Legal experts define a puppy mill as a for-profit operation where owners and operators are focused on producing as many puppies as possible to sell to pet stores and private puppy buyers. To maximize profits, puppy mill owners keep female dogs pregnant and nursing their whole lives or until they are unable to produce more puppies. Once their puppies are born, they also tend to keep their dogs caged and provide only minimal food, exercise, and grooming. This treatment may lead to puppies who are malnourished, denied routine veterinary care, and are poorly socialized. These puppies can grow into dogs with long-term health problems and usually a poorer quality of life.