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Pass the Puppy Uniform Protection Statute to Help Stop Puppy Mills

This would amend the Animal Welfare Act to require commercial breeders who breed 50 or more dogs per year and who sell directly to the public (including over the Internet) to be licensed and inspected by the USDA.

It would also require that all commercial dealers remove the dogs from their cages and provide them opportunities for 60 minutes of exercise every day.

Currently, only facilities that breed dogs for sale through pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected. But thanks to a gap in the law, puppy mills that sell directly to the public are exempt from any federal regulation. Internet sellers and other outlets sell thousands of puppies a year to unsuspecting consumers.

Female breeding dogs in puppy mills are typically forced to live their entire lives in small cages with no opportunity for exercise, socialization, or human interaction. Due to neglect, their puppies are often sick, leaving outraged consumers with frail, sometimes dying puppies and high vet bills.

This law would curb the worst abuses in the puppy mill industry. It's a much-needed upgrade to our nation's laws that protect man’s best friend from cruelty and harm.

- Carie Lewis (animal welfare advocate / social media enthusiast), Frederick, MD

Voting Round Discussion

  1. Bronwen Hakim

    We need to stop the puppy mills in this country and the sources that support the selling of these poor helpless animals!

    Posted by Bronwen Hakim on 12/02/2008 @ 10:29AM PT

  2. Andrea Vitullo

    PLEASE help the puppies & dogs who are subjected to this cruel behavior.

    THANK YOU!!!

    Posted by Andrea Vitullo on 12/02/2008 @ 12:01PM PT

  3. Deirdre Neylon

    I support this.

    Posted by Deirdre Neylon on 12/02/2008 @ 12:33PM PT

  4. Sharon Rines

    It's long over due that something be done to stop this terrible abuse.

    Posted by Sharon Rines on 12/02/2008 @ 12:37PM PT

  5. Stacy Rodriguez

    We need to take care of those that do not have a voice. These animals are innocent and should not be exploited for monetary gain.

    Posted by Stacy Rodriguez on 12/02/2008 @ 01:15PM PT

  6. Gary Haun

    I SUPPORT THIS.

    Posted by Gary Haun on 12/02/2008 @ 01:30PM PT

  7. Tracy Zajdel

    This must end,  help our voice reach Obama's ears and get some legislation passed!

    Posted by Tracy Zajdel on 12/02/2008 @ 01:36PM PT

  8. Shannon A

    This and a lot of other animal crimes need to end NOW a

    Posted by Shannon A on 12/02/2008 @ 01:49PM PT

  9. Allison  Ruth

    SOMEthing has GOT to be done about this NOW!

    Posted by Allison Ruth on 12/02/2008 @ 01:54PM PT

  10. Reem Regina Tatar

    We need this. Please spread the word!

    Please visit my web page all about my experience with a puppy mill front:

    http://www.myspace.com/mypuppymillstory

    Posted by Reem Regina Tatar on 12/02/2008 @ 02:12PM PT

  11. Reem Regina Tatar

    We need this. Please spread the word!

    Please visit my web page all about my experience with a puppy mill front:

    http://www.myspace.com/mypuppymillstory

    Posted by Reem Regina Tatar on 12/02/2008 @ 02:12PM PT

  12. Whitney Fisher

    This is definately an issue that needs to be addressed by the government.  It's just inhumane and cruel to put any living creature in these conditions. 

    Posted by Whitney Fisher on 12/02/2008 @ 02:14PM PT

  13. Lacey Levitt

    Please stop this horrendous cruelty.

    Posted by Lacey Levitt on 12/02/2008 @ 03:35PM PT

  14. Christina  Gallagher

    Puppy Mills have to be stopped!

    Posted by Christina Gallagher on 12/02/2008 @ 03:39PM PT

  15. Tara Bellio

    We need to be a voice for those who don't have one.  I would like to think we are a civilized nation yet with the way dogs are treated in most puppy mills across our country I'm seriously starting to doubt it.  As Gandhi once said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated." 

    Posted by Tara Bellio on 12/02/2008 @ 03:42PM PT

  16. Pamela Bertsch

    Proverbs 12:10 - 'The righteous man cares for the life of his beast, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel."  ---  May God bless your efforts.  I am with you 100%.

    Posted by Pamela Bertsch on 12/02/2008 @ 03:56PM PT

  17. Cherie Manzano

    It is about time that animals who communicate different than humans get treated with some respect. We all have souls. Anyone who can feel love has a soul. If animals didn't have souls they could not feel love or affection. Our compassion for them and acknowledging their feelings and needs is a sign of our society becoming more civilized. I support this needed legislation completely. If the government can create laws for so many petty little non-violent offenses, they should pass very important and necessary laws to protect animals.

    Posted by Cherie Manzano on 12/02/2008 @ 05:00PM PT

  18. Veronica Abuan

    Thank the Lord for finally bringing an opportunity to stop this cruelty

    Posted by Veronica Abuan on 12/02/2008 @ 07:07PM PT

  19. Any improvement for the lives of dogs in puppy mills is a welcome change! Thank you for making improvements to animal welfare a top priority!

    Posted by Elizabeth M on 12/02/2008 @ 08:06PM PT

  20. TIffany Drake

    Stop PUPPY MILLS

    Posted by TIffany Drake on 12/02/2008 @ 11:09PM PT

  21. Katherine Sobrero

    People should not be buying while shelter and rescuse dogs are dying!

    Posted by Katherine Sobrero on 12/03/2008 @ 12:26AM PT

  22. Maria Puente-Duany

    Dogs arent' a cash crop, they're intelligent living beings with feelings.  I'm proud to support HSUS efforts to end the cruelty of puppy mills.

    Posted by Maria Puente-Duany on 12/03/2008 @ 07:11AM PT

  23. Lindsay Warren

    As a proud parent of a shelter dog who was mistreated by a greedy breeder, I know the importance of this issue.

    Posted by Lindsay Warren on 12/03/2008 @ 09:15AM PT

  24. Michelle Gold

    Unfortunately, people are ignorant about this and just continue to buy puppy mill puppies - no matter how much we work & work to educate people and shut down the mills on our own. We need government intervention on this issue. Please help!

    Posted by Michelle Gold on 12/03/2008 @ 09:17AM PT

  25. Donna Jacobs

    Please, please help put an end to the cruelty of puppy mills.

    Posted by Donna Jacobs on 12/03/2008 @ 09:19AM PT

  26. Leslie Rimboeck

    All my animals were rescued. They deserve homes.  Stop puppy mills!!!

    Posted by Leslie Rimboeck on 12/03/2008 @ 09:22AM PT

  27. Heather S.

    I completely support this!!

    Posted by Heather S. on 12/03/2008 @ 09:24AM PT

  28. Stephanie Atwood

    Please take this step to protect so many innocent victims that are being exploited for profit.  This compounds the problem of homeless pets who need loving homes.  Please make a statement in support of humane treatment.

    Posted by Stephanie Atwood on 12/03/2008 @ 09:26AM PT

  29. Kim G

    Puppy mills need to be ended.  They cause an untold amount of pain and suffering for millions of animals.  PLEASE put an end to puppy mills!!

    Posted by Kim G on 12/03/2008 @ 09:27AM PT

  30. Cindy Nania

    I completely support this cause!!  Save the puppies and stop the awful people doing this horrible thing!!!

    Posted by Cindy Nania on 12/03/2008 @ 09:27AM PT

  31. Lisa Mueller

    This is something that has to stop.  I am against breeding as well until all the homeless cats and dogs have a home.  People don't need to breed their "accessories" or revel in the fact they have a "show dog".  They are animals ... just like us.  

    Posted by Lisa Mueller on 12/03/2008 @ 09:28AM PT

  32. Lisa Mueller

    This is something that has to stop.  I am against breeding as well until all the homeless cats and dogs have a home.  People don't need to breed their "accessories" or revel in the fact they have a "show dog".   

    Posted by Lisa Mueller on 12/03/2008 @ 09:28AM PT

  33. Matt Collins

    This would be a great thing to compliment your family's adopting a puppy to serve as first pup!  PLEASE make this change!

    Posted by Matt Collins on 12/03/2008 @ 09:35AM PT

  34. Samantha Caron

    Puppy Mills are inhumane, disgusting, and just simply stated wrong! As the Director of an Animal Rescue and a proud Mommy to a Puppy Mill Survivor I have seen first hand the conditions that these poor babies are kept in and the traumatic affects that it has on them if they are lucky enough to make it out with their lives. It upsets me that we live in a world where people justify the cruel inhumane treatment of animals just to make a quick buck.

    Posted by Samantha Caron on 12/03/2008 @ 09:36AM PT

  35. Ingrid K.

    Any individual or group of individuals may be judged based on the manner it treats its animals.

    Puppy Mills are inhumane.

    They need to be stopped regardless of which country you live in.

    Posted by Ingrid K. on 12/03/2008 @ 09:42AM PT

  36. Christine Hall

    Puppy mills must be stopped!!! As already stated here, it's all about making a quick $$$$ at the cost of the animals physical and mental well-being. It is unfathimable that those running these inhumane operations have no conscience whatsoever. Decision-makers must set strict laws to protect innocent animals and give them the rights that they deserve!

    Posted by Christine Hall on 12/03/2008 @ 09:59AM PT

  37. Amy Peca

    Millions of healthy dogs and cats are euthanized each year due to lack of people able or willing to adopt them. Please take action to stop puppy mills and to help decrease the pet population and eliminate the cruelty with which these dogs are treated.
    Thank you!

    Posted by Amy Peca on 12/03/2008 @ 10:05AM PT

  38. n l

    stop puppy mills now, stop animal cruelty and neglect now! Support Humane Societies in your area. 

    Posted by n l on 12/03/2008 @ 10:10AM PT

  39. Emily Cohen

    I work at a vet and see what happens after people buy puppy mill puppies. They get sick, brought to us, and then, more often than not, these puppies are taken from their new families so that the doctors can take care of them. Puppy Mills don't care about the puppies, just about making money. There are enough pets without homes in this world without these people. Puppy mills need to be stopped.

    Posted by Emily Cohen on 12/03/2008 @ 10:34AM PT

  40. Jenny Uyttenhove

    I support this

    Posted by Jenny Uyttenhove on 12/03/2008 @ 10:36AM PT

  41. Jenny Uyttenhove

    I support this

    Posted by Jenny Uyttenhove on 12/03/2008 @ 10:36AM PT

  42. Mandy Fisher

    It is time to fight for those who cannot communicate with us heartless humans. Be the first to make a difference in a puppy's life. Fight for the rights of those who battle to have their "voice" heard.

    Posted by Mandy Fisher on 12/03/2008 @ 10:42AM PT

  43. Dana Cole

    I whole heartedly support this! This must stop!

    Posted by Dana Cole on 12/03/2008 @ 10:57AM PT

  44. tricia kerrigan

    support it

    Posted by tricia kerrigan on 12/03/2008 @ 11:06AM PT

  45. Loren Hart

    I want to live in a society that protects those individuals most at risk of being harmed. I believe we should create ever greater legal protections for dogs and other animals, with the goal of ending all animal neglect and abuse.

    Posted by Loren Hart on 12/03/2008 @ 11:12AM PT

  46. elisabeth schneider

    People involved in the puppy mills should be prosecuted. Period ! All this cruelty is a disgrace and should be punished. Other species are paying the price of our greed and it needs to stop. I had never heard of a puppy mill in Europe, why is it allowed in the USA, a so call civilized country?? Shut them down !!

    Posted by elisabeth schneider on 12/03/2008 @ 11:23AM PT

  47. Amy Haney

    I support this! Please help save these animals from suffering any longer!!

    Posted by Amy Haney on 12/03/2008 @ 11:29AM PT

  48. Becky Bensussen

    Please be your animals voice, they are innocent creatures that their humans need to protect. I support this cause and so does my beautiful dog "Charlie" whom I adopted from a reputable shelter!!!

    Posted by Becky Bensussen on 12/03/2008 @ 11:34AM PT

  49. nancy gambino

    i support!

    Posted by nancy gambino on 12/03/2008 @ 11:35AM PT

  50. Ben Allen

    Puppy mills are insidious.  Please support this bill and raise awareness for caring for animals.  Thank you for adopting!

    Posted by Ben Allen on 12/03/2008 @ 11:56AM PT

Voting Results

This idea qualified for the 2nd round of voting and received 3,430 votes during that period.

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