Can you imagine forcing your pet dog to live his or her entire life in a small wire cage with no human companionship, toys or comfort, and little hope of ever becoming part of a family? That is what life is like for a puppy mill breeding dog. Help us stop this cycle of cruelty that contributes to pet overpopulation and the suffering of countless dogs.
Puppy mills have been around for decades. They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for-words puppies in pet store windows and on legitimate-seeming websites. Puppy mills house dogs in shockingly poor conditions. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are often killed, abandoned or sold cheaply to another mill to try and get "one more litter" out of the dog. The annual result of all this breeding is millions of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems.
Learn how to shop smart if you're thinking about getting a dog, and help us spread the word about the cruelty behind the cuteness.
And be sure to sign the pledge to stop puppy mills! Choose not to buy your next pet from a pet store or Internet site, and refuse to buy supplies from any pet store or Internet site that sells puppies. Sign here »
Mississippi Rescue
The HSUS led a rescue on July 13 of more than 100 dogs from a puppy mill operation in Carriere, Miss. Local residents had reported concerns about conditions at Sea Breeze Kennels, which had been advertising puppies for sale through classifieds and the Internet.
Learn MoreNews & Events
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July 29, 2010
Of Punk Rock and Puppy Mills
One of our Student Outreach interns reports on spreading the word about puppy mills at this year’s Vans Warped Tour.
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July 22, 2010
The Kitten at the Puppy Mill: Oliver's Twist
When you volunteer to assist with a puppy mill raid, you steel yourself against the images of helpless dogs, and promise yourself that you won’t take any of those dogs home with you. What you don’t expect is to fall in love with a kitten already living on the site of the temporary emergency shelter, but sometimes the unexpected happens.
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July 21, 2010
More Than 100 Dogs Rescued from Mississippi Puppy Mill
The HSUS, at the request of the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, led a rescue of more than 100 dogs from a puppy mill operation in Carriere, Miss.
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July 21, 2010
Seeing the Suffering of Puppy Mills Firsthand
After working at The HSUS for several years, I had seen plenty of images of the squalid conditions at puppy mills across the country. Still, none of this made it easy to see the consequences of a puppy mill firsthand.
Our Victories
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July 22, 2010
The HSUS, HSLF Praise Illinois Governor for Signing Primate Pet Ban and Antifreeze Safety Bills
The HSUS and HSLF commend Illinois Gov. Quinn for signing bills to prohibit to private ownership of primates as pets and require the addition of a bitter flavor to antifreeze and engine coolant to prevent poisoning of children and animals.
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July 8, 2010
Governor Signs Bill Ending Greyhound Racing in New Hampshire
The HSUS praises New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch for signing the Greyhound Protection Act into law.
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June 30, 2010
Landmark Ohio Animal Welfare Agreement Reached Among HSUS, Ohioans for Humane Farms, Gov. Strickland, and Leading Livestock Organizations
A deal struck among The HSUS, Ohioans for Humane Farms, Ohio agriculture leaders and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland will lead to major animal welfare improvements in Ohio on a raft of issues.
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May 26, 2010
The HSUS Praises Illinois Legislature for Approving Pet Store Disclosure Bill
The HSUS applauds the Illinois legislature for unanimously passing a bill to crack down on the sale of unhealthy puppy mill dogs in Illinois pet shops.