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Approximately 3,500 pet stores in the United States sell 500,000 puppies a year. A product of Puppy Mills, the parents of these puppies are often forced to live their entire lives in cruel conditions including tight, overcrowded and dirty cages with very limited socialization and poor quality food. They receive little to no veterinary care and are continually over bred and inbred until their reproductive capacity wanes and they are killed. This cruelty and inbreeding often results in sick or disabled offspring. In addition to being sold at pet stores, these puppies are also sold directly to the unknowing consumer through the Internet, newspaper ads and from the mill itself.

Every day North Shore Animal League America actively works to help end animal cruelty, including the horrors of puppy mills. On September 22, fifty-six Chihuahuas were rescued from a puppy mill in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana and made their way to safety at North Shore Animal League America. The Chihuahuas, which range in age from one to eight, were subjected to living in deplorable conditions. These puppies were kept in overcrowded, filthy conditions and were malnourished. Police arrested the owner on suspicion of animal cruelty. She was housing 80 dogs in a filthy building behind her house. Authorities received a complaint from someone who bought a puppy from her that died within a week. That complaint led to an investigation to see if she was running an illegal business out of her home. Officials found dogs at her home in broken cages with little water and food.

Thanks to an overwhelming response to their plight, 47 of the 56 rescued dogs have already been adopted. We are committed to finding the remaining Chihuahuas loving, new homes where they will be given the love and care they deserve. Please help us continue our efforts to rescue more helpless animals from puppy mills by making a generous tax-deductible donation today.

Things you can do to help end the horror of puppy mills:

1. Adopt a pet! Visit your local shelter and find a four-legged friend.
   
   

2. Don't buy that puppy in the window. Most puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills. There are approximately 3,500 pet stores across the United States that sell over 500,000 puppies every year that have come from the horrific conditions of puppy mills.
   

3. Do not support pet stores that sell puppies or kittens. Purchase your pet supplies from pet stores that hold adoption events.
   

4. Educate your friends and families about puppy mills and tell them to adopt any of the thousands of animals that need a place to call home.