical.
- On your tour, take a good look at the staff that work at the boarding facility. Remember that a boarding facility is only as good as the people that are working there. Do they have mature, trained, friendly, responsible animal caretakers? It makes a huge difference in the kind of care your pet will receive!
At Winding Creek, we encourage you to visit and tour our facilities at any time during our posted business hours. We will walk you throughout the facilities, discuss your specific boarding needs, and answer any questions you may have.
In deciding the vaccine requirements we have in place for all of our canine and feline guests, Winding Creek Kennels chooses to follow the canine vaccination guidelines set forth by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the feline vaccination guidelines set forth by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). These guidelines are developed solely with your pet’s best interest in mind.
All pets boarded at Winding Creek Kennels must be free of any contagious ailments and for the protection of all our guests we require proof of current vaccinations given by a licensed veterinarian.
FOR DOGS:
Required For Boarding:
Rabies - 1 or 3 year (Per your veterinarian)
DHPP - (Distemper/Parvo combination booster) - 1 or 3 year (Per your veterinarian)
*We also accept Titers blood test reports for DHPP.
Bordetella - (Canine / Kennel Cough) - required annually (Per your veterinarian)
FOR CATS:
Required For Boarding:
Rabies - 1 or 3 year (Per your veterinarian)
FVRCP - (Feline Distemper) 1 or 3 year (Per your veterinarian)
Canine Vaccinations & What You Should Know: The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an organization that exists to promote an elite standard of veterinary care in small animal medicine. In order to be accredited by the AAHA, veterinary practices have to voluntarily undergo a strict evaluation process that goes above and beyond state and local government regulations. The AAHA releases guidelines created in collaboration with distinguished members of the veterinary profession to provide guidance on various topics such as vaccination protocols, frequency of vet visits, pain management, nutrition, etc. The AAHA’s goal for these guidelines is to provide the most current, non-biased information on clinically relevant topics to benefit the entire veterinary profession, as well as educate pet owners.
The most recent version of the canine vaccination protocol guidelines were published in 2018 and can be accessed on the AAHA website here.
For dogs, the AAHA recommends 2 ‘core’ vaccines –the Rabies vaccine and the Canine Distemper-Parvo Combo vaccine (DHPP).
Rabies is an untreatable virus that if contracted will certainly be fatal. Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an infected carrier; wildlife bites from potentially infected animals like raccoons, coyotes, skunks etc. can transmit the disease, as well as animal carcasses. Although the risk of exposure to your common household pet, and even to you is low, there is always a risk of exposure. Due to the fatal nature of the virus, many state and local governments mandate a Rabies vaccination for companion animals. For the safety of our staff handling your pets, we will not board an animal that does not have a current Rabies vaccination.
Canine Distemper Parvo is a highly contagious disease that can cause both myocarditis (heart inflammation) and severe enteritis (intestinal inflammation) – which leads to intestinal complications that can only be treated with supportive care. Young puppies are most at risk for contracting the disease, but older pets are susceptible as well and it can be very deadly. There is often a delayed onset to symptoms of the disease, which can easily lead to more spread of the disease. The virus itself is very difficult to kill and can live on inanimate objects and surfaces for months at a time. Early vaccination and adhering to the protocol developed by the AAHA gives the most dogs the greatest chance of being protected from the virus.
*Note that Leptospirosis is not part of the core Distemper Parvo Combo vaccine recommended by the AAHA, consult your veterinarian for more information about whether your dog’s risk of exposure warrants the non-core Leptospirosis vaccination.
Included in the literature published by the AAHA are the variants of each of these ‘core’ vaccines, 1 year and 3 year vaccine protocols and how to determine which protocol is best for your pet, your geographic location and your pet’s lifestyle. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of vaccinations for your individual pet.
The AAHA ‘non-core’ vaccination that we do require is the Bordetella Bronchiseptica vaccine.
Kennel cough, scientifically known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is an airborne upper respiratory infection easily spread from dog to dog through aerosol droplets, direct contact, and/or contact with contaminated surfaces like food / water bowls and toys— a bit like how the common cold is spread in grade schools. Your dog is most likely to pick it up in an area where lots of dogs congregate, but they can also pick it up from any contaminated environment, and you can even bring it home to your dog if you spend a lot of time around dogs at work or during volunteer opportunities.
Despite kennel cough’s contagious nature, the good news is that the disease is usually very treatable. Your veterinarian may prescribe a few weeks of rest for your dog, along with cough medicine and possibly antibiotics to prevent any secondary infections from causing further complications. Keep in mind that your veterinarian may prescribe more aggressive treatment procedures if your dog is a young puppy, a senior, or an immunocompromised dog.
The Bordetella vaccine is recommended to be given to dogs that are frequently exposed to other dogs in social or boarding settings. The AAHA recommends vaccination for Bordetella on an annual basis for dog’s who have a risk of exposure.
*Note that as published in the guidelines, research has shown no benefit or value to vaccinating any more often than annually.
Why AAHA guidelines?:
What we like about the AAHA guidelines are the fact that they are evidence based protocols that evolve as the industry perfects vaccines and we learn more about the efficacy and long lasting effects of routine vaccinations. They will revise and republish their guidelines as more of that information and research comes to light. The AAHA consistently recommends that participating veterinarians approach vaccine protocols based specifically on your pet’s lifestyle and geographic location. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of vaccinations for your individual dog’s needs.
Feline Vaccinations & What You Should Know:
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) puts together a panel of feline veterinary professionals to develop their guidelines based on research and clinical data. As with the AAHA, the AAFP encourages veterinarians to approach their vaccine protocols based specifically on each individual cat’s lifestyle: indoor only vs. indoor / outdoor, etc. The AAFP recommends 2 vaccines that we require for boarding – the Rabies vaccine, and the FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus & Panleukopenia).
The most recent version of the feline vaccination protocol guidelines were published in 2013 and can be accessed on the AAFP website here.
Rabies is an untreatable virus that if contracted will certainly be fatal. Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an infected carrier; wildlife bites from potentially infected animals like raccoons, coyotes, skunks etc. can transmit the disease, as well as animal carcasses. Although the risk of exposure to your common household pet, and even to you is low, there is always a risk of exposure. Due to the fatal nature of the virus, many state and local governments mandate a Rabies vaccination for companion animals. For the safety of our staff handling your pets, we will not board an animal that does not have a current Rabies vaccination.
FVRCP is an upper respiratory infection that can cause secondary infections like eye disorders, and may cause skin diseases as well and is very contagious. Panleukopenia is a virus that causes enteritis that can be fatal especially in young kittens, the only treatment is supportive therapy. These viruses can be very hard to kill and can survive in the environment for long periods of time.
Why AAFP guidelines?:
What we like about the AAFP guidelines are the fact that they are clinical evidence based protocols that evolve as the feline medicine industry perfects vaccines and we learn more about the efficacy and long lasting effects of routine vaccinations. They will revise and republish their guidelines as more of that information and research comes to light. The AAFP recommends that veterinarians approach vaccine protocols based specifically on your cat’s individual lifestyle and geographic location. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of vaccinations for your individual cat’s needs.
All pets boarded at Winding Creek Kennels must be free of any contagious ailments and for the protection of all our guests we require proof of current vaccinations given by a licensed veterinarian.
FOR DOGS:
Required For Boarding:
Rabies - 1 or 3 year (Per your veterinarian)
DHPP - (Distemper/Parvo combination booster) - 1 or 3 year (Per your veterinarian)
*We also accept Titers blood test reports for DHPP.
Bordetella - (Canine / Kennel Cough) - required annually (Per your veterinarian)
FOR CATS:
Required For Boarding:
Rabies - 1 or 3 year (Per your veterinarian)
FVRCP - (Feline Distemper) 1 or 3 year (Per your veterinarian)
Canine Vaccinations & What You Should Know: The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an organization that exists to promote an elite standard of veterinary care in small animal medicine. In order to be accredited by the AAHA, veterinary practices have to voluntarily undergo a strict evaluation process that goes above and beyond state and local government regulations. The AAHA releases guidelines created in collaboration with distinguished members of the veterinary profession to provide guidance on various topics such as vaccination protocols, frequency of vet visits, pain management, nutrition, etc. The AAHA’s goal for these guidelines is to provide the most current, non-biased information on clinically relevant topics to benefit the entire veterinary profession, as well as educate pet owners.
The most recent version of the canine vaccination protocol guidelines were published in 2018 and can be accessed on the AAHA website here.
For dogs, the AAHA recommends 2 ‘core’ vaccines –the Rabies vaccine and the Canine Distemper-Parvo Combo vaccine (DHPP).
Rabies is an untreatable virus that if contracted will certainly be fatal. Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an infected carrier; wildlife bites from potentially infected animals like raccoons, coyotes, skunks etc. can transmit the disease, as well as animal carcasses. Although the risk of exposure to your common household pet, and even to you is low, there is always a risk of exposure. Due to the fatal nature of the virus, many state and local governments mandate a Rabies vaccination for companion animals. For the safety of our staff handling your pets, we will not board an animal that does not have a current Rabies vaccination.
Canine Distemper Parvo is a highly contagious disease that can cause both myocarditis (heart inflammation) and severe enteritis (intestinal inflammation) – which leads to intestinal complications that can only be treated with supportive care. Young puppies are most at risk for contracting the disease, but older pets are susceptible as well and it can be very deadly. There is often a delayed onset to symptoms of the disease, which can easily lead to more spread of the disease. The virus itself is very difficult to kill and can live on inanimate objects and surfaces for months at a time. Early vaccination and adhering to the protocol developed by the AAHA gives the most dogs the greatest chance of being protected from the virus.
*Note that Leptospirosis is not part of the core Distemper Parvo Combo vaccine recommended by the AAHA, consult your veterinarian for more information about whether your dog’s risk of exposure warrants the non-core Leptospirosis vaccination.
Included in the literature published by the AAHA are the variants of each of these ‘core’ vaccines, 1 year and 3 year vaccine protocols and how to determine which protocol is best for your pet, your geographic location and your pet’s lifestyle. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of vaccinations for your individual pet.
The AAHA ‘non-core’ vaccination that we do require is the Bordetella Bronchiseptica vaccine.
Kennel cough, scientifically known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is an airborne upper respiratory infection easily spread from dog to dog through aerosol droplets, direct contact, and/or contact with contaminated surfaces like food / water bowls and toys— a bit like how the common cold is spread in grade schools. Your dog is most likely to pick it up in an area where lots of dogs congregate, but they can also pick it up from any contaminated environment, and you can even bring it home to your dog if you spend a lot of time around dogs at work or during volunteer opportunities.
Despite kennel cough’s contagious nature, the good news is that the disease is usually very treatable. Your veterinarian may prescribe a few weeks of rest for your dog, along with cough medicine and possibly antibiotics to prevent any secondary infections from causing further complications. Keep in mind that your veterinarian may prescribe more aggressive treatment procedures if your dog is a young puppy, a senior, or an immunocompromised dog.
The Bordetella vaccine is recommended to be given to dogs that are frequently exposed to other dogs in social or boarding settings. The AAHA recommends vaccination for Bordetella on an annual basis for dog’s who have a risk of exposure.
*Note that as published in the guidelines, research has shown no benefit or value to vaccinating any more often than annually.
Why AAHA guidelines?:
What we like about the AAHA guidelines are the fact that they are evidence based protocols that evolve as the industry perfects vaccines and we learn more about the efficacy and long lasting effects of routine vaccinations. They will revise and republish their guidelines as more of that information and research comes to light. The AAHA consistently recommends that participating veterinarians approach vaccine protocols based specifically on your pet’s lifestyle and geographic location. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of vaccinations for your individual dog’s needs.
Feline Vaccinations & What You Should Know:
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) puts together a panel of feline veterinary professionals to develop their guidelines based on research and clinical data. As with the AAHA, the AAFP encourages veterinarians to approach their vaccine protocols based specifically on each individual cat’s lifestyle: indoor only vs. indoor / outdoor, etc. The AAFP recommends 2 vaccines that we require for boarding – the Rabies vaccine, and the FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus & Panleukopenia).
The most recent version of the feline vaccination protocol guidelines were published in 2013 and can be accessed on the AAFP website here.
Rabies is an untreatable virus that if contracted will certainly be fatal. Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an infected carrier; wildlife bites from potentially infected animals like raccoons, coyotes, skunks etc. can transmit the disease, as well as animal carcasses. Although the risk of exposure to your common household pet, and even to you is low, there is always a risk of exposure. Due to the fatal nature of the virus, many state and local governments mandate a Rabies vaccination for companion animals. For the safety of our staff handling your pets, we will not board an animal that does not have a current Rabies vaccination.
FVRCP is an upper respiratory infection that can cause secondary infections like eye disorders, and may cause skin diseases as well and is very contagious. Panleukopenia is a virus that causes enteritis that can be fatal especially in young kittens, the only treatment is supportive therapy. These viruses can be very hard to kill and can survive in the environment for long periods of time.
Why AAFP guidelines?:
What we like about the AAFP guidelines are the fact that they are clinical evidence based protocols that evolve as the feline medicine industry perfects vaccines and we learn more about the efficacy and long lasting effects of routine vaccinations. They will revise and republish their guidelines as more of that information and research comes to light. The AAFP recommends that veterinarians approach vaccine protocols based specifically on your cat’s individual lifestyle and geographic location. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of vaccinations for your individual cat’s needs.
Making the decision to add a new pet to your family is a very exciting one, but finding the perfect fit can be very daunting. Whether you are looking to adopt a rescue pet or are interested in a purebred animal, below are a few resources to check out that can help aid your search.
Rescue / Adopting:
We always suggest checking out your local animal shelter or rescues for adoptable animals first. You can find young puppies & kittens, adults, seniors, purebred animals and adorable mixes all at your local shelter. Websites like petfinder.com do a great job of listing the current pets at different shelters all in one search. There are also breed specific rescues if you are interested in a particular breed, many of these rescues can be found through a simple internet search.
Purchasing a Purebred:
When considering purchasing a puppy from a breeder it is important that you do a lot of research to be sure you are choosing to do business with the right breeder. You want to make sure that the breeder is breeding for quality, not volume. Finding out how long they have been in business, how many litters per year they typically have and how many different breeds they produce in the same operation will give you an indication of how responsibly they adhere to the cause of breeding for quality, healthy animals.
For a starting point, we suggest that you begin researching through the American Kennel Club, akc.org – each breed will have its own landing page with tons of information about the breeds origins, characteristics and important things to know. Each breed will have a national breed club and from there you can navigate to breeders in your area to help narrow your search.
If you can, try to visit any breeder you are interested in working with. You can meet their breeding stock and see their operation firsthand which will tell you a lot about the quality of puppies that they produce.
Cautions:
Be wary about anything online that seems too good to be true. Do not send deposits for puppies or kittens sight unseen, as many times these can end up being scams. Be wary of pet stores and flea markets as these animals typically come from ‘puppy mills’ and are not the robust, healthy animals that you are looking for.
Rescue / Adopting:
We always suggest checking out your local animal shelter or rescues for adoptable animals first. You can find young puppies & kittens, adults, seniors, purebred animals and adorable mixes all at your local shelter. Websites like petfinder.com do a great job of listing the current pets at different shelters all in one search. There are also breed specific rescues if you are interested in a particular breed, many of these rescues can be found through a simple internet search.
Purchasing a Purebred:
When considering purchasing a puppy from a breeder it is important that you do a lot of research to be sure you are choosing to do business with the right breeder. You want to make sure that the breeder is breeding for quality, not volume. Finding out how long they have been in business, how many litters per year they typically have and how many different breeds they produce in the same operation will give you an indication of how responsibly they adhere to the cause of breeding for quality, healthy animals.
For a starting point, we suggest that you begin researching through the American Kennel Club, akc.org – each breed will have its own landing page with tons of information about the breeds origins, characteristics and important things to know. Each breed will have a national breed club and from there you can navigate to breeders in your area to help narrow your search.
If you can, try to visit any breeder you are interested in working with. You can meet their breeding stock and see their operation firsthand which will tell you a lot about the quality of puppies that they produce.
Cautions:
Be wary about anything online that seems too good to be true. Do not send deposits for puppies or kittens sight unseen, as many times these can end up being scams. Be wary of pet stores and flea markets as these animals typically come from ‘puppy mills’ and are not the robust, healthy animals that you are looking for.
