Where do these dogs come from?
As the animal welfare movement grows, more people are adopting their dogs from rescue groups, the city pound and/or humane societies and shelters. However, many people are still purchasing their pets from pet stores or breeders. Unfortunately, these people are unaware of how or where their beloved pet originated. If only they knew that approximately 3,500 pet stores in the United States are selling around 500,000 puppies a year acquired from puppy mills, they would never purchase a dog again, but rather rescue a loving family pet from their local shelter. Not only do pet stores acquire their puppies from puppy mills, but often breeders do as well.
Over 65 million dogs are owned in the United States.
39% of families in the United States have at least one of those dogs in their household.
What is a puppy mill?
Puppy mills are facilities where humans breed helpless dogs, providing minimal care to maximize their profits.
There are approximately 5,000 puppy mills in the United States!
Dogs are often inbred to maximize their use, thereby saving money for the breeder. One female will often breed repeatedly until she becomes "useless" due to illness and/or injury from excessive breeding. At this point she will most likely be killed or sold to another puppy mill for further exploitation.
Dogs that are born and raised in puppy mills often have genetic disorders due to inbreeding or injuries from loose wires or dog fights. Additionally, they often live in such abhorrent conditions including, but not limited to, standing in feces, lack of air conditioning or heating and cramped quarters that cause them to become physically and/or emotionally ill.
How can I help?
Currently, puppy mills are not required for inspection due to a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The Pet Animal Welfare Statute is working to change this, making sure that large breeding operations (those that sell seven or more litters a year) are subject to the minimum requirements of the AWA.
You can make sure this happens by contacting your Senators and Representatives and urging them to co-sponsor and strongly support the Pet Animal Welfare Statute.
Click here to contact your legislators:
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/2005_PAWS2
-OR-
 Call your Illinois Senator or Representative:
Senator Richard Durbin
202-224-2152
Senator Barack Obama
202-224-2854
Click here to look up and call your United States Representative
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
-AND-
Tell your friends about the horrific situation dogs are living in daily and ask for their help.
Without your plea, puppy mills will continue their mass breeding operations without being held responsible, and dogs will continue to suffer in silence.
On behalf of all the dogs and puppies that are currently suffering in puppy mills, thank you for taking action today.
For more information please visit ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) at www.aspca.com and the Humane Society of the United States at www.hsus.org.
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