Puppy Mills and the Inhumane Treatment of Dogs

WHAT ARE THEY? Puppy mills are large kennel operations operated by people who prioritize profit over the physical and emotional well being of the dogs who live there. are large dog breeding operation. Just as factory farming exists for pigs, chickens, turkeys, and cows, puppy mils are factory farming of puppies. a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation that prioritizes profit and mass production of puppies over the health, welfare, and proper care of the animals involved. These facilities are characterized by substandard and often inhumane conditions, where dogs are typically kept in overcrowded, unsanitary cages with little to no access to adequate food, water, veterinary care, socialization, or environmental enrichment.

Humane Care for Dogs: What They Need to be Happy and Healthy

Doing Things They Love

Human Attention/Affection

Veterinary Care

WHERE ARE THEY? There are approximately 10,000 puppy mills scattered across the United States. Missouri has the largest concentration.

Fresh Food and Clean Water

Shelter and Comfortable Bedding

THINGS YOU CAN DO: Never purchase a puppy from a pet store. No matter what pet store employees tell you, 99% of the pups they sell come from puppy mills.

  1. Never purchase a puppy online without touring the kennel in person and meeting the pup’s mother and littermates.

  2. Visit your local shelter. A surprising number of purebred dogs wind up there.

  3. Contact local breed-specific rescue organizations.

  4. If you decide to purchase a puppy from a breeder please take the time to read my article titled “A Dozen Simple Ways To Be Certain You Are Working With a Responsible Breeder” (http://speakingforspot.com/blog/?p=749).

  5. If you live in a state that sanctions dog auctions (Ohio, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri) write your legislators and appeal to them to stop this madness. And if there are efforts within your state to create legislation banning dog auctions, please pitch in. This might involve organizing rallies, writing letters, and gathering signatures of support.

  6. If you don’t reside in a state that sanctions dog auctions, write letters to the governors and legislators of the eight states that do. Let them know you will no longer support their state in terms of travel and commerce until their dog auctions cease to exist.

  7. Let your veterinarian know how you feel about dog auctions and puppy mills, and encourage him or her to take a public stance against them. Goodness knows, they see first hand the horrific health issues and accompanying heartbreak produced by puppy mills.

  8. If you are a teacher, educate your students about puppy mills and dog auctions. Teach them about responsible ways to adopt a dog. I firmly believe that educating children about these issues is the key success.
    6. Please share this blog with anyone and everyone you know who loves a dog, and encourage them to take action.

Running and Playing

WHAT IT’S LIKE FOR THE DOGS: Breeding dogs spend their lives inside a cage or small enclosure, often without adequate nutrition, access to clean water, and shelter from extreme weather. The cages are often too small for the dogs to spread out and have wire floors that damage the dogs’ feet. No toys or blankets are provided and adequate veterinary care is often lacking.