National Puppy Mill Awareness Day: A Call to Action for Texans to Shop the Shelters Instead of Pet Stores

(Austin, Texas) – As Texas Humane Legislation Network observes National Puppy Mill Awareness Day on the third Saturday in September, which falls on September 20, they are reminding all Texans of the critical importance of choosing to adopt over shopping for puppies at pet stores.

“The reality behind the cute puppies found in pet stores is often a grim tale of puppy mills,” said Shelby Bobosky, Executive Director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network. “It saddens me that so many Texans are choosing to purchase a puppy through the more than 40 retail pet stores in Texas.”

What is A Puppy Mill

While there is no legal definition of a puppy mill, it is typically defined as a large-scale breeding facility that prioritizes profits over the welfare of the animals. Such establishments frequently neglect basic animal welfare standards, resulting in unsanitary conditions, poor health, and emotional trauma for the dogs.

Many puppy mills sell their puppies to pet stores or directly to consumers, often misleading buyers about the origins and health of these puppies. Dogs from these facilities commonly suffer from untreated illnesses, genetic disorders, and behavioral issues triggered by inadequate care.

These are separate from large brand chains like PetSmart or Petco, which focus on selling pet supplies and promoting pet adoption in their stores, as they do not sell puppies or kittens as part of their business model. Additionally, there are responsible, licensed breeders in Texas who do adhere to animal welfare standards and care about the health and wellbeing of pets.

Red Flags to Look for When Buying a Puppy

Texas Humane Legislative Network encourages everyone looking for a puppy to first go to your nearest shelter where you can find a puppy that has been vaccinated and fixed and with a purchase price far lower than any pet store.

But if you are considering adding a puppy outside an animal shelter, Texas Humane Legislation Network recommends looking out for these red flags:

• The puppy is younger than 8 weeks old
• There is a large number of animals available for sale
• Buyers are not allowed to meet the breeding dog parents
• There is no opportunity to view the breeding facility
• The seller has multiple “designer” breeds and shows no interest in the puppy’s well-being or future home

What Texas is Doing to Regulate Puppy Mills

The Texas Licensed Breeder Program, enacted in 2011, regulates large-scale commercial dog and cat breeders. It requires any facility with 11 or more adult intact female dogs or cats that sells 20 or more animals in a calendar year to obtain a license.

Recently, the Texas Legislature considered Senate Bill 1652, which aimed to prohibit pet stores from selling puppies and kittens, allowing only those from nonprofit organizations such as shelters to be showcased. Unfortunately, this bill did not pass.

Currently, 18 cities in Texas have adopted their own regulations for retail animal sales, mandating that animals sold in pet shops meet age requirements and be sourced from licensed facilities. Due to legislation passed in 2023, any future ordinances regulating puppy selling pet stores are pre-empted.

Bobosky said, “Although there is more work to be done to end the puppy mill pipeline to Texas, I encourage all Texans to consider adopting from animal shelters and rescues first. The puppy of their dreams just might be waiting for them there.”

For more information on Puppy Mill Awareness Day and how you can help, please visit: https://www.thln.org/ .

Texas Humane Legislation Network

For the past 50 years, the Texas Humane Legislation Network has been the leading voice in promoting the humane treatment of animals through legislation, education, and advocacy. They have played a key role in the passage of the majority of animal protection laws in Texas. Unlike other organizations, they are the only Texas-based mainstream group that does not adhere to a national agenda; instead, they focus exclusively on what benefits Texas and its animals. Learn more at ww.thln.org.