Saturday is Puppy Mill Awareness Day!

This is Top Secret, an adult terrier who was used as a breeder at a Missouri puppy mill. Due to a lifelong lack of veterinary care, Top Secret suffered from painful and severe dental infections.

All of his teeth rotted and he lost part of his lower jaw. Top was rescued and has been treated, but he can no longer shut his mouth all the way and does not have full use of his jaw.

Top Secret has now been adopted into a loving home.

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This Saturday is Puppy Mill Awareness Day. Throughout the World there are thousands and thousands of breeding facilities that produce puppies in incredibly large numbers, with the sole purpose of selling these pups to the public through the Internet and newspaper ads, at auctions, or to brokers and pet shops.

The problems with puppy mills are the extensive over- and in-breeding of these poor pups, the lack of medical care, poor food and shelter, overcrowding and sometimes killing of unwanted animals. There is much suffering occurring in these horrible places, and the suffering often continues outside through inherited genetic diseases, illnesses and afflictions.

So much needs to happen to stop this cruel practice. What can you do right now?

• Stop buying pups from pet stores, and don't buy a puppy through the Internet or advertised in a newspaper ad, and tell your friends to do the same. Get your next pup from a dog shelter or rescue or a well-screened reputable breeder.
  
• Contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and your two U.S. Senators, asking them to urge the USDA to strictly enforce the Animal Welfare Act and to support efforts to increase funding for USDA/Animal Care.
• Encourage state and federal officials to stop the mass production and exportation of sick and traumatized dogs.
• Share this flyer and spread the word about puppy mills.
• Read this and share information on how to find a good dog breeder!
• And download this pdf on finding and recognizing a reputable breeder.

Help end the suffering of these pups. Be aware, be educated and pass the word. For more information, please visit these links:

Get the facts on puppy mills - from the Humane Society of the US
FAQ's about puppy mills
Read more about what you can do to help stop this cruel practice
Visit this site and learn all you can about stopping puppy mills

Below is a video showing the horrors of puppy mills. *Warning* this video contains distressing and upsetting footage of animal abuse and neglect and should be viewed with caution.