How to Organize a Puppy Mill Pet Store Protest

According to investigations by the Humane Society of the United States and other major animal protection organizations--the overwhelming majority of pet stores (almost all) acquire their dogs from puppy mills--this is the only way for them to obtain a continuous supply of "stock" at an affordable price, since profit is their bottom line.

Puppy mills are factory-like breeding operations where dogs suffer most of their lives, if not their entire lives in stacked, overcrowded cages being bred over and over to supply pet stores with puppies and for online sales as well. They receive little to no exercise and socialization and minimal veterinary care. When these breeding dogs are no longer "useful" they are auctioned off, dumped at shelters or destroyed.

Puppy mill puppies often have a host of health problems due to the overbreeding and neglect of their parents, yet pet stores continue to sell them for large sums of money. Many people who purchase these sick dogs can't afford the medical bills and end up giving them up to shelters.

Due to the recent trend in "teacup" and hybrid breeds (made popular by certain celebrities), new pet stores have sprung up that sell puppies, further enabling puppy mills to stay in business. Unfortunately "teacup" just means a dog that was deliberately bred to be undersized and likely has health problems.

A good way to enlighten the public about the harsh realities of puppy mills and the merits of adoption from shelters and rescues is to organize a protest at a store that sells dogs. By getting people not to patronize these stores, the demand will stop and in turn puppy mills will be forced to shut down. The following are ways to make your demonstration successful.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. 

   Choose a store that sells puppies from puppy mills as the location for your demonstration. It should have good visibility from the street and parking available nearby.

2. 

   Alert your local police department. You may need to obtain permission or a special permit and be asked to provide the basic details such as date, time and location of the demonstration. Different cities have different regulations--but it is within your First Amendment rights--and it's free to assemble.

3. 

   Contact local animal welfare and rescue organizations to get their input. They can also provide you with email lists of people to invite to participate. Register with Bestfriends.org (see Resources below). It's free to join, and as a member you will have access to a state-by-state network of thousands of rescue organizations.

4. 

   Email an action alert to animal organizations and individuals who support animal causes. Also send out Facebook and MySpace bulletins. Include the details such as date, time and place. Ask people to make signs, bring poop scoopers/baggies for cleanup, and perhaps their dogs and/or dogs up for adoption.

5. 

   Place ads in local newspapers and on websites such as Craigslist, Citysearch and others that are local to your area. Put fliers up at dog parks, public parks, libraries, school bulletin boards, markets and veterinarians' offices announcing the demonstration.

6. 

   Alert the local news outlets including TV stations, radio stations and newspapers. You might want to schedule guest speakers such as animal organization spokespersons. It always helps to have local and/or national celebrity guests. Find out if your city allows the use of microphones, bullhorns and/or PA systems; many do not.

7. Bring literature, such as pamphlets to pass out, in order to educate people about puppy mills. Be prepared to share your knowledge with those who pass by and express curiosity or interest. You can download information from an animal welfare organization's website such as Best Friends "Puppies Aren't Products" campaign, Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), Last Chance for Animals (LCA) and Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

8. Check with animal welfare organizations including the volunteer coordinator at Last Chance for Animals ([e-mail]), Companion Animal Protection Society and Best Friends Animal Society; most would be happy to supply you with signs and materials for your pet store demonstration to educate the public and create change in your area.

Tips & Warnings

• It's a good idea to videotape your demonstration or at least have a cell phone with video capabilities handy in case there is any trouble from the store owners and your rights are violated.

• Signs should be easily readable to passing cars--the bigger, the better. Thick sharpies work well. Use quick and catchy sayings that get the message across such as "Don't Shop...Adopt." "Honk if You Hate Puppy Mills" is a good one because honking horns will draw attention to the demonstration, and thus rally more support.

• To ascertain that your demonstration will be completely within the law, it may be best to consult with an attorney before starting, and for your own protection, always have an attorney or two on hand to consult with.

• Following the above steps helped shut down the pet store featured in the photos.

• For more information about puppy mills and other ways to help shut them down, see Resources below.

• Don't block the entrance to the store if it remains open during your protest. Find out from your local police the legal distance you can stand from the entrance.

• Be polite and respectful of the store's customers and employees, as well as passersby, even if they voice disapproval.

• Never wander out into the street to obstruct traffic.

• If a pet store tells you they obtain their dogs from individual breeders, they are not likely telling the truth. Responsible breeders don't sell their puppies to pet shops. Most state laws require that the shop disclose of their breeders' information. If they refuse, it's an automatic red flag. If they do provide breeder information, research will likely uncover that their dogs are obtained from puppy mills (large-scale breeding facilities), often via brokers. It is always best to have investigators visit in person and produce video footage to verify. If you don't have the means to investigate the mills that supply the store you are targeting, check with animal protection organizations such as CAPS, LCA and Best Friends to see if they have produced footage or can help investigate.

Resources

• Protesting for Beginners
• Best Friends Animal Society: How to Organize a Peaceful Pet Store Protest
• LCA: Ban Puppy Mills Campaign
• How to Help Shut Down Puppy Mills
• Puppy Mill Protest
• Companion Animal Protection Society: Puppy Mill FAQ
• Humane Society of the United States: Info. on Puppy Mills
• In Defense of Animals: The Horrors of Puppy Mills
• Take the Pledge to Stop Puppy Mills
• Pet Store Protest Calendar