Puppy Mills

Despite heightened public awareness, puppy mills continue to plague communities across the nation. The Animal Legal Defense is working across the country to combat puppy mills from multiple legal channels.

The term “puppy mill” generally refers to a large-scale commercial dog-breeding facility where the emphasis is on profits over the welfare of the dogs. The goal of puppy mills is to produce the largest number of puppies as quickly as possible, without consideration of genetic quality or the care of the animals.

The dogs are generally kept in crowded, unsanitary conditions. They often lack good food, clean water, and veterinary care. The mother “breeder” dogs may give birth to multiple litters per year throughout her adult life. They, and aging father dogs, will regularly be abandoned or killed when they are no longer “useful” to their breeders.

Puppy

As a result of the breeding practices of puppy mills, it is common for puppy mill dogs to suffer from genetic and hereditary conditions, and deadly diseases. Additionally, many puppy mill dogs experience behavioral and psychological problems throughout their lives from lack of early socialization and being weaned too young.

Tell Craigslist to Ban All Animal Ads

While Craigslist officially bans companion animal sales, they continue on the site under the guise of “rehoming.” Meanwhile, sales of animals not typically classified as companions — like pigs and chickens — are permitted, putting these animals in danger.

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What is a "retail pet sale ban"?

These laws make it illegal for pet stores to sell dogs and cats (and sometimes additional animals like rabbits) sourced from large-scale commercial breeders, and instead require them to offer animals available for adoption from animal shelters and rescue groups.

More than 300 cities and counties, as well as two states—California and Maryland—have passed such laws since 2011.

Want to take the next step in your animal advocacy? Learn the skills you need to pass laws protecting animals at the local level! Local laws are critical – not only do they help individual animals in your community but they prime the pump for passing similar laws at higher levels of government.

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Mother dogs in puppy mills spend their entire lives in cramped cages made with painful metal wirestrand flooring, often stacked atop one another.

The vast majority of pet stores source their puppies from puppy mills across the United States.

Dogs in puppy mills live in crowded, unsanitary conditions and rarely receive even basic veterinary care.

A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog-breeding facility where profits are valued more than the well-being of the dogs.

Puppies born into puppy mills are raised and transported in filthy conditions, deprived of social contact, and frequently shipped at younger ages than permitted by animal protection laws.

Federal Trade Commission urged to protect consumers from deceptive pet leasing industry

The vast majority of pet stores source their puppies from puppy mills across the United States.

Pet stores routinely advertise puppies as sourced from “USDA-licensed” breeders but this license only means the breeder provides the bare minimum of care to keep its dogs alive.

No More Puppy Mills

Puppy mill operators maximize their profits by producing large numbers of puppies as quickly as possible. As a result, unsanitary conditions, disease, and neglect are rampant. Sign our pledge to boycott puppy mills. Together we can end cruel puppy mills.

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