22. Puppy Mill Chain Puppy Mills Dealers (Exempt from USDA (federal) licensing and inspections if selling to the public) It is the USDA’s position that these dealers are retail pet stores (unless selling T-o research, a dealer, or an exhibitor). Can also be Puppy Mills Pet Store (Retail Dealer) (Excluded from AWA (federal) minimum humane handling requirements) Commercial Breeder Regulated by USDA Licenses and Inspections Public Broker Wholesaler Research Facility Other Pet Dealer
23. Dealing Dogs Chain Class B Dealer (Subject to USDA Licensing and Inspections) C.C. Baird Laboratories Institutions Other Dealers for Research Testing Education Bunchers Flea Markets Auctions Individuals Pounds Shelters Other Dealers
Garrett County, MD Unlicensed operator Some dogs had loads of room, others not, some are tethered due to escaping No way to sanitize
Garrett County, MD Unlicensed operator Some dogs had loads of room, others not, some are tethered due to escaping No way to sanitize
One of the dogs HSUS rescued and local shelter took to adopt
Ready to whelp…this was her “whelping box” She delivered two pups (one dead) the next day
housing
PA breeder bust
Been around for decades, classic sales channel was pet stores this played into how USDA interprets the Animal Welfare Act and thus how they write regulations to enforce the law note AWA requirements for licensing definition of “retail sales” which remains unchanged despite efforts to pass legislation as well as court challenges major busts and lots of press in 1980s pet store sales declined but are coming back up
Public misconception that they are illegal difficult to understand why such conditions are allowed questions as to why we can’t just outlaw them think pet stores who sell sick dogs would go out of business efforts to classify dogs as “farm products” or “agricultural animals” lack of awareness and understanding of how mills thrive and where puppies are sold
SERO assisted
Common problems with puppy mill dogs what you would expect to see in any operation with large numbers of animals without proper care protocols socialization issues
SERO assisted
VA
VA
Must show animals were bred and raised on the property unless obtained from a pound or shelter
CJ the day she was rescued from the puppy mills by the HSMO
CJ after months of foster care Story is on www.humanesociety.org/puppymills
USDA inspections vs. state inspections neither works perfectly, some areas worse than others Example: Ongoing USDA enforcement problems, MO audits showed USDA did a better job there than state state inspections vital because of growth of non-wholesale puppy mill industry ala internet sales new wrinkle is import problem history and growth of import situation oversight challenges (CDC/USDA)
State issues puppy mill problem growing migration from PA puppy mills current laws not strict, but not out of line with the pathetic laws in most states
How do we solve the problem? Education and Legislation/Enforcement
Education meeting people where they are at focus group data (don’t believe their puppy could have come from mill, think they can spot an unhealthy puppy, think the can judge breeder based on pet store environment, think “the humane society” is doing/should do something about it) general public education talking about good breeders setting aside spay/neuter and backyard breeder issues working with good breeders explaining the reality of “papers” giving one consistent message: “know your breeder”
Good breeding situation, Clumber Spaniels
Good breeding situation, Clumber Spaniels
Good breeding situation, Clumber Spaniels
Legislation Passage and improvement of state laws Following up on enforcement issues, keeping pressure on those agencies (note state law chart for mills and pet stores) Federal legislation (note visiting humanesociety.org or fund.org)