DEAR PET TALK: My friend rescued a small dog from a shelter and was told the dog came from a puppy mill. Can you explain what that is?
— DOG LOVER
DEAR DOG LOVER: According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, these are “large-scale commercial dog breeding operations.”
Only six states, California, Maine, Maryland, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington have passed laws preventing their operations.
Basically, “puppy mills” supply inventory to pet shops, so it’s in their interest to “move product” quickly. This results in over-breeding animals; puppies taken from their mothers too soon, and a lack of oversight as to animal health.
The ASPCA says: “Because federal laws are woefully inadequate, it is critical that states use their power to enact higher standards of care and oversight for commercial breeders that go above and beyond the bare minimums required by the federal Animal Welfare Act.”
Fortunately, there is growing momentum to pass legislation to prevent pet shops from selling young animals; and instead, to partner with area shelters.
In Massachusetts, 16 municipalities have passed laws preventing the sale of commercially raised dogs, cats and rabbits, but there is pending legislation, “Banning the retail sale of certain animals in pet shops (S.2720, H.967, H.4319),” sponsored by Rep. Natalie Higgins, D-Leominster, and co-sponsored by Rep. Kim Ferguson, D-Holden, that would do more to fight the problem.
According to Higgins: “The industry has really moved away from this practice, and there are only a few pet shops in the state that still purchase from out-of-state puppy mill facilities. Most now partner with local shelters to help facilitate adoptions.
“We also offered a compromise in our bill, allowing for a legacy clause to permit the current shops to continue to operate, with the goal of no new shops setting up in Massachusetts. This is especially important as neighboring states have passed their own bans.”
Higgins has worked on this bill for the last eight years.”
In short, puppy mills are an immoral and inhumane practice, and strengthening the laws will protect both pets and potential owners.
Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Send questions tto [email protected].