Puppy mills are places where commercial dog breeding takes place and typically have poor conditions. There are about 10,000 of these places in the U.S., and only about ⅕ of them are USDA licensed. The sellers mainly sell directly through the newspaper, websites, and flea markets, and do this for the profit, not for the well-being of the animals. About 90 percent of the puppies you see in pet stores come from these mills, and most of the retailers who buy these animals are led to believe that the animals they are receiving come from a place that is happy and healthy (Buyer Beware ).

The main problem with these mills are the conditions that the dogs have to live in. The mother dogs are bred often, with little recovery time in between each pregnancy. Once they are no longer able to produce more puppies, they are usually killed. The dogs live in wire cages that are stacked on top of eachother, and when it is time to use the bathroom, the waste falls into cages below. Diseases run wild, because the puppies are not vaccinated, and the temperatures where they live are not suitable for comfortable living ( Puppy Mills/Cruelty ). In one case, where many different breeds were removed from a property, it was reported that “skin disease, rotted teeth, malnutrition, fur matted with feces, and various other infections were rampant” (What is a Puppy Mill?).

How would you feel if you learned that the dog you owned came from a puppy mill? The mother of your dog could still be actively being used to produce more puppies. This mother sleeps in awful conditions, does not spend any time outside or with people, and is used until her death. Some of the puppies she produces may not even go to be sold, they may be used to grow up in the mill and produce puppies until they die. 

There are plenty of things that you can do in order to contribute to stopping these puppy mills. To start, simply do not buy your puppy from a mill or buy your puppy from a pet store. This money will go back into the mill and keep the cycle going (Stop Puppy Mills). Another way is to be an advocate. If you see dogs and/or puppies being treated in ways similar to puppy mills, use your voice to report it, as long as you have evidence. Most Importantly, educate!! Spread the word to family and friends about how bad these mills are, and tell them that they can help too.  Encourage them to share it with their friends. The more people that are aware, the better. Help get rid of puppy mills!