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Where do pet store puppies come from?

Often, consumers go to a pet store and see a cute puppy or kitten. They buy the animal and yet they know nothing about where they were born, the kennel conditions, or how the adult breeding animals (left behind in the kennels) are treated. Pet stores typically do not inform the consumer before the purchase. Even if and when the name of the breeder is given, it can be quite difficult to obtain information about them.

These pet stores are the face of puppy mills. They are the distributor of these "products," putting profit first and placing the welfare of puppies and breeding dogs at risk.

Pet stores will often proclaim that the breeders they purchase from are USDA licensed.  

The following are some examples as to what is allowed under USDA regulation: 

- No limit to the number of animals on the premises 
- The cage only needs to be 6 inches longer than the animal’s body on each side
- Mesh or wire flooring is allowed
- The animal may be caged 24 hours a day

Even when violations of these minimal standards are present, it’s quite rare for the USDA to revoke the breeder’s license and they’re allowed to continue business as usual.

The city of Blaine, Minnesota is allowing puppy mills to continue doing a high volume of business through a mall pet store.  We have spoken to consumers who have purchased sick puppies from this store, including some who unfortunately had their puppies die shortly after purchase.  When concerns were raised to the store, several customers were met with hostility. 

We obtained state records showing where the puppies are coming from as well as USDA Inspection Reports.  The Wisconsin breeder that the store purchased the most (314) puppies from in a 19 month time period had two failed inspections in 2021. The findings included lack of health, welfare, and comfort, lack of enrichment, lack of cleaning and sanitation, lack of rabies vaccination, and lack of adequate cooling. Other breeders this store purchased puppies from have been noted for lack of sanitary food bowls, delayed waste removal, lack of veterinary care, excessive urine odor, improper flooring, and dogs observed limping with swelling and bruising.

To address this problem we encourage the city of Blaine to pass a Humane Pet Store Ordinance.  This ordinance prohibits pet stores from selling dogs and cats acquired from industrial breeding facilities and also allows the store to host adoption events with rescues and shelters. Over 440 cities, counties, and states have passed this kind of ordinance, including 12 local cities - St. Paul, Minneapolis, Roseville, Eden Prairie, Cloquet, Carver City, Coon Rapids, Columbia Heights, Maple Grove, Oak Grove Park, Edina, and Osseo. Many hundreds of small pet stores, as well as national chain stores, operate under this kind of model. 

We have more in-depth information about this issue on our website, www.gohumaneblaine.com  If you're local and would like to get involved, please send us an email at gohumaneblaine@gmail.com.  Thank you!