Can you imagine forcing your pet dog to live his or her entire life in a small wire cage with no human companionship, toys, or comfort, and little hope of ever becoming part of a family? That is what life is like for a puppy mill breeding dog. Help us stop this cycle of cruelty that contributes to pet overpopulation and the suffering of countless dogs.
Puppy mills have been around for decades. They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for-words puppies in pet store windows and on legitimate-seeming websites. Puppy mills house dogs in shockingly poor conditions. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are often killed, abandoned or sold cheaply to another mill to try and get "one more litter" out of the dog. The annual result of all this breeding is millions of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems.
Learn how to shop smart if you're thinking about getting a dog, and join Colbie Caillat in helping to spread the word about the cruelty behind the cuteness.
Help us stop the cycle by wearing our Stop Puppy Mills cause gear, found at Humane Domain.
And be sure to sign the pledge to stop puppy mills! Choose not to buy your next pet from a pet store or Internet site, and refuse to buy supplies from any pet store or Internet site that sells puppies. Sign here »
Drumroll, Please...
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The HSUS
Participation in our Puppy Mill Action Week video contest was fabulous and we were blown away by the huge number of moving videos submitted. We are tallying the votes and will announce the judged winners as well as a people's choice winner shortly. Learn More
News & Events
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May 10, 2012
The HSUS Applauds USDA For Proposal To Regulate Unlicensed Puppy Mills
The HSUS and the Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for issuing a proposed rule designed to close the loophole in the Animal Welfare Act regulations that has allowed thousands of large-scale commercial puppy mills to operate without federal inspections or oversight, particularly operations that sell over the Internet.
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May 10, 2012
Amanda Hearst, HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle, and the ASPCA Join Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal In Calling for Legislative Crack Down on New York Puppy Mills
The HSUS, along with Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, the ASPCA, and Friends of Finn members Amanda Hearst and Georgina Bloomberg, announced the introduction of a new bill, A.10150, in the New York legislature that will strengthen standards of care for dogs in large-scale, commercial breeding facilities, commonly known as puppy mills.
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May 8, 2012
The HSUS Launches Puppy Mill Reward Offer During 2012 Puppy Mill Action Week
As Mother’s Day approaches, The Humane Society of the United States asks supporters from around the globe to remember the mother dogs suffering in puppy mills, spending their lives in cramped wire cages, often with barely enough food and water to stay alive as they churn out puppies for sale at pet stores and online.
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May 4, 2012
Legislature Adjourns with Numerous Bills Passed for Hawaii’s Animals
The Humane Society of the United States, on behalf of its more than 50,000 members and supporters across Hawaii, thanks the State Legislature for its support in passing a number of animal protection bills this legislative session, and urges Gov. Abercrombie to sign the bills into law.
Our Victories
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March 29, 2012
Discount Pet Supply Converts to Adoptions-Only Model; Takes The HSUS’ ‘Puppy Friendly’ Pledge
Discount Pet Supply, located in Salem, N.H., has signed The Humane Society of the United States' Puppy Friendly Pet Stores pledge, and has converted to adopting out homeless puppies instead of selling commercially raised dogs.
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February 17, 2012
Oklahoma Court Rejects Constitutional Challenge to the State’s New Puppy Mill Law
The Humane Society of the United States applauds a decision by District Judge Jonathan Sullivan upholding Oklahoma’s commercial dog breeding statute and rejecting breeders’ claims that the statute and accompanying rules are unconstitutional. The law, enacted in 2010, creates a licensing and inspection process, as well as minimum standards of care, for commercial pet breeders in Oklahoma.
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February 17, 2012
The Humane Society of the United States Applauds Brick Township, N.J. for Taking Action Against Pet Store’s Alleged Cruelty
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December 28, 2010
Top 12 State Victories for Animals in 2010
Thanks to the help of our dedicated advocates and the support of state legislators, 2010 was another historic year for animals in state lawmaking.
