A puppy mill is a mass producing, quick breeding facility. There is often cruel treatment and unsanitary conditions that threaten the lives of the animals that are there. In poorly run puppy mills, the dogs in them are confined to small overcrowded cages with little food and water. They are also sometimes left to sit and sleep in their own waste. In one of the largest puppy mill pet stores, Petland, investigators found very sick, suffering puppies. Including animals with seizures, and respiratory infections. The staff admitted that sick puppies were common and rarely taken to the veterinarian. Dead puppies and bunnies were found in the freezers at all five stores they investigated. Dogs are supposed to be a man’s best friend; they should be treated like one.
The “Puppy Mill Pipeline” law took effect on December 15th 2024. This new law prevents puppy mills from selling, leasing or transferring ownership to pet stores in New York. In December 2022, New York governor Kathy Hocul signed into law a prohibition of the sale of puppy mill dogs, cats and rabbits in New York pet stores. She gave these establishments 2 years to make the necessary changes they need to adhere to the law. This law will stop the flow of cruelly bred dogs into New York’s pet stores. This law now allows pet stores to start partnerships with local animal shelters and rescue organizations. Pet stores can now showcase homeless animals for adoption. Puppy stores are not going to be housing puppy mill dogs but instead going to be working with and housing shelter animals.
The statistics show that when this same law was enacted years ago in California there were reports that puppy scams have surged by 350%, and vets have seen an increase in sick puppies acquired from unregulated sources. “The Puppy Mill Pipeline law” takes away protections for pet owners and leaves New Yorkers more vulnerable to scams and fraudulent sellers, while the law does nothing to stop bad unlicensed breeders, only the licensed ones.
How do you know if you are buying a puppy from a puppy mill? According to PAWS there are several signs to tell if you are buying from a puppy mill. The seller may have many pure bred or designer dogs that are being sold at less than 6 weeks old, the breeder will not show the buyers the entire location of where the dogs are kept, and the breeder may not ask alot of questions of the potential buyers. Puppy mills sell their dogs to pet stores or directly to the client through ads or the internet.
