I want to make it clear that I do not support the shaming of breeders who want to make money breeding.
Responsible breeders are ALLOWED to make money.
It's legal.
It's ethical.
If anything, I'd argue that responsible breeding requires a program that is financially strong to withstand the unexpected costs we can find ourselves with, withstand the ups and downs of markets, and so we can make the best possible choices for our dogs and puppies.
If someone has the funds and wants to breed for pleasure or altruism, there's nothing wrong with that either. However, I do not support the statement or even intimation that this choice is either morally superior or inferior to a profit-based program, and I hope others start pushing back agains this as well.
Puppy mills are VERY lucrative.
If we don't want puppy mills, then we need to outcompete them. While there are assorted regulations that vary by location, the main driver of our business—of any business—is still market forces.
By denying the use or acknowledgement of market forces, we are giving an upper hand to puppy mills and BYBs. We are also allowing ourselves to be divided by this, which only plays into the hands of the extremists on both sides—the puppy mills and the types who don't think breeders or even pets should exist.
Puppy mills and commercial breeding
I want to clarify that while puppy mills may be commercial enterprises, not all commercial breeders are puppy mills. In fact, some of the best breeders I know happen to be large-scale commercial breeders.
If anything, many puppy mills are skilled at making it look on social media and the web that they are loving, home-based breeders.
Do not assume a commercial breeder is a puppy mill.
Commercial breeders often have the income to provide a lot of extra services and opportunities for their dogs and puppies. They are not the evil in this business and should NOT be conflated with puppy mills.