It’s hard to resist that cute puppy in the window or in a glossy Internet ad. The sad truth is that approximately 99 percent of dogs sold in pet stores and online come from large commercial breeding operation known as puppy mills. Approximately, 78 percent of consumers haven’t connected the dots between puppy mills, pet stores and Internet pet sales.
Across the country, groups are working to educate consumers about puppy mills and pet stores. Communities all over the country have also started to work to change laws to make it more difficult for puppy mills to continue operation and to prohibit pet sales in pet stores as more stores move to adoption models.
Below are a few of the blog posts I've written about puppy mills, pet stores, consumer fraud and the advocates that are working hard to get the word out about puppy mills. You may also learn more on the following websites or pages – The Puppy Mill Project, National Mill Dog Rescue, Iowa Voters for Companion Animals and Iowa Animal Welfare Alliance.
July 25, 2013
Naperville Petland and the puppies in the pictures
If you look at these photos from Reddit, you expect to see it connected to a story about dogs needing rescue from a hoarding or abusive situation. The pictures are not what you think. And, the dogs’ location would surprise many people. A customer of the Naperville Petland took the alarming shots. It worked, in... Read more »
Dog Patch Pet and Feed sets special adoption event
For the past several years, a new business model has been evolving for one Naperville pet store. Ever since Dog Patch Pet and Feed decided to stop selling puppies to move to a humane model, the store has been experimenting with a rescue/adoption model aimed at saving lives without putting the store in financial distress.... Read more »
Family fun at Miles for the Mothers in the Mills
One of my favorite fall pet events is Miles for the Mothers in the Mills – the annual pet walk that raises funds for educational programs for The Puppy Mill Project. This fun family- and dog-friendly event has a little bit of something for everyone and is slated for Sunday, October 20 at Larry Fink Memorial Park in... Read more »
Lola’s Legacy: The pink letter campaign to end puppy mills
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl. And, in the six short months she lived, this little dog that was discarded from a puppy mill has left quite a legacy. While Lola’s start in life was as far from the center stage as you can get, she quickly became an inspiration to her followers.... Read more »
March on Michigan for Puppy Mill Awareness Day
What was all the excitement on Michigan Avenue Sunday afternoon? For the second straight year, animal advocates hit the Midwest’s most popular shopping district to get the word out about puppy mills for National Puppy Mill Awareness Day. Volunteers from The Puppy Mill Project and local rescues used the beautiful fall day to walk the... Read more »
How do you shut down puppy mills: Don't let them open
How do you shut down puppy mills? Try not letting them open to begin with. Hats off this morning to the town board in Canajoharie, New York. When members of the community found out an Amish farmer wanted to open a puppy mill in their community, they were outraged and took action. Thanks to their... Read more »
Iowa shutters Pratt puppy mill, but what took so long
It’s finally the end of the road for one of Iowa’s most notorious puppy mills. Thanks to an agreement with the Iowa Department of Agriculture, Debra Pratt has lost her state permit to operate her puppy mill. After years of USDA violations and an auction where most of her stock was sold to the highest... Read more »
The Pratt puppy mill and the 17 dogs left behind
Who will let the dogs out of the Pratt puppy mill in Iowa? That my seem like an odd question since Pratt’s puppy mill for all intents and purposes was closed by the state earlier this year. After ringing up violations for years for keeping her dogs in deplorable conditions, the dogs were auctioned off... Read more »
May 3, 2013
Project Mercy: 23 English Bulldogs rescued from puppy mill
A few weeks ago, the call went out to various Midwestern rescues about a puppy mill in Iowa that was closing down. The puppy mill, known for poor inspections from the USDA, was to be auctioning off all the dogs on April 27 and 28. The Chicago English Bulldog Rescue (CEBR) quickly kicked in a... Read more »
Pratt puppy mill rescue finds home for Thanksgiving
Why do rescue people do what they do? For happy endings like this dog that was rescued seven months ago from the Pratt Puppy Mill in Iowa. Seven months of TLC in an Iowa shelter = a forever home for Thanksgiving. The report below aired on WHO-TV in Des Moines yesterday complete with video from... Read more »
Will USDA tame the Wild West of Internet Pet Sales?
If you’re searching for a puppy or kitten online, you may not realize that the pretty websites selling pets are usually a front for kitten and puppy mills. As Internet commerce has exploded, laws regulating Internet pet sales lagged behind – until this week. Pet breeders involved in Internet pet sales must now face the... Read more »
July 28, 2013
Dog Patch Pet and Feed: Pet rescue program continues to grow
Two Naperville pet stores were in the spotlight for two very different reasons this past week. While the Naperville Petland came under fire when pictures of emaciated puppies at the store hit social media, Greg Gordon of Dog Patch Pet and Feed was working behind the scenes with other pet storeowners who want to offer... Read more »
August 30, 2013
The journey from puppy mill rescue to being a dog
What a long, strange trip it’s been in many ways for Pia the dog. Just one year ago, she was languishing in a cinder block cell at an Amish Puppy Mill in Southern Illinois. She embarked on a long journey from her puppy mill rescue only to end up in a home very close to... Read more »
September 3, 2013
Puppy mill survivor rescues son and daughter during Harley to the Rescue
It’s been a busy few weeks for a couple of pint size rescuers who have taken social media by storm. Harley and Teddy – a couple of Chihuahuas rescued from puppy mills – are in the midst of a Harley to the Rescue campaign that will spring around 80 dogs from puppy mills when they’re... Read more »
September 4, 2013
A dog's eye view of a puppy mill rescue
Yesterday, I shared the heartwarming story of Harley to the Rescue - a rescue mission where puppy mill survivor Harley was involved in the rescue of his own son and daughter from the same mill where he was once held captive. Today, I’m sharing a slideshow of the puppy mill rescue mission. The first wave... Read more »
August 13, 2013
Governor Quinn signs the Puppy Lemon Law
There will soon be some consumer protection for pet families like Stacey Kranz, Bryan Phillips, Stephanie Essex, SheaLynn O’Donnell and Paige Russell. All of these people walked into a pet store, fell in love with and bought a puppy and ended up with a sick puppy and large vet bills shortly after bringing their new... Read more »
April 20, 2013
Rescue groups collaborate to save 93 puppy mill dogs
The Puppy Mill Project usually doesn’t spearhead dog rescue operations. In fact, the Chicago-based advocacy group has a lot on their plate focusing on educating the public about puppy mills and their connection to pet stores and Internet pet sales. They also focus on changing laws related to pet sales. But a few weeks ago,... Read more »
June 5, 2013
Furry Babies sued for selling puppy mill dogs
June 25, 2013
Parvo puppy reported at Furry Babies
June 28, 2013
Puppy Steps: Suburban woman speaks out about sick puppy
April 1, 2013
Pet adoption events make debut at Collar and Leash this weekend
May 8, 2013
Mothers in the Mills honored by The Puppy Mill Project
The Puppy Mill Project will continue its annual tradition this weekend of honoring mother dogs left behind in puppy mills at the Mothers in the Mills Benefit. This year’s event will be at John Barleycorn’s in River North at 149 West Kinzie starting at 6:30. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and funds... Read more »
June 18, 2013
Rescuing the Rescuers at the National Mill Dog Rescue
For the past six years, the National Mill Dog Rescue has been rescuing dogs from puppy mills around the country. Thanks to the organization, nearly 8,000 dogs have gotten a new life. Now, the dog rescue is rescuing the rescuers by giving refuge to its founder and other volunteers displaced by the Black Forest fire... Read more »
June 12, 2013
The tale of two pet store protests
In the world of puppy mills and dog sales, the local story tends to focus on where your community is on the supply and demand side of the business. If you’re from Missouri and Iowa, the number one and two states for puppy mills, the spotlight is on the breeders, auctions and legislation focused on... Read more »
March 12, 2013
Puppy Lemon Law: Illinois Senate committee considers new bill
Consumers in Illinois may soon have stronger recourse if they purchase sick or genetically defective puppies. On Wednesday, Illinois’ Senate Labor and Commerce Committee will hear the first reading of the so called “puppy lemon law” in Springfield. If passed, the puppy lemon law would provide consumers more protection when purchasing pets from pet stores.... Read more »
June 11, 2013
Attorney's refocus Happiness Is Pets lawsuit
Dog Patch Pet and Feed sets special adoption event
For the past several years, a new business model has been evolving for one Naperville pet store. Ever since Dog Patch Pet and Feed decided to stop selling puppies to move to a humane model, the store has been experimenting with a rescue/adoption model aimed at saving lives without putting the store in financial distress.... Read more »
Family fun at Miles for the Mothers in the Mills
One of my favorite fall pet events is Miles for the Mothers in the Mills – the annual pet walk that raises funds for educational programs for The Puppy Mill Project. This fun family- and dog-friendly event has a little bit of something for everyone and is slated for Sunday, October 20 at Larry Fink Memorial Park in... Read more »
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl. And, in the six short months she lived, this little dog that was discarded from a puppy mill has left quite a legacy. While Lola’s start in life was as far from the center stage as you can get, she quickly became an inspiration to her followers.... Read more »
March on Michigan for Puppy Mill Awareness Day
What was all the excitement on Michigan Avenue Sunday afternoon? For the second straight year, animal advocates hit the Midwest’s most popular shopping district to get the word out about puppy mills for National Puppy Mill Awareness Day. Volunteers from The Puppy Mill Project and local rescues used the beautiful fall day to walk the... Read more »
How do you shut down puppy mills: Don't let them open
How do you shut down puppy mills? Try not letting them open to begin with. Hats off this morning to the town board in Canajoharie, New York. When members of the community found out an Amish farmer wanted to open a puppy mill in their community, they were outraged and took action. Thanks to their... Read more »
Dog Patch Pet and Feed sets special adoption event
For the past several years, a new business model has been evolving for one Naperville pet store. Ever since Dog Patch Pet and Feed decided to stop selling puppies to move to a humane model, the store has been experimenting with a rescue/adoption model aimed at saving lives without putting the store in financial distress.... Read more »
Family fun at Miles for the Mothers in the Mills
One of my favorite fall pet events is Miles for the Mothers in the Mills – the annual pet walk that raises funds for educational programs for The Puppy Mill Project. This fun family- and dog-friendly event has a little bit of something for everyone and is slated for Sunday, October 20 at Larry Fink Memorial Park in... Read more »
Lola’s Legacy: The pink letter campaign to end puppy mills
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl. And, in the six short months she lived, this little dog that was discarded from a puppy mill has left quite a legacy. While Lola’s start in life was as far from the center stage as you can get, she quickly became an inspiration to her followers.... Read more »
What was all the excitement on Michigan Avenue Sunday afternoon? For the second straight year, animal advocates hit the Midwest’s most popular shopping district to get the word out about puppy mills for National Puppy Mill Awareness Day. Volunteers from The Puppy Mill Project and local rescues used the beautiful fall day to walk the... Read more »
How do you shut down puppy mills: Don't let them open
How do you shut down puppy mills? Try not letting them open to begin with. Hats off this morning to the town board in Canajoharie, New York. When members of the community found out an Amish farmer wanted to open a puppy mill in their community, they were outraged and took action. Thanks to their... Read more »
Iowa shutters Pratt puppy mill, but what took so long
It’s finally the end of the road for one of Iowa’s most notorious puppy mills. Thanks to an agreement with the Iowa Department of Agriculture, Debra Pratt has lost her state permit to operate her puppy mill. After years of USDA violations and an auction where most of her stock was sold to the highest... Read more »
September 16, 2013 at 5:27 am
Will USDA tame the Wild West of Internet Pet Sales?
If you’re searching for a puppy or kitten online, you may not realize that the pretty websites selling pets are usually a front for kitten and puppy mills. As Internet commerce has exploded, laws regulating Internet pet sales lagged behind – until this week. Pet breeders involved in Internet pet sales must now face the... Read more »
If you’re searching for a puppy or kitten online, you may not realize that the pretty websites selling pets are usually a front for kitten and puppy mills. As Internet commerce has exploded, laws regulating Internet pet sales lagged behind – until this week. Pet breeders involved in Internet pet sales must now face the... Read more »
