My Dog is Presented With Major Health Issues After Being Inbred from an Amish Puppy Mill

July 4, 2024

I’m writing this in case anyone ever finds themselves in a similar situation or finds themselves wanting to buy a dog from a puppy mill. First, I want to say that I love my dog deeply. Out of all my dogs, this one is lowkey my favorite. He has a one-of-a-kind personality and I will never find another dog like him. We’ve always noticed something a little off about him and assumed it could be puppy autism. He has the sweetest soul, and I would never regret bringing him into my life. 

I bought my golden retriever puppy several years ago, and now he has Chylothorax. I thought my dog was healthy until I was working overseas, and got a call that he was dying and couldn’t breathe because there was so much fluid in his chest. There was so much fluid that it pushed all of his organs to one side of his body. I had to tell him goodbye over a FaceTime while he was in an oxygen tank in the event he did not make it before I got home. I immediately booked a flight and was back the next morning. The vets removed 3.5 liters of fluid from him. After reviewing the X-Rays and seeing what looked like a mass, they were sure that it was cancer, but to be sure we had to go through extensive testing. We got a CT scan and it ended up inconclusive so we got a biopsy and that was also inconclusive. We still could not figure out what was causing the buildup of Chyle fluid. He went through multiple tests and surgeries throughout the month. During the major surgery, they found a tissue fusion caused by "past trauma." Thankfully, it wasn’t cancer, but the vets asked where I got him from, hinting that this might be related. They asked if I got him anywhere that was near a lake or if I unknown if he had come from a puppy mill. I realized both were true.

Thinking back, I was young, broke, and just wanted another golden retriever. I found my dog on Greenfield Puppies and I drove to a farm in Fredericksburg, OH, and saw 4-5 adult golden retrievers in a fenced yard. Norman Miller, his wife Barbara Miller, and their kids greeted me and I signed the papers and took my dog home. On the way home, I noticed his bulging stomach. I think of this now because he has a bulging stomach because of his Chylothorax that he could have had the entire time. He ended up having worms when I got him as well even though they guaranteed he didn’t. He was also terrified of going through doors and still is, likely from being abused and shoved into a crate while having the door slammed in his face or on his neck. 

Recently, I researched their farms and discovered they run extensive puppy mills in towns like Millersburg and Fredricksburg, Ohio. Along with Ohio, they are also located in Iowa and Pennsylvania. The Millers and Yoders dominate these areas with their operations. Norman alone has around 22 addresses. Lancaster puppies is similar to Greenfield Puppies and both are filled with puppy mills. Most of the same breeders are on both websites and mostly all are puppy mills. Another interesting fact that I found was that the same family that sells the puppies owns the “vet” that signs off on all of their shots and vet visits. The cute pictures with the puppies in front of flowers is all a front. They attempted to inspect them and found a way around this to only get inspected once per year. They run several websites and farms, making it look legitimate, but it’s all a scam and I was too dumb to realize it.

They knowingly sell puppies with health problems at low costs. Unsold puppies with more issues are either killed or sent to pet stores like PetLand. They overbreed the mothers until they can't have more pups and then drown them in the lakes. Puppies are separated early so the mothers can be bred again. They also inbreed, causing serious health issues, and are churning out thousands of dogs with these problems. 

Get your dog from a reputable breeder. While I don't regret rescuing my dog, and I love him dearly, I regret supporting a puppy mill. I believe I saved him from a dire situation, but it's essential to raise awareness and stop supporting these cruel operations.

Below are links to Norman Miller’s profiles on various puppy-selling websites:

- [Greenfield Puppies](https://www.greenfieldpuppies.com/dog-breeders/norman-miller/)

- [Lancaster Puppies](https://www.lancasterpuppies.com/sellers/norman-miller)

- [Buckeye Puppies](https://www.buckeyepuppies.com/sellers/norman-miller-3452?admin_single_breed=true)

Below are links to Norman Miller’s failed USDA inspection and high breeder listing:

- [Feds Find Negelcted Dogs at Iowa’s Puppy Mill; PETA seeks criminal Probe(

- [CAPS Inspection Report](https://www.caps-web.org/d-g-pups/)

- [Ohio Department of Agriculture](https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/animal-health/resources/cdb-list-hvdb)

The following report highlights the disturbing realities of puppy mills, including those run by the Millers and Yoders:

- [Horrible Hundred Report by the Humane Society](https://www.humanesociety.org/news/horrible-hundred-report-exposes-disturbing-realities-puppy-mills-including-do-it-yourself)

Please consider this information carefully and make informed decisions when bringing a new pet into your home.