How to Help Shut Down Puppy Mills

Puppy mills are factory-like breeding operations where dogs suffer much of their lives in cramped cages supplying puppies. Irresponsible breeding coupled with minimal veterinary care and neglect often leads to a host of health problems and genetic disorders in their offspring.

Thousands of puppy mills exist in the United States and the dogs they produce are sold via the Internet, newspaper ads, at the facility itself or 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.

In 2006, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell took large measures to crack down on puppy mills in his state and met with a lot of success. However, there are still many more to go. The puppy business is booming, especially thanks to the popularity of "teacup" breeds.

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

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

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.
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.

Tips & Warnings

• File a breeder complaint form if your new puppy has a medical condition or disease.
• Petfinder.com lists thousands of adult dogs and puppies that are up for adoption at shelters and rescues throughout North America.
• For more information and to help shut down puppy mills, see Resources below.
• If a pet shop tells you they obtain their dogs from individual breeders they are not likely telling the truth. No responsible breeder would sell to a pet store. Don’t be misled by claims they are not from puppy mills. Insist on seeing breed registry papers or the interstate health certificate for each puppy which includes the breeder's and/or wholesaler's name and address.
• 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 CKC (Canadian Kennel Club or Continental Kennel Club) registered instead. By the same token, AKC papers are not an automatic health guarantee or a guarantee that the puppy is not from a mill.