- Help make retail pet stores puppy-friendly. …
- Be an advocate. …
- Contact your legislators. …
- Write letters to the editor. …
- Print and post flyers. …
- Introduce our “Nose-to-Tail” program at your school. …
- Shop our online store.
Before we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, I’d like to send my condolences, love, and blessings to the 1 million dog mothers who suffer in puppy mills throughout the country.
In an effort to raise awareness of this issue, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) established its annual Puppy Mill Action Week a few years ago. Despite the fact that the sale of dogs and cats from commercial breeders in retail establishments has been outlawed in dozens of cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Phoenix, we still have a very long way to go. Just take a look at the HSUS’s list of the 100 most abhorrent breeders each year. These businesses continue to operate, despite documented inhumane conditions. And people continue to purchase purebred kittens and puppies from pet shops.
Clearly, more progress must be made. Don’t give up though; I firmly believe that by working together, we can put an end to puppy mills once and for all. Here are seven things you can do right now to make puppy mills less profitable:
1. Only adopt puppies at least eight weeks old. Puppies should ideally spend the first two months of their lives with their mother and other members of the litter in order to learn positive interactions and reduce potential behavioral issues like barking and possessiveness. Puppies from puppy mills are taken from their mothers as early as four weeks old and subjected to difficult shipping conditions over great distances. A puppy that is being sold when it is far too young is a sign that the animal was raised in a puppy mill.
2. Sign the pledge. Here’s a quick way to make a difference right now: promise to never buy animals from puppy mills by signing this HSUS pledge. (They are typically offered for sale at pet stores, flea markets, and online ).
3. Spread the word on social media. You can instruct and uplift by tweeting articles (like this one) on Twitter and using Facebook to post an informative status update during Puppy Mill Action Week to raise awareness of the plight of puppy mill dogs.
4. Report a puppy mill in your area. Although there are puppy mills everywhere, some of the states with the highest concentrations are Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska. You can contact the HSUS here to express your worries if you believe there is one nearby.
5. Educate family and friends. How many people still don’t comprehend the realities of the puppy mill industry astounds me. The time is right this week to inform family and friends Remind them to always adopt from a shelter and share the fantastic website Petfinder with them. Encourage them to watch docs about puppy mills, such as this one: Dog by Dog.
To take it a step further, keep track of local legislation and contact your state representatives and senators via phone or email to voice your concerns.
6. Hold a peaceful rally. Ask the manager if your neighborhood pet shop sells puppies from puppy mills and urge him to stop the practice. You can always organize a calm demonstration to inform others in the neighborhood if he declines.
One last thing: Let’s not overlook the equally serious issue of kitten mills. One Green Planet claims that over 90% of cats in pet stores are from kitten mills. Fortunately, many of the recommendations above also apply to kitten mill cats.
Join us and take a stand against puppy mills. For dogs, life in these “factory farms” is absolutely miserable.
One final word: Let’s not forget about kitten mills, which are just as serious a problem. Over 90 percent of cats in pet stores come from kitten mills, according to One Green Planet. Luckily, many of the tips above apply to kitten mill cats as well.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has worked hard to draw attention to this problem; a few years ago, the organization designated the first week of May as its annual Puppy Mill Action Week. Though we are making progress—dozens of cities nationwide, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Phoenix, have banned the sale of dogs and cats from commercial breeders in retail outlets—we still have a long, long way to go. Just take a look at the HSUS’s annual list of the Horrible Hundred breeders. These businesses continue to operate, despite documented inhumane conditions. And people still buy purebred puppies and kittens in pet stores.
To take it a step further, keep track of local legislation and contact your state representatives and senators via phone or email to voice your concerns.
5. Educate family and friends. It’s astonishing to me how many people still don’t understand the realities of the puppy mill industry. This week is a perfect time to educate family and friends. Encourage them to always adopt from a shelter, and tell them about the wonderful website Petfinder. Suggest they watch documentaries about puppy mills, like this one: Dog by Dog.
2. Sign the pledge. Here’s an easy way to take action today: Sign this HSUS pledge that you will never purchase animals from puppy mills. (They are usually sold at pet stores, flea markets and over the internet.)
A brief note to our readers
We know this topic is distressing. It is difficult to imagine the unfathomable suffering that dogs in puppy mills endure. We understand that concentrating on this isn’t pleasant.
However, we hope that the information in this article can be used to educate a larger audience about the abhorrent methods used by puppy mills. All of us who care about animal welfare must spread the word about this issue and make every effort to promote change.
FAQ
Why should puppy mills be stopped?
The puppies from puppy mills frequently experience a variety of health issues as a result of poor hygiene, overbreeding, and a lack of preventive veterinary care, posing heartbreaking difficulties for families who should be relishing the joys of adopting a new family member.
How can we stop dog breeding?
- Adopt your next pet. …
- Don’t buy a puppy online or from a pet store.
- Action must be taken against pet shops that sell puppies from puppy mills.
- Support legislation that regulates and reduces breeding of animals. …
- Become an expert on the subject. …
- Build a local team to fight puppy mills.
How are puppy mills regulated?
Create and advocate for humane pet sales legislation across the nation to help close puppy mills. Educate people about puppy mills. Promote adoption rather than purchase of pets. Encourage pet shops to sell adoptable animals rather than pets that were produced in factories.
How can we stop puppy mills in Canada?
prohibiting commercial third-party sales in Canada and advising people to adopt animals from rescue organizations or licensed breeders instead of purchasing directly from them Ban the commercial importation of puppies into Canada. bolster CFIA resources to enforce current laws and confiscate animals brought in under subpar welfare conditions