Pledge to Put Cruel Puppy Mills Out Of Business

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We’ve all heard of puppy mills — those large-scale, commercial operations that breed puppies for profit. The promise of high returns provides incentive to minimize overhead costs and maximize profit, and the dogs pay the price¹. Millions of cats and dogs, meanwhile, inhabit shelters where volunteers and charities struggle to provide even basic needs².

Despite the limited protection provided by state and federal regulations, such as the Animal Welfare Act, less-than-ethical entrepreneurs exploit loopholes to sell directly to consumers, often using the internet as a conduit³.

Only large-scale commercial facilities that supply pet stores or sell puppies wholesale are required to be licensed and inspected by the USDA. Those that sell directly to the public face-to-face are not required to adhere to the Animal Welfare Act or to any federal humane care standards. And there are now tens of thousands of these facilities, breeding animals for profit with little to no care for the health or wellbeing of the animals.

Inspection records obtained by the Humane Society of the US show that many USDA-licensed breeders have multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act on their records, but their licenses are rarely suspended. Breeders with some of the longest histories of violations for basic care conditions are allowed to renew their licenses⁴.

While advocates continue to push for tougher legislation, consumers unknowingly purchase mill-bred puppies, perpetuating the cycle⁵. Rather than relying on a lethargic legislative process, consumers can intervene directly by making responsible and informed decisions when searching for that new addition to the family.

Sign the pledge and put puppy mills out of business once and for all.