Animal Cruelty Awareness

The Humane Society of the United States defines puppy mills as breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers. Puppies from puppy mills are often sold to the public directly through the Internet, newspaper ads, or from the mill itself. Many of the problems that exist inside many of the puppy mills include: overbreeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor quality of food and shelter, lack of human socialization, overcrowded cages and the killing of unwanted animals. Many of the dogs at puppy mills spend their entire lives in a small-wired cage. The reason puppy mills are a big problem today is because unsuspecting customers go to pet stores and buy puppies not knowing that they might have come from a puppy mill. The Humane Society of the United States had an eighth month long investigation of Petland Inc., the country's largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores. The results of the investigation showed that many Petland stores across the country supported puppy mills while telling customers that the pets came from loving and caring private owners. The Humane Society of the United States and other organizations are trying to convince people to stop buying puppies from pet stores that support puppy mills. Many people think that buying a puppy mill puppy will save them, but the Humane Society urges people not to because the money will go directly to the puppy mills and just make room for another puppy inside that mill. The USDA is supposed to monitor and inspect kennels to ensure that they are not violating the housing standards of the Animal Welfare Act, but kennel inspections are a low priority. Most organizations against puppy mills agree that the best way to purchase a companion is to adopt one from an animal shelter or a rescue group. Hopefully in the near future people can see how terrible these puppy mills are and will start to take initiative to stop them. The following YouTube video is of a puppy mill raid in Tennessee where hundreds of dogs are rescued by the HSUS.




"Puppy Mills." The Humane Society of the United States. Nov 26, 2007. http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/get_the_facts_on_puppy_mills/. 22 Apr 2009

"Petland Linked to Puppy Mills." Human Society of the United States. November 20, 2008 . 22 Apr 2009 .

"Puppy Mills: Dogs Abused for the Pet Trade." PETA Media Center. PETA. 22 Apr 2009 .