(dog)spired

Dogs in your community need your help! Every day, dogs are left behind in the cold, abused and abandoned. The United States Humane Society estimates that of the 6 to 8 million dogs and cats entering shelters each year, 3 to 4 million of them get euthanized. Yet, there are several hundred thousand puppies that are being bred in puppy mills.

Puppy mills are mass breeding operations that are established strictly for profit. They are often in shockingly poor and inhumane conditions. The dogs are put in cages with hundreds of other dogs that are waiting to be sold for top dollar across the nation. Dogs raised in puppy mills typically leave with any number of health issues.

These unfortunate dogs prey on unwitting customers who are enamored by the resulting cute puppies in pet stores and on fancy websites. If a website has a constant availability of puppies of various breeds, the dogs are probably bred in a puppy mill.

How can you help?

Support your local shelter and rescue groups. If you come across any suspicious breeders or websites, report them to the ASPCA or the National Humane Society. If you do decide to purchase a dog from a  breeder or pet store, do as much research as possible beforehand, and make sure they are reputable dog lovers!