The American Humane Association estimates that:

• 9.6 million animals are euthanized in the United States every year.
• Out of 1,000 shelters 4.3 animals or 64% were euthanized.
• 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter shelters are euthanized.
• 15% of dogs and 2% of cats were reunited with their owners.
• 25% of dogs and 24% of cats were adopted.
* The majority of these are euthanized at animal shelters, typically after a standard period of time (ranging from several days to several weeks for unclaimed stray animals).

There is no more torturous experience for a dog than that of a puppy mill.  These dogs live in the most horrid of conditions and are slaves for breeding & greed.  They live in cramped cages, their feet never touch the floor.  They are denied sunlight, love, exercise and basic care.  The breeding bitches are used over and over again and eventually discarded.  Their lives are absolute horror stories that never end.  The reason???  To keep stocking the cramped cruel cages of your local pet store.  But you can help.  Puppy mills can only survive as long as people keep shopping pet stores.  If you buy a pet at your local pet store you are part of the problem.  STOP.  THINK.  For each and every dog or cat purchased at a pet store, another one is killed at the local shelter.  The most humane thing to do is to adopt a dog at a local shelter.  The least humane thing to do is to buy one at a pet store that came from a puppy mill.
How do you know if your local pet store is selling puppies from puppy mills?  Chances are if its a pet store, they are.  If you ask the manager, rest assured they will deny it, but then again, who would admit it?  Buying a pet from a pet store is a bad idea all around.  Visit a local shelter, contact local rescues and research.
Currently many people buy dogs over the internet from “breeders.”  These breeders offer good references and show beautiful pictures on their websites.  Since you can never be sure if that is actually the place they come from, please due some research and consider visiting them before you buy.  Take note of the location and see the conditions that these animals live in.  A pet is a commitment of 8-20 years.  Do not take the acquisition of a pet lightly and just “Mail Order” a pet.  If you can’t visit the place where your future pet came from to see the conditions, reconsider.  There are countless rescue groups around the US that specialize in pure bred animals.  Simply visit petfinder.com
All pet stores don’t sell puppies from puppy stores, but all puppy mills sell puppies to pet stores.  Most dogs at local pet stores come from puppy mills.  All puppy mills are torture chambers for dogs.  If you love dogs, boycott the pet stores and send a message to show you care.
Shelters and rescues are overcrowded and millions of dogs are being killed.
If you have taken the time to read this, you should understand that thousands of dogs live in the most inhumane conditions in puppy mills, millions of dogs are killed each year in our nations shelters.  You have the power and the ability to change this.  Boycott the pet stores that sell lives to make a profit.  Research where your future pet came from.  Adopt your next pet and save lives.

You have the power to make a difference.

useful links

LAST CHANCE FOR ANIMALS

STOP PUPPY MILLS

BAN PUPPY MILLS

BOUND ANGELS

Puppy Mill Awareness Day will be
Saturday, September 20, 2008 11am - 5pm