People often ask me why it’s legal for dogs to be kept the way they are in puppy mills.
Puppy mills are regulated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, though only about 3,000 of a total estimated 10,000 in the U.S. are actually licensed. Those that are licensed fall under standards listed out by the federal Animal Welfare Act. Unfortunately most people consider the AWA’s conditions inhumane and cruel. Consider:
- There is no age limit for breeding dogs, which means that as long as they can produce puppies, they can be bred.
- Dogs never have to be let out of the cage. The mill owner just simply has to show they have an exercise plan.
- The cage only has to be 6 inches larger than the dog on all sides, can have wire floors and be stacked on top of other cages.
- If there are no violations by a puppy mill owner, then it can be years before a location will be inspected again, allowing them to do whatever they please.
- There are no conditions in the Act that relate to the emotional well being of the dogs.
Educating the public is how we will end these horrible places. Our documentary, A Voice for Lil Olive, will be able to reach enormous numbers of people, and together we can end this horror.
Will you be a voice for Lil Olive and all of those who have no voice? I invite you to join us through our Indiegogo campaign, which runs through March 17.
— Pam “Dat Mommy” Horton