Puppy Mills

We support legislation to protect dogs and puppies in mills, spread awareness about the plight of mill dogs, and encourage Ohioans to adopt a pet.

A young puppy with black, brown, and white fur behind a metal cage, looking directly at the camera with one eye blue and the other eye cloudy.

  • Puppy mills are inhumane breeding facilities where dogs are kept in poor conditions, bred excessively, and sold to pet stores or directly to consumers. Animals in puppy mills suffer from neglect, lack of proper medical care, and harsh living environments. Puppy mills profit off selling purebred puppies, which frequently carry diseases or have hereditary conditions resulting from inbreeding. According to The Humane World For Animals, most puppies sold in pet stores and through online retailers are born in puppy mills.

    Breeders disregard the health and wellness of their dogs to keep costs low and maximize their profits. They force mother dogs to overbreed in unsanitary living conditions, often without proper veterinarian care. Animals need socialization to avoid developing unnecessary fearful or aggressive behavior. These dogs are confined together in unsafe wire cages and given very little space or attention. This neglect creates detrimental health effects for the mother and her puppies.

    There is no retirement for breeding dogs. These animals are overworked and forced to reproduce until their death. If a breeding dog can no longer provide offspring, she is abandoned or killed. Large-scale puppy breeders see their dogs as business property instead of loving family members.

    Puppy mills cause health risks for the public. In this study on Campylobacter jejuni infections, scientists found that extensively drug-resistant C jejuni strains have emerged as a cause of illness among pet store customers and employees. This strain is incredibly dangerous to public safety as oral antibiotics cannot remedy this infectious strain.

  • The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the only federal law that regulates the treatment of dogs in commercial breeding facilities. This piece of legislation sets forth minimum standards of care for dogs in commercial breeding facilities, such as standards for cage space, flooring, veterinary care, and sanitation. The USDA’s enforcement of the AWA is extremely lax and ineffective enforcement, which allows for barbaric treatment of commercially bred dogs to persist.

    The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) proposed rule package for commercial dog breeders, which was sent to Ohio’s Joint Commission on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) for an April hearing, included two proposed rules that would have allowed breeders to perform painful tail docking and dew claw removal procedures on puppies without pain medication or anesthesia, as well as perform their own criminal background checks. View this article where OAA’s Executive Director Vicki Deisner explains these rules and the horrific consequences that would have happened if these rules were passed.

    OAA partnered with Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) to stop these two abominable rule proposals. OAA and AWI succeeded in getting these proposed rules tabled at the April JCARR hearing, with the help of our partners and members. 

    ODA revised its criminal background rule to include Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation in the review process.  At the June JCARR hearing, the revised rule was accepted with the recommendation that ODA do a background check on a regular basis. However, ODA has not revised the rule to stop the breeders from performing tail docking and dewclaw removal on puppy mill dogs. 

  • Here are several ways you can help combat puppy mills:

    Learn About the Plight of Puppy Mill Dogs

    • In an effort to spread awareness about the plight of puppy mill dogs, the Humane World For Animals releases an annual Horrible Hundred report. This report showcases the country’s worst hundred puppy mills that inhumanely treat dogs. In 2024, Ohio was ranked the second worst state for inhumane puppy mills. Ohio had 20 of the nation’s worst puppy mills.

    Adopt, Don’t Shop

    • Adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue. Rather than purchasing a dog from a breeder, consider adopting from an animal shelter, rescue organization, or breed-specific rescue group. Many dogs in shelters are in need of loving homes, including purebred dogs. You can also share the message that adoption is a great option and encourage others to adopt from shelters instead of buying from breeders or pet stores.

    Support Legislation to Ban Puppy Mills

    • Advocate for stronger laws - Many states have passed laws that aim to regulate puppy mills or ban the practice altogether. You can advocate for stricter laws that: prohibit the sale of puppies from puppy mills; require breeders to adhere to higher standards for animal welfare; increase penalties for illegal breeding operations.

    • Sign Petitions - Many petitions aim to pass laws that will reduce or eliminate puppy mills. These petitions are often circulated by animal protection organizations and can be an easy way to show support.

    Educate Others

    • Spread awareness and help educate others about the reality of puppy mills. Share facts, statistics, and images (sensitively) that highlight the suffering of dogs in these facilities. The more people know about the issue, the more likely they are to make ethical decisions. If you're active in your community, you could host events, talks, or screenings about puppy mills, featuring organizations that work to rescue dogs from these facilities.

    Support Rescues and Animal Welfare Groups

    • Volunteer your time with organizations that specialize in rescuing dogs from puppy mills, rehabilitating them, and finding them homes. You can also provide a foster home to care for and rehabilitate dogs in need until they find their forever home.

    Don’t Buy Dogs from Pet Stores

    • Many pet stores source their puppies from puppy mills. Instead, support stores or organizations that partner with local shelters or rescues to adopt out animals.

    Research Breeders Before Purchasing

    • Be an informed consumer. If you decide to purchase a dog from a breeder, be sure to thoroughly research and choose a responsible breeder who follows ethical breeding practices, prioritizes animal welfare, and has a clean and safe environment for the animals. Always ask to see the breeding facility and the conditions in which the puppies are raised. Read the Humane World For Animals’ guide to finding a responsible dog breeder for more in-depth information.

    Raise Awareness

    • Share your knowledge. Use your platform on social media to share information, petitions, and calls to action regarding puppy mills. Social media can be a powerful tool in spreading awareness and advocating for change. Using hashtags to increase visibility such as #StopPuppyMills, #AdoptDontShop, and #EndPuppyMills help rally others to the cause and raise awareness online.

    Support Organizations Working to End Puppy Mills

    • Groups like Ohio Animal Advocates are actively fighting to end puppy mills through policy change. Consider donating, completing our action alerts, or volunteering to help advance our efforts.

    Report Suspected Puppy Mills

    • If you suspect a facility is operating as a puppy mill or is engaging in animal abuse, report it to local animal control authorities or humane organizations. Many municipalities have hotlines or online forms for reporting suspected abuse or neglect. Check out our Resources page for where to report cruelty in your region. File a Commercial Dog Breeding Complaint Form here with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), the regulatory authority for Commercial Dog Breeders.

    By taking these actions, you can help reduce the demand for puppies bred in mills, protect animals from suffering, and promote a more ethical and humane approach to pet ownership.

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