Help End the Horrors of Puppy Mills

AN APPEAL FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES

Two to four million puppy-mill puppies are sold each year, while millions of animals at shelters are euthanized for lack of good homes.

To feed this brutal industry, untold numbers of breeder dogs spend their entire lives confined to tiny and filthy cages, giving birth to one litter after another until their worn-out bodies can no longer reproduce. They endure a lifetime of misery,deprived of exercise, decent food, or even basic veterinary care. As they age and their fertility wanes, these animals are often killed or abandoned.

What most pet owners and animal lovers don't realize is that so many of the puppies sold through pet stores or Internet sites come from places just like these -- breeding operations filled with suffering, disease and malnutrition. Puppy mills typically operate without oversight, sell puppies through third parties and use deceptive practices to fool the public into believing they care about the puppies they breed. That is why it is crucial to shine a spotlight on this unseen industry.

Help stop this cycle of abuse by making a generous donation today. With your gift, we'll have the critical resources we need to:

Investigate and expose the realities behind this cruel commercial industry;

Advocate for stricter regulation of the industry and increased funding to enforce existing animal welfare laws;

Educate the public about how to avoid buying puppies or kittens from inhumane commercial breeders;

Pass federal legislation to increase protections for dogs across the nation languishing in puppy mills.

Pass state laws to require licensing, regulation and inspection of large puppy mills, which currently escape USDA scrutiny due to a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act.

Reach out to prospective puppy buyers-- using everything from billboards to word of mouth--to educate them about the cruelty of puppy mills and where these animals are sold.

Puppy mills can only thrive if consumers are kept in the dark about the fraudulent tactics and inhumane conditions used to mass produce purebred and designer dogs. You have the power to shine a light on these cruel practices and prevent further animal suffering. Please spread the word to your friends and family.

Contributions to The Humane Society of the United States are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. If you have any questions about donating to us online, please contact us by e-mail or call 301-258-8276.

To donate by U.S. mail, please send your check made payable to The HSUS to Dept. GABA6J, HSUS, 2100 L St., NW, Washington, DC 20037.

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