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

















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
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
I support this.
Posted by Deirdre Neylon on 12/02/2008 @ 12:33PM PT
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
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
I SUPPORT THIS.
Posted by Gary Haun on 12/02/2008 @ 01:30PM PT
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
This and a lot of other animal crimes need to end NOW a
Posted by Shannon A on 12/02/2008 @ 01:49PM PT
SOMEthing has GOT to be done about this NOW!
Posted by Allison Ruth on 12/02/2008 @ 01:54PM PT
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
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
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
Please stop this horrendous cruelty.
Posted by Lacey Levitt on 12/02/2008 @ 03:35PM PT
Puppy Mills have to be stopped!
Posted by Christina Gallagher on 12/02/2008 @ 03:39PM PT
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
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
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
Thank the Lord for finally bringing an opportunity to stop this cruelty
Posted by Veronica Abuan on 12/02/2008 @ 07:07PM PT
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
Stop PUPPY MILLS
Posted by TIffany Drake on 12/02/2008 @ 11:09PM PT
People should not be buying while shelter and rescuse dogs are dying!
Posted by Katherine Sobrero on 12/03/2008 @ 12:26AM PT
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
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
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
Please, please help put an end to the cruelty of puppy mills.
Posted by Donna Jacobs on 12/03/2008 @ 09:19AM PT
All my animals were rescued. They deserve homes. Stop puppy mills!!!
Posted by Leslie Rimboeck on 12/03/2008 @ 09:22AM PT
I completely support this!!
Posted by Heather S. on 12/03/2008 @ 09:24AM PT
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
I support this
Posted by Jenny Uyttenhove on 12/03/2008 @ 10:36AM PT
I support this
Posted by Jenny Uyttenhove on 12/03/2008 @ 10:36AM PT
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
I whole heartedly support this! This must stop!
Posted by Dana Cole on 12/03/2008 @ 10:57AM PT
support it
Posted by tricia kerrigan on 12/03/2008 @ 11:06AM PT
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
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
I support this! Please help save these animals from suffering any longer!!
Posted by Amy Haney on 12/03/2008 @ 11:29AM PT
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
i support!
Posted by nancy gambino on 12/03/2008 @ 11:35AM PT
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