How to Help Shut Down Puppy Mills

Puppy mills are factory-like breeding operations where dogs suffer most or all of their lives in overcrowded cages supplying puppies for profit. Irresponsible breeding coupled with minimal veterinary care and neglect often lead to a host of health problems and genetic disorders in their offspring.

Thousands of puppy mills exist in the United States, as well as overseas, and the dogs they produce are sold via the Internet, newspaper ads and to brokers and pet stores across the country. The overwhelming majority of pet stores (just about all) obtain their puppies from puppy mills or puppy mill brokers; this is the only way for them to have a constant supply of "stock."

In 2008, the Governor of Pennsylvania signed into law a bill that puts stricter standards on commercial kennels that will hopefully put an end to the state's reputation as the "Puppy Mill Capital of the East." However, there's still a long way to go. The pet store business is booming, especially thanks to the popularity of "teacup" breeds, which are actually just undersized and often unhealthy "runts" that were made popular by celebrities like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton who carry them around in their purses.

The following are ways to do your part to help shut down puppy mills for good.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. If you are considering getting a puppy, adopt from a shelter or rescue or purchase one from an ethical breeder that you visit in person, rather than buy from a pet shop, newspaper ad or over the Internet. Urge people you know to do the same. When the demand stops, the puppy mills will be forced to shut down.

2. Educate people about the horrors of puppy mills and the merits of adoption. Let them know that by adopting from a shelter or rescue, not only will they be saving a lot of money; they will be saving a life. Also inform them that rescues and shelters screen for health issues, and if it's a purebred dog they want, about one third of shelter dogs are purebred or there are breed specific rescues for any breed of dog. If it's a "teacup" breed at a pet shop that they have their heart set on, let them know that these dogs are deliberately bred to be undersized and will likely have health issues and genetic disorders.

3. Notify a website official or contact a newspaper/magazine that runs ads for pet stores that sell dogs or ads you suspect are from puppy mills or puppy mill brokers. Explain to them about how puppy mills mistreat animals and contribute to pet overpopulation. You might also write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the pet stores or puppy mills in your community. A short, polite letter is most effective.

4. 

   The Humane Society of the United States suggests you encourage state and federal officials to stop the exportation of sick and traumatized dogs. In addition to passing new laws, legislators can demand that existing laws be enforced. The HSUS also suggests you contact your congress member and your two U.S. Senators, asking them to urge the USDA to strictly enforce the Animal Welfare Act and to support increased funding for animal care and inspection of puppy mills. You can find contact information for these officials through your state’s website.

5. Ask local pet stores to stop selling animals from puppy mills and instead have adoptable pets from shelters and rescues, but do it in a nice way. You might also put together a petition and gather as many local signatures as possible to present to them. If they know there is enough upset in the community, they may have a change of heart; you never know. There are some pet stores that have refused to stop selling dogs, but have at least agreed to also have shelter dogs available for adoption, so it never hurts to ask. If you don't feel comfortable approaching a pet store owner, suggest the idea to the head of your local humane society or shelter.

6. Participate in a demonstration in front of a pet store that sells puppies or organize one yourself. See Resources below for links to articles on how to organize a protest.

7. Join the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS). Caps is a national nonprofit organization that helps dogs suffering in pet shops and puppy mills. Membership is only $20 a year. As a member you will be helping the cause, as well as stay updated on the latest news and various ways to stay involved.

8. Spay or neuter your dog to prevent theft. Dogs that make good breeding stock are sometimes stolen and sold directly to puppy mills or auctioned off to puppy mill owners or brokers. A dog that can't be bred is of no use to a puppy mill. Aside from the simple fact that spaying/neutering will help control pet overpopulation and the needless destroying of animals.

Tips & Warnings

• File a breeder complaint form if your new puppy has a medical condition or disease.
• Petfinder.com and Adopt a Pet.com list thousands of adult dogs and puppies that are up for adoption at shelters and rescues throughout North America (see Resources below). All you need to do is put in your zip code to find dogs in your area. You can search by breed, age and gender.
• For additional information on how to help shut down puppy mills, see Resources below.
• Never buy a dog or cat from a pet shop or online. Aside from all of the homeless pets that are waiting to be adopted from shelters, just about all stores and online sites that sell dogs get them from puppy mills. When the pet store or online seller tells you they get their puppies from "individual breeders,” they are not likely telling the truth. If the pet store is in California, for instance, and they say they get their puppies from "private breeders in the Midwest," that's a huge red flag (there are a lot of puppy mills in the Midwest). Reputable breeders never sell to pet stores or online brokers and certainly don't ship their dogs out of state.
• If a puppy does not have AKC papers, it's an automatic red flag. The American Kennel Club puts limitations on how often a dog can be bred, as well as other restrictions. Since pet stores and brokers normally purchase from puppy mills or irresponsible "backyard" breeders, their puppies are usually not AKC registered and are very often registered with another club such as CKC (Canadian Kennel Club or Continental Kennel Club) or the store will tell you they are "AKC eligible." (By the same token, AKC papers are not an automatic health guarantee or a guarantee that the puppy is not from a mill—AKC papers are also sold to puppy mills (selling papers is how they make their money).
• USDA means nothing—there are hundreds of puppy mills that are USDA inspected, yet are still puppy mills!

Resources

• Humane Society of the United States: About Puppy Mills
• CAPS: Puppy Mill FAQ
• Best Friends Animal Society: About Puppy Mills
• LCA: Ban Puppy Mills
• Library of Puppy Mill Resources
• IDA: The Horrors of Puppy Mills
• Puppy Mill Protest
• How to Organize a Puppy Mill Pet Store Protest
• Protesting for Beginners
• Take the Pledge to Stop Puppy Mills
• Pet Store Protest Calendar
• Petfinder.com
• Adopt a Pet.com

[susieq450]

on 9/5/2009 This infuriates me!!! I wish there were a way to crack down on all of these. I see this stuff on TV and it does break my heart as well. I am a huge animal lover and my heart goes out to all those poor helpless animals.

[bambikat]

on 5/29/2008 my name is kathy L and live in Ct. I am an animal lover and believe what they are doing to these poor helpless animals is wrong.They are gods creatures and not put on this earth to be harmed and suffer,think of your own children,treat them the way you want to be treated.they should be loved and taken of the way you would your own children.Help save them please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ceile]

on 12/4/2007 This is all such good advice! I wish everyone would pay attention and do this! I've seen some sorrowful puppy mill animals, and it breaks my heart.