Largely depending on the “awwww” factor to sell their puppy inventory, pet shops represent the final link in the despicable puppy mill chain of horrors and consumers are frequently taken advantage of both financially AND emotionally.

Due largely to homelessness, the United States euthanizes in excess of 5 million (that’s 5,000,000!) companion animals every year. With 99% of all pet shop puppies coming from puppy mills, please check with your local breed specific rescue or shelter BEFORE buying a puppy.

To think that every dog or puppy in rescue or a shelter has health or behavioral problems would be a mistake. Many times dogs are surrendered due to: job relocation, new baby, death of an owner, divorce, inability to care for a litter of puppies, home foreclosure and the list goes on and on. Rescues and shelters are filled with many wonderful dogs – including purebreds – who are seeking their new forever home.

Even if you’re lucky enough to find a healthy puppy in a pet shop, please take a moment to think about where the pup comes from and where the mother still remains: a permanent hostage in a cage where she is bred repeatedly until she can produce no more and dies at a young age – usually at age 5 or 6…..

Remember: if YOU don’t buy, the puppy mill business WILL die. Help put a nail in the puppy miller’s coffin and BOYCOTT STORES THAT SELL COMPANION ANIMALS. Please help put these pet profiteers OUT OF BUSINESS!!

Visit stoppuppymills.com OR nppmwatch.com for more information on puppy mills and to learn how you can help shut down this heartless industry.