Puppy Mill Awareness Day - September 17

This coming Saturday in several communities in the U.S., many in the animal protection community will gather to raise awareness about the horrors of puppy mills.

Despite the fact that millions of companion animals are euthanized every year in shelters because homes cannot be found for them, breeders continue their practice of making money off of the suffering of animals. Although there are responsible breeders who care deeply about animals, their presence is often overwhelmed by the thousands of puppy and kitten mills still in existence. These animal factories are often overcrowded, disease-ridden, and extremely inhumane. I'd be willing to bet that many kindhearted people would think twice about purchasing the cute puppy or kitten in the window if they knew anything about the conditions in which that animal was raised.

Fortunately, forces are mobilizing to reduce and hopefully eventually end these cruel practices. The Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS, H.R. 2669/S.1139) has bipartisan support and will, if passed, amend the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen licensure requirements for breeders who sell animals to the public. It would also require that all retail pet stores keep accurate records of the origin of all dogs available for sale, something that is appallingly lacking in the current legislation.

For more about pet mills, you can click here:http://www.stoppuppymills.org/