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Scrutiny Increases on Puppy Mills

Breeding facilities range from legal-but-distasteful to downright abusive

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 6, 2007 9:09 PM CST
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(Newser) – Local and state officials are starting to crack down on puppy mills—operations that breed dogs for profit, often under crowded, inhumane conditions. At the farms, the puppies are kept in relatively good shape—because they're what brings the money—but the breeding adults are kept in tiny cages and are often diseased and uncared for, MSNBC reports.

A recent raid rescued more than 1,000 dogs from an operation in Hillsville, Va., part of what the Humane Society says is increased scrutiny from local and state authorities. “We’re excited to be able to remove them from that horrible situation,” says a member of an anti-animal-cruelty group, which estimates there are thousands of such operations in the US.

Dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Lexington, Neb., are seen at the Omaha Humane Society, in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, May 30, 2007. A short time after the May 16 rescue of 171 dogs from the property of a Dawson County man, the Nebraska Legislature passed a law that increases...
Dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Lexington, Neb., are seen at the Omaha Humane Society, in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, May 30, 2007. A short time after the May 16 rescue of 171 dogs from the property of...   (Associated Press)
Samantha Zeller, an animal care attendant at the Idaho Humane Society in Boise, Idaho, holds a seven-week-old Maltese puppy that was rescued with about 200 other dogs from a Burns, Ore., puppy mill Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2007. Puppy mills are an increasing problem, according to humane industry spokespeople, where dogs...
Samantha Zeller, an animal care attendant at the Idaho Humane Society in Boise, Idaho, holds a seven-week-old Maltese puppy that was rescued with about 200 other dogs from a Burns, Ore., puppy mill Wednesday,...   (Associated Press)
Andrea Hasbrouck dries a puppy Thursday, May 17, 2007, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)
Andrea Hasbrouck dries a puppy Thursday, May 17, 2007, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)   (Associated Press)
Three puppies that appear to be a Maltese mix share a cage on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007 in Hillsville, Va., at Horton's Pups, a dog breeding operation owned by Junior Horton, specializing in small breeds. Carroll County officials have summoned help from state emergency officials and the Red Cross to...
Three puppies that appear to be a Maltese mix share a cage on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007 in Hillsville, Va., at Horton's Pups, a dog breeding operation owned by Junior Horton, specializing in small breeds....   (Associated Press)
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