Q&AZ: Are there regulations for backyard dog breeders in Arizona?

Through KJZZ's Q&AZ reporting project, a listener asked: Does Arizona have any regulations for "puppy mills" or backyard breeders of dogs?

Kelsey Dickerson with the Arizona Humane Society said there are no regulations in Arizona for backyard breeding, a dangerous practice involving non-licensed breeders.

“These are basically people who are trying to make a profit by breeding animals and selling them around for a profit,” Dickerson said. “And a lot of times they are not in good condition, a lot of times they can be scams.”

Possible problems can include inbreeding and being held in unsafe conditions, causing the animals to have health issues, according to Dickerson.

However, she said, what’s important is that people look for the warning signs to avoid them.

“If you see a listing on Craigslist, if you see a Facebook advertisement trying to claim that they have purebred puppies or purebred whatever, that's your first sign that it’s going to be a scam or these are not well-bred pets,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson said the only form of regulation is through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which requires a license if an individual has four or more breeding females.

People can also contact their local law enforcement agency or the Arizona Humane Society if they see evidence of animal cruelty.

Dickerson said that it’s important for people to remember to “adopt, not shop,” especially with the upcoming holiday season.