Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/puppy-mill-day/
Maybe you’ve been in this situation before. You see a precious little puppy online or at your local pet shop, and you just have to bring it home.
But, do you know who you will be supporting if you make that purchase?
What is a Puppy Mill?
As the Animal Rescue Professionals Association reports, puppy mills are facilities that breed dogs for profit. The dogs used for breeding are usually kept away in small, cramped kennels, where they soon become covered in their own waste.
These animals rarely get the care, food or shelter they need, much less veterinary visits. It’s possible they could spend their entire lives pumping out littles from an uncomfortable cage. And, “when they’re no longer strong enough to earn their keep, they’re either killed or tossed away like yesterday’s trash,” the ARPA reports.
Puppy mills are more often driven by profits than the animals they breed, all the more reason the nickname is appropriate. According to ASPCA, there are about 10,000 puppy mills in the United States, and a lot of the pet stores we come across get their animals from these unregulated breeding facilities.
“Each year, approximately 10,000 puppy mills across the country produce hundreds of thousands of dogs to be sold online and in pet stores throughout the nation,” says Elizabeth Oreck of Best Friends Animal Society. “Meanwhile, approximately 3 to 4 million animals are killed in animal shelters annually as a means of population control. It’s a sad illustration of the concept of supply and demand. If people would stop buying pets produced in puppy mills, and start adopting from shelters, we could put this industry out of business – and save every last homeless dog.”
What is Puppy Mill Awareness Day?
Puppy Mill Awareness Day was established in 2003 when Puppy Mill Awareness started a movement to educate people about the grim reality animals face in puppy mills. Puppy Mill Awareness Day is now observed on the third Saturday in September.
What is National Puppy Mill Survivor Day
National Puppy Mill Survivor Day is a day to honor all of the dogs who were rescued from the puppy mill industry, as well as those who never found freedom.
Puppy Mill Survivor Day falls on the last day of September, also known as Puppy Mill Awareness Month, and seeks to raise awareness about the link between puppy mills and the pet stores and websites where they are sold.
According to Bailing Out Benji, “National Puppy Mill Survivor Day helps shine a light on the dogs who were rescued from the cruel puppy mill industry. It allows their adopted families to celebrate how far they have come and talk about what they endured. These dogs were invisible victims for so many years and deserve to have their stories told to the world. This day is also in observance of all of the dogs, cats, rabbits and other victims of the commercial breeding industry that never found freedom.”
Why are these holidays Important?
Many puppy mills continue to profit off animals in the U.S. because consumer demand keeps them in business. Many people who purchase puppies from pet stores do not know what puppy mills are, nor do they understand that puppy mills are major suppliers of these pet stores.
In the face of this challenge, education is the best strategy. Puppy Mill Awareness Day and National Puppy Mill Survivor Day are the perfect times to tell others about the connection between the horrific conditions of puppy mills and the pet store puppies that look cute enough to take home.
How to Observe Puppy Mill Awareness Day and National Puppy Mill Survivor Day
Here are a few things you can do to observe Puppy Mill Awareness Day, and help save the lives of countless animals.:
- Adopt don’t shop – You will save a life while helping put unscrupulous pet stores out of business.
- Stop the violence – Report abusive pet breeders or puppy mill operators to your local animal law enforcement agency immediately.
- Spread the Word – Tell your friends, family, and coworkers the truth about puppy mills, and the pet stores they supply.
Take action today and help us put an end to suffering in puppy mills. Click below to make a difference.
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
