Lackey`s experience is that puppies rescued from factory dogs, locked in a cage outside for six or seven years with little protection from the elements, still manage to seek people`s affection. Unfortunately, unsold males are often “killed or left for dead,” as are mothers who give birth repeatedly until their bodies are worn out, according to a fact sheet from Humane Society International detailing the characteristics of puppy mills. Efforts to pass laws to protect dog welfare in breeding facilities are popular, but companies and industrial agriculture stakeholders have clashed. Agribusiness lobbyists have reacted to proposed advances in animal welfare in pet farming as a direct threat to the way meat is produced for human consumption. One of the reasons puppy mills remain legal is the inferior status of nonhuman animals throughout American society and the power wielded by those who exploit them. Since most puppy mills are not illegal, we need the public`s help to stop consumer demand for their “product.” You can help HSUS stop puppy mills by getting your next dog from a shelter, rescue group, or humane and responsible breeder that you`ve carefully examined personally. Yes, puppy mills still exist — about 10,000 in the U.S., producing about 2 million puppies a year. The Humane Society of the United States has released an annual report on a sample of 100 known puppy mills since 2013. Bailing Out Benji researchers have identified a national model of states where USDA-approved pet breeders are concentrated, called Puppy Mill Belt.

The Puppy Mill Belt stretches north of Texas through much of the Midwestern United States and ends with a pot and pan from Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Supporting puppy friendly businesses is another way to change trends in your area. The Humane Society of the United States` website provides marketing support to companies that commit to stop selling puppy mills and instead hold events or adopt rescue animals. Still, an effective puppy lemon law can at least provide recourse for unsuspecting families who buy sick puppies and provide a financial incentive for pet sellers to provide better conditions and veterinary care for the dogs and puppies in their care. We are also working to influence demand with a consumer education and awareness program that encourages the adoption or purchase of dogs only from responsible breeders. Our public relations efforts provide positive reinforcement to pet stores that choose not to sell puppies. We also offer assistance to those who sell puppies and help them transition to a business model that encourages adoption. By offering puppies from shelters or rescue services instead of commercial breeders, stores can save the lives of animals looking for a home and ultimately help save breeding dogs captured in puppy mills.

So far, the 22 stores we`ve converted have adopted over 3,000 dogs and puppies. Animal shelters that have been able to intervene on behalf of animals can suddenly face a large number of animals that need immediate veterinary care. In addition, the shelter may be responsible for housing the dogs during an often lengthy legal process. The cost of veterinary care, basic nutrition and shelter can reach tens of thousands of dollars in a matter of weeks if only 50 dogs are seized in an improperly managed facility. The problem with puppy mills is that they are a reliable source of income for dog breeders in an industry that is very poorly regulated and can also be very profitable. With an initial investment of a few hundred dollars “for a few breeding pairs, you could sell puppies for a thousand dollars or more each,” bringing in “tens of thousands of dollars in a few years,” Sarah Speed of the Humane Society of Pennsylvania said in the documentary “Dog by Dog.” A leisurely walk down the street, blindfolded through the window of a pet store. The person who minds his own business is obliged to buy this adorable puppy. Most of the time, they do not think about the origin of the puppy. Or they`re fooled if they think it`s coming from a loving farm, where all the dogs frolic happily on a grassy hill. The truth is too ugly to think about. You don`t want to think about the parents of that sweet, helpless puppy locked somewhere in a crate that produces adorable babies. Since puppies from puppy mills are more likely to have health problems due to poor care, many consumers face large vet bills or even the death of their puppy shortly after purchase.

Involved. There are hundreds of rescue groups that take in puppies and factory dogs. Mostly volunteers, they work tirelessly to train, rehabilitate and socialize dogs who have never known human kindness. Most of these dogs have never felt the grass under their paws, a warm bed to cuddle or just breathe fresh air. Puppy mills are commercial breeding establishments that produce dogs (and cats in cat factories) for sale in pet stores or directly to consumers via classified ads or the Internet. About 90% of puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills. Many retailers who buy animals from such establishments take the wholesaler`s word that the animals are happy and healthy without seeing for themselves. Puppy mills maximize their profits by minimizing costs, to the detriment of the animals that raise them. Unfortunately, some purebred dog registries and kennel clubs (which often receive puppy mill registration fees) have lobbied hard against these changes — and they`ve even recruited other animal industry groups to help them. Scare tactics are being used by those who profit most from a lack of regulation in the pet industry to scare off smallholder farmers into mistakenly thinking that the proposed laws will apply to them. This strategy has led some small breeders and local kennel clubs to reject bills that would only affect the worst and largest puppy mills. Puppy mills are a legal business practice.

As long as the dog`s basic needs such as food, water and shelter are met, he can continue his life as the owner of the “kennel” sees fit. There is nothing the government will do as long as the company complies with standard regulations. Animal welfare inspectors investigate the country to ensure the law remains within their jurisdiction. Although all 50 states have anti-cruelty laws designed to prevent dog neglect and abuse, most large breeding facilities continue to operate in ways that mock these laws. In many cases, dogs are kept in puppy mills in physically and mentally harmful conditions that a single dog should never suffer from. Anti-cruelty laws are rarely enforced at puppy mills as long as the animals have the rudimentary basics of shelter, food and water. Puppies Factory dogs are often treated as agricultural “crops” rather than pets. Please note that operating a commercial kennel may not be illegal in your area.

However, if you`ve seen specific evidence of cruelty or neglect, the first agency you should contact is a local agency with enforcement powers, such as the local humane society, animal control agency, police, or sheriff`s department. Deciding to bring a new canine companion into your life is an exciting but complicated decision-making process, especially when deciding where to get one. You may have concerns about “puppy mills” or “backyard breeders” and want to know how to stay away from them. Maybe you don`t even know what they are and need more information. When puppy mills and breeders flood the market with animals, they reduce the availability of animals from reputable facilities, animal shelters and rescue groups. Every year, more than 150,000 cats and dogs come to Washington State shelters — 6 to 8 million animals come to shelters across the country. Unfortunately, only about 15% of people with pets in the United States have adopted them from a shelter or rescue group, leaving so many deserving pets behind. While legislation is the key to permanent change for animals, it`s not practical to simply pass a law banning puppy mills — an idea often suggested. Anyone who has worked on a law (even something as fundamental as stopping abuse) can tell you that moving a bill from an idea to a law is a long and difficult process. Even bills that come into force often do not contain all the protections we would like. In addition to convincing the U.S.

Department of Agriculture to regulate breeders who sell directly to the public, we have also encouraged the agency to finalize an import rule that will avoid the suffering of thousands of puppies from foreign factories. For too long, puppies have been subjected to difficult transport abroad at a young age, often before being fully vaccinated or weaned. The new regulations require puppies to be at least six months old and in good health before they can be shipped to the United States. Under most laws, the dog owner is offered a refund, another puppy, or reimbursement of the veterinarian`s bills up to the puppy`s purchase price within a certain time frame. But when faced with a sick or dying puppy, most people choose not to return the puppy, but focus on rescuing the animal. A common fear is that the seller will simply destroy the puppy instead of investing money and time in restoring the animal`s health. If the puppy dies, most families are not willing to risk the grief of another sick puppy from the same seller, so providing them with another puppy is not an acceptable option.