BACKGROUND Although California was the first state to ban puppy mill dogs from pet stores, there are still a handful of states that wrongfully continue to sell puppy mill dogs. “Missouri continues to have the largest number of puppy mills in this year’s report for the seventh year in a row (22), followed by Iowa (13), Pennsylvania (12) and Ohio (eight),” stated by the Humane Society of the United States. Some may argue that “adopting” a dog from a “trusted” breeder is better, well the Humane Society also reports that “more than a dozen breeders in the report claim an affiliation with the American Kennel Club” and just because the breeder “associates” themselves as being an American Kennel Club breeder does not mean they treat their dogs any better than the puppy mills. The Humane Society revealed that the breeders who affiliated themselves with the American Kennel Club displayed numerous signed of neglect or poor treatment of their dogs. “Patchwork Kennel in Missouri, where state inspectors found 10 underweight dogs. Carroll Sell Farms in Nebraska, which state inspectors found ‘routinely noncompliant’ for issues such as ‘piles of feces’ and a limping dog. Lastly, Eichenluft Working German Shepherds in Pennsylvania, which has a history of veterinary issues and repeat violations stretching back almost a decade.” Source: humanesociety.org OBJECTIVES 1. We will increase the number of adopted dogs from accredited dog shelters and rescues in the United States to at least 1,000 by the end of the year 2021. 2. We will put at least 3 “known” puppy mills in the United States out of business over the next 3 years, so that they will have no other choice but to surrender the dogs they have neglected. 3. We will increase the number of dog rescues in the United States by at least 20 percent over the next 5 years. SOLUTIONS 1. Get the dog shelters/rescues on social media so that way their followers can either help donate or give them more exposure to those who are interested in adopting a dog. 2. Allow the followers of the dog shelters/rescues to “get to know” the dogs that are currently available to be adopted, that way there’s a higher chance of the potential owners falling in love with the dog. 3. Provide articles and tips from accredited vets and pet specialists about owning an adopted dog for the first time so that way there’s a smaller chance of the owners giving up on the dog. 4. Those who support dog shelters/rescues can help “expose” the real facts of what goes on behind the scenes of puppy mills and educate people about buying from puppy mills and breeders. 5. Advocate the need for volunteers when it comes to dog rescues. 6. Volunteering at your local dog shelter/rescue, that way you become exposed to what these dogs have gone through and it may push your desire to help them out even more. 7. Donate to dog shelters/rescues if possible, every donation helps them save a dog in need. 8. If we push the idea of adopting a dog from a shelter/rescue, we could possibly put the puppy mills and breeders out of business which means stopping the neglect of those dogs. 9. Get the founders of dog rescues to do “educational” speeches at local schools to educate kids about adopting from shelters/rescues since kids are mainly the source of why families want dogs. 10. Those who have adopted from dog shelters/rescues should share their success rescue stories with their followers, so it encourages others who are thinking about adopting a dog to do the same.

ADOPT, DON’T SHOP! Dog owner’s to-be are taking the “easy and convenient” way of adopting a dog. They are not investing time into who and where they are buying their dogs from. Puppy mills and “self-proclaimed” breeders are still present, and we need to put an end to their wrongful actions. The internet is no better place than to have people recognize why adopting is better than “shopping” for a dog because the internet is where people are introduced to “trusted” breeders. LINKS humanesociety.org donate how you can help want to make a change? Check your local animal shelter to volunteer and help save the lives of animals that have been neglected or left behind. Disclaimer: Sinsia Sysengchanh takes full responsibility for the information posted. The information on this page represents that of Sinsia Sysengchanh and not that of California State University, Sacramento.