Most are registered with the American Kennel Club, but that doesn't mean much anymore. The AKC is in control. They know which litters are puppy mill dogs. If they weren't greedy, they could limit the number of registered dogs to two litters of any breed per year. It would drastically cut down the number of euthanized dogs.
Responsible breeders pick the top dog to show and usually spay and neuter the rest of the litter.
Business-oriented breed operators are not required to obtain clearances for diseases common to specific breeds of dogs or retain a pedigree. Some puppy mills euthanize dogs that don't sell or have medical problems. Others abandon or dump them off at shelters, Payne said. Some dogs are turned in by owners who move, or by those who cannot handle puppyhood. If people can't train their dogs by their teenage months, they get rid of them.