Puppy mills are commercial mass dog-breeding facilities that put profit above
the welfare of dogs. Most puppy mill dogs are housed in shockingly poor
conditions, especially the ones kept in cages to be bred over and over for
years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever joining a
family. After they're no longer profitable, these dogs are simply discarded. And
hundreds of thousands of puppies are born every year, adding to the pet
overpopulation that fills our nation's animal shelters.
Puppy mills sell their "products" to unsuspecting consumers in pet stores,
over the Internet, and through newspaper classified advertisements. Many of the
puppies have serious behavioral and health problems that might not be apparent
for months—problems that can cost thousands of dollars to treat, if treatable at
all.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) licenses and inspects puppy mills
for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, and some states have laws to protect
the animals. But puppy mills can get around USDA licensing requirements by
selling directly to consumers, and many simply rely on the limited reach of the
law—with so few inspectors and only minor fines in place, it's often easy for
puppy mills to stay in business.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has investigated puppy mills
for decades, exposing the realities of the industry. We've lobbied for the
current laws—and for more money to enforce them. And we continue our support for
a bill now before Congress that would crack down on chronic violators and raise
minimal standards for the facilities. We've also educated millions of consumers
on the issue, most recently through our new Stop Puppy Mills campaign.
We've worked shoulder to shoulder with other organizations and law
enforcement officials, as well, to shut down puppy mills. Last year we
investigated a facility in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County and joined with local
officials in executing a search warrant for the property. And this summer our
Spay-Neuter Clinic and Animal Wellness Center in Dallas provided spaying and
neutering surgery and vaccinations for more than 120 dogs seized during a raid
at a suspected puppy mill in Texas. And our Northern Rockies Regional Office
joined the Judith Basin County Sheriff's Office and state Disaster and Emergency
Services personnel in a multisite raid in Montana and organized a team to assess
the 116 seized dogs.
In spite of this progress, our work is far from over—thousands of puppy mills
are still in operation, and we need your help to stop them. Visit our Stop Puppy
Mills campaign website at www.StopPuppyMills.com to find out
what you can do. You'll also be able to order our bumper sticker and How to Buy
a Puppy flier so you can help us spread the word. After all, our best friends
deserve better.
Reprinted by permission of The Humane Society of the United States
