While shopping, my mother and I passed a pet store. I begged her to let me go in, and, when I did, I realized why she didn’t want me to. Cages lined the wall, and in them were puppies.

My mom told me where they may have come from. It’s always sad to see dogs locked away, but, it’s even more sad once you learn where some come from.

Some dogs might come from puppy mills, which are commercialized dog-breeding businesses where profit is more important to the owners than the actual health and well-being of the dogs.

The puppies are kept in small, crowded cages and get little food and water. They don’t get proper veterinary care. When the adults are unable to breed, they are abandoned or killed.

They are bred even when they are sick, which can lead to long-term problems for the puppies. When they’re born, they are taken from their mothers and sold to a broker.

Unfortunately, most puppy mill facilities are USDA licensed. Some will argue that these mills are humane, but they are not.

The Humane Society of the United States has done numerous investigations on different mills all over the U.S., and have reported terrible conditions.

I strongly encourage everyone to boycott these mills.

If you are interested and want to learn more, the Humane Society of the United States’ and the ASPCA’s websites have many articles dedicated to exposing puppy mills. If you are looking to adopt or rescue a dog, visit your local humane society or animal shelter.

Josie Johnson

Butler