We’ve all done it. Gone by or into a local pet store with all the puppies prominently displayed and looking cuter than ever. But have you ever thought about where these puppies come from? Many come from puppy mills, large-scale commercial breeding operations where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs.
Puppy mill cruelty is a national problem. The ASPCA estimates there are between 6,000 and 10,000 commercial breeding facilities in the United States — dogs living in deplorable conditions, in tiny, overcrowded cages in unsanitary conditions. Often these dogs never have access to proper veterinary care, food or water, and many live their lives without ever knowing human kindness and affection.
Participating in No Pet Store Puppies Day is easy.
– Take the No Pet Store Puppies pledge. You can sign the pledge at http://nopetstorepuppies.com/take-the-pledge, or simply pledge that if a pet store sells puppies, it will get none of your business.
– Then pass the word along to friends and family members, anyone you know, about the importance of adoption as opposed to pet store purchases, which only exacerbates the problem.
– You can do research at any number of internet sites and find lists of puppy mills in your state and pet stores that sell puppies — you may be surprised at the number of them.
– Write to your legislators and demand they take action against puppy mills and the breeders that run them.
– Boycott puppy sales in pet stores and on the internet, the places where most puppy mill animals are sold.
– Visit a shelter and give a puppy a forever home.
However you choose to celebrate No Pet Store Puppies Day, make it a day of action to raise awareness about this terrible problem.