Scrutiny Increases on Puppy Mills

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. (More puppy stories.)