We go to our local pet stores looking at these cute little furry faces, not realizing the horror that goes on behind the scene to get them. According to studies, a vast majority of Amish communities use puppy mills and breeding as a lucrative means for income. One of the more well known main epicenters of this is seen in Lancaster County, PA. Unfortunately, these dogs and puppies are seen as 'livestock' and 'cash crops', leading to quick and horrifying ways of getting around easily to maintain large numbers of dogs for sale. According to an article featured on ABC News, the below was said about one of the tactics used: 

"There are about 300 licensed breeders in Lancaster County, and rescue workers estimate another 600 unlicensed facilities operate in barns and sheds. Those breeders go to great measures to avoid discovery. Smith says some even "de-bark" their dogs.

'"The farmers, the Amish and the Mennonites, they pull the heads back and then they hammer sharp instruments down their throats to scar their vocal cords so they can't bark," he said. "So that way they can have 500-600 dogs in a barn and no one knows. As we said, it's an industry of secrecy."'

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=7187712&page=1

The Humane Society of the United States had this to say in regards to anti-cruelty laws: 

"Although all 50 states have anti-cruelty laws intended to prevent neglect and mistreatment of dogs, most large-scale breeding facilities continue to operate in ways that mock these laws. In many cases, dogs in puppy mills are kept in physically and emotionally damaging conditions under which an individual pet dog would never be allowed to suffer. Anti-cruelty laws are seldom applied to puppy mills as long as the animals have the rudimentary basics of shelter, food, and water. Puppy mill dogs are often treated as agricultural "crops" and not as pets."

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/puppy-mills-faq#what

Why is it the Congress and people in positions of power are allowing this to happen, and not cracking down conducting investigations on these tactics and adjusting the laws in place for breeding? Majority of Americans have a beloved dog in their family, most of us treating them as our kin. We love them and would do anything for them, but we need to do better. Our beloved furry friends have no voices, they have no ability to effectively communicate and advocate for themselves against the abuse inflicted to them.  We know not to treat them this way in our homes, so why is it acceptable for breeders and mills to go to the extents they do to abuse and use them? It is our responsibility to treat these creatures with respect and represent them in this fight for their lives.