Care2 member? Log in
deadline: Ongoing...
goal: 25,000
 

Stop Puppy Mills - Five Things You Can Do

Target: You!
Sponsored by: ASPCA

Thinking of getting a dog this year? We've all been tempted by the cute puppy in the pet store window. But before you give in to the temptation and buy that furry bundle of joy, there are some things you should know.

For one, that puppy most likely came from a large-scale, substandard commercial breeding operation, commonly known as a puppy mill. Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and often unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. The breeding stocks at puppy mills (possibly your new puppy's mom and dad) are bred as often as possible in order to increase profits. In fact, the living conditions and treatment of these dogs can be downright horrific.

But you can help. Pledge to stop puppy mills by being a responsible consumer and pet parent.

  
THE PLEDGE

I pledge to do what I can to stop puppy mills by being a responsible consumer and pet parent. I will be mindful of the following guidelines:

1. Not to Buy From a Pet Store
That puppy who charmed you through the pet shop window has most likely come from a large-scale, substandard commercial breeding facility, commonly known as a puppy mill. In these facilities, parent dogs are caged and bred as often as possible, and give birth to puppies who could have costly medical problems you might not become aware of until after you bring your new pet home.

2. To Make Adoption My First Option
If you're looking to make a puppy part of your family, check your local shelters first. Not only will you be saving a life, but you will ensure that your money is not going to support a puppy mill. There are many dogs waiting for homes in shelters all across the country--and an estimated one in four is a purebred!

3. To Know How to Recognize a Responsible Breeder
If you've exhausted your options for adopting and are choosing to buy from a breeder, remember that responsible breeders have their dogs' interests in mind. They are not simply interested in making a sale, but in placing their pups in good homes. A responsible breeder should screen you as thoroughly as you screen them!  
view whole pledge

Sign Pledge
Prefix
*First Name
*Last Name
*Email
*Address
*City
*State
*Province
*Zip/Postal
*Country
Are you a pet parent?
If you're a pet parent, how did you find your pet?
We respect your privacy. Your email address is used to confirm your signature and is NOT displayed publicly.

We signed the “Stop Puppy Mills - Five Things You Can Do” Pledge!
# 9,664:
12:26 pm PDT, Aug 29, Carmella Chianese, Pennsylvania
# 9,663:
11:12 am PDT, Aug 29, Sherry Merritt, Arizona
adoption
# 9,662:
6:37 am PDT, Aug 29, Anita Dias, United Kingdom
In a shelter. I rescued him as i know there are thousands of animals out there needing a home Never i would get an animal companion from a hell like pet shops.
# 9,661:
5:21 am PDT, Aug 29, Angela Lockett, Louisiana
# 9,660:
6:49 pm PDT, Aug 28, Lucy Pisko, Canada
# 9,659:
6:30 pm PDT, Aug 28, Kristy Borko, Australia
# 9,658:
3:50 pm PDT, Aug 28, Marty Oakley, Illinois
# 9,657:
2:54 pm PDT, Aug 28, Meg Martino, Illinois
Rescued feral kittens and cats
# 9,656:
2:42 pm PDT, Aug 28, Cheryl Janiszewski, Maryland
# 9,655:
11:19 am PDT, Aug 28, Maria R. Solorio, California
# 9,654:
9:25 am PDT, Aug 28, Ron Stephen, Canada
My pets found me.
# 9,653:
7:43 am PDT, Aug 28, Jodi Farmer, United Kingdom
I adopted her from the Cats Protection League in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
# 9,652:
7:21 am PDT, Aug 28, Ruthann Lange, Minnesota
# 9,651:
4:08 pm PDT, Aug 27, Angie Ballis, Texas
Rescued the kittens. One from the middle of the interstate and one needed to be adopted before being taken to the shelter. My two cocker spaniels were purchased from local friends and one mixed dog was hit in front of my house, so we had him put back together and he is still with us.
# 9,650:
3:29 pm PDT, Aug 27, Brittany Worsley, Michigan
All are adopted from other people having accidental litters, or decided they no longer would care for them.
# 9,649:
2:58 pm PDT, Aug 27, Dana Krug, California
through local shelters
# 9,648:
11:38 am PDT, Aug 27, Hercules Liotard, New Jersey
# 9,647:
11:23 am PDT, Aug 27, Kat Yazzie, Kansas
# 9,646:
11:00 am PDT, Aug 27, Angelica Rugamas, Canada
# 9,645:
10:10 am PDT, Aug 27, Gisel Rodriguez Vale, Puerto Rico
# 9,644:
8:22 am PDT, Aug 27, Reagen Roland, North Carolina
RESCUE!!!!!
# 9,643:
7:37 am PDT, Aug 27, Martin Mata, Pennsylvania
# 9,642:
6:55 am PDT, Aug 27, Laura Falanga, Connecticut
# 9,641:
3:55 am PDT, Aug 27, Raissa Banosan, Philippines
My cats are all strays & my dogs are all adopted from the local animal shelter in our city.
# 9,640:
7:55 pm PDT, Aug 26, Brigitt Graves, California
The San Jose Mercury News, The San Francisco Gate, Kijiji.com
# 9,639:
2:54 pm PDT, Aug 26, Darren Holland, United Kingdom
# 9,638:
11:30 am PDT, Aug 26, Renata Nobilo, Croatia
# 9,637:
10:22 am PDT, Aug 26, Vanda Ross, New York
# 9,636:
7:39 am PDT, Aug 26, Sabina Padilla, Florida
# 9,635:
1:35 am PDT, Aug 26, Mervi Rantala, Finland
# 9,634:
4:37 pm PDT, Aug 25, Jayne Riley, United Kingdom
# 9,633:
2:16 pm PDT, Aug 25, LYNDA TAYLOR, Mississippi
# 9,632:
12:54 pm PDT, Aug 25, JUAN ECHEVARRIA, Illinois
# 9,631:
6:59 am PDT, Aug 25, Lynn Loughlin, Connecticut
# 9,630:
6:43 am PDT, Aug 25, Name not displayed, France
# 9,629:
9:24 pm PDT, Aug 24, Stephanie Rugamas, Canada
# 9,628:
4:32 pm PDT, Aug 24, Natalia Berrier, Texas
# 9,627:
4:07 pm PDT, Aug 24, Maryrose Snopkowski, Pennsylvania
She was found have dead in the middle of the street.. and visibly abused. BUT 12 years later is the happiest, most wonderful angel in the world!
# 9,626:
12:17 pm PDT, Aug 24, Didem Coban, Turkey
# 9,625:
7:49 am PDT, Aug 24, Name not displayed, New York
I found my best friend from a breeder in Texas.
# 9,624:
5:15 pm PDT, Aug 23, Radovan G, Indiana
# 9,623:
5:14 pm PDT, Aug 23, Dusko Lazic, Germany
# 9,622:
5:13 pm PDT, Aug 23, Stacey Gavrilovic, Indiana
# 9,621:
2:53 pm PDT, Aug 23, Aaron Smith, Kansas
# 9,620:
6:51 am PDT, Aug 23, Christina Jackson, California
Kids giving away kittens in front of grocery store (19 years ago).
# 9,619:
1:49 pm PDT, Aug 22, Judy Langston, Illinois
# 9,618:
12:27 pm PDT, Aug 22, Sue Ripley, New York
From a responsible breeder
# 9,617:
12:21 pm PDT, Aug 22, Jen Patterson, New York
SPCA
# 9,616:
12:16 pm PDT, Aug 22, Green Griffin, United Kingdom
# 9,615:
12:08 pm PDT, Aug 22, Bonnie Binger, New York
breeder for dogs. found cats abandoned in a basement
# 9,614:
6:59 am PDT, Aug 22, Maria Bruinen, Latvia
# 9,613:
6:07 am PDT, Aug 22, Debbie Butz, Illinois
# 9,612:
2:50 am PDT, Aug 22, Andrea Stauff, Minnesota
# 9,611:
1:14 am PDT, Aug 22, Ivonne Engler, Germany
# 9,610:
3:51 pm PDT, Aug 21, Susan Iannucci, Connecticut
Our dog was a rescued dog ,2 of our cats were strays and the third cat adopted us by showing up on our deck one day and staying.
# 9,609:
3:48 pm PDT, Aug 21, Jennifer Streeter, Arizona
# 9,608:
3:09 pm PDT, Aug 21, Name not displayed, New York
from a breeder
# 9,607:
2:29 pm PDT, Aug 21, S Robinson, New York
# 9,606:
10:02 am PDT, Aug 21, Todd Christensen, California
# 9,605:
8:09 am PDT, Aug 21, Stacey Lightfoot, Virginia
# 9,604:
7:58 am PDT, Aug 21, Carmel Landers, United Kingdom
My ancient cat now 18 turned up on my doorstep as a kitten. One dog Reggie the rottie I inherited from friends who were emigrating and my other dog bessyboo the collie cross from an animal sanctuary. There are far to many unwanted dogs and puppy farms are appalling and inhumane!
# 9,603:
7:05 am PDT, Aug 21, Lauren Kaufman, New York
Adopted from an animal shelter
# 9,602:
6:51 am PDT, Aug 21, Andrea Lahouze, Minnesota
Chester was born on a family corn farm in Kentucky. He is the best family dog I could ask for. We plan to get our next dog, a husky, from the Minnesota Humane Society.
# 9,601:
12:44 am PDT, Aug 21, Asli Gedik, Germany
Copyright © 2008 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved