ASPCA Urges Consumers to Avoid Puppy Mill Dogs

Earlier this month, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals released a holiday video titled “Puppies Are Not Toys” as part of its No Pet Store Puppies campaign. The video reveals how dogs from puppy mills are treated on a level akin to plush toys—manufactured and housed in warehouse-type conditions until they are ready to be sold, and destroying those who are not. The ASPCA also released a results from a poll conducted by Edge Research, which reveals that 37 percent of Americans (approximately 88 million people) are planning on purchasing a companion animal for the holidays and 59 percent may purchase gifts from stores that sell mill-puppies, allowing the puppy-mill industry to rake in more than $2.5 billion. Thankfully, consumer awareness seems to be on the rise, as The Humane Society of the United States recently announced more than 2,000 pet stores have banned puppy-mill dogs.