It may be a state to state thing. A lot of states passed pet lemon laws that said that a store had to reimburse the buyer if the puppy was ill or died after purchase, or if the puppy had a genetic problem. A lot of pet stores decided it wasn't worth the trouble and quit carrying puppies and kittens.
There was also a lot of bad press about puppy mills that started appearing in the late 80s and early 90s. The puppy mills are horrible. The parents might be AKC registered, but that really doesn't mean anything. The bitches were kept in wire cages with no solid floors where they could barely move, bred as soon as possible, the puppies taken away while still too young, and often inbred over several generations. After a few generations, the puppies were dying regularly within the first six weeks to six months.
There was also a lot of bad press about puppy mills that started appearing in the late 80s and early 90s. The puppy mills are horrible. The parents might be AKC registered, but that really doesn't mean anything. The bitches were kept in wire cages with no solid floors where they could barely move, bred as soon as possible, the puppies taken away while still too young, and often inbred over several generations. After a few generations, the puppies were dying regularly within the first six weeks to six months.
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