01/01/2026
Do you know how puppy mills started?
After World War II, farms across the Midwest experienced widespread crop failures. The USDA promoted purebred puppies as a fool-proof 'cash crop' for these farmers, even offering seminars about how to transition their farms. Existing barns, sheds, chicken coops and rabbit hutches were re-purposed for the breeding of dogs. Pet stores began cropping up in cities across the country to meet the demand for puppies. Puppy brokers went into business to transport dogs from the breeding farms to the pet stores. This cycle of puppy mill -> puppy broker -> pet store -> buyer -- continues today (in addition we now have puppy mill -> internet sales).
Unfortunately, nothing much has changed. Those same converted farms still exist today, passed down for generations. The dogs suffer, everyone makes money and the public is unaware of how the pet store parent dogs live (and die). This is why it's important to educate people and to END puppy mills! Please share.
