Sick and dying puppies are being imported from other countries almost every day from foreign puppy mills for re-sale in U.S. pet stores and online. Many of these countries have no laws whatsoever to protect dogs, and the puppies who are imported are often sick, or even die shortly after arrival. They can also bring new diseases into the U.S.

In 2008, a law was passed to protect puppies under six months of age from being imported into the U.S. for resale as part of the Farm Bill. The measure was created due to concerns about sick and dying puppies imported from overseas puppy mills. Almost six years later, this law has yet to be enforced. The USDA issued a proposed rule in 2011 to implement the law but has never issued the final rule.

Please submit a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and urge him to finalize the Puppy Import Rule.