The HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) has issued its sixth Horrible Hundred Report of 100 puppy mills in the US. For the sixth year in a row, Missouri has the highest number of puppy mills at 23, followed by Ohio with 13, Iowa with 10, and Pennsylvania with 9. Kansas and Wisconsin had 8 while Nebraska and New York had 6.
Deplorable, disgusting conditions found at these mills included starving dogs without food and water, cages covered in feces, sick and injured dogs covered in blood with broken limbs, stolen dogs, and breeders without licenses.
Using public records, the Humane Society draws on federal and state inspections, mainly those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to publish this Horrible Hundred Report, naming dog breeders who are the biggest offenders of animal cruelty and neglect. But in February of 2017, citing bogus privacy concerns, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) removed all animal welfare records from its website. Upon request of the records the HSUS was given inspection reports with mostly redacted information; learning only the city and state of abuse, not the name of the breeder.
Despite the lack of transparency on most of the records, the HSUS still managed to gather most breeder names and license numbers by examining state reports and using the Horrible Hundred lists from previous years, deducing the names and probable names of repeat offenders.
The USDA is legally bound to enforce the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and protect animals as the law dictates. But the agency is aiding those who abuse animals and profit from their cruelty. The primary concern of those running puppy mills is making a lot of money at the expense of thousands of suffering dogs. You need look no further than the first page of the Horrible Hundred report for a reason to never buy a dog from a pet store or the internet.
But the repeat abuse that could easily be stopped and the USDA’s lack of regard for this is senseless. It can only further our commitment to not buying puppy mill puppies. For example, take the case of one breeder in Missouri:
“Marilyn Shepherd/Williams’s mistreatment of animals stretches back more than a dozen years. Shewas assessed a civil penalty of $25,000 for operating as a USDA dealer without a license and was permanently barred from obtaining a USDA license in 2006, which should preclude her from selling puppies to pet stores or online sight-unseen. But Williams has a website at pup4u.com and also has many puppies for sale on PuppyFind.com, a website that Humane Society of the United States researchers have linked repeatedly to puppy mill operators and questionable breeders. Her online ads offer to ship puppies anywhere in the United States. The HSUS submitted a complaint to USDA about Shepherd/Williams selling puppies online without a USDA license and in apparent violation of the 2006 agreement. MO #AC0002DJ. THIRD TIME IN THIS REPORT”
Banning this person from selling puppies should be easy. But since the 2017 Horrible Hundred report, the USDA has not revoked a single breeder license.
It’s not only the current administration but those of years before who have taken the sides of those who want to profit by abusing animals — but this administration has rolled back even the most minimal of efforts to ensure animals are treated humanely.
Removing public records and blacking out information is illegal and already the cause of a lawsuit filed against the USDA by animal welfare groups. The USDA is effectively saying it wants us to buy a puppy from a Petland without knowing whether or not our pet was born out of a history of cruelty and disease. But these are public records. And consumers need to be protected along with the dogs. We need to know whether a breeder is violating animal rights and to further know if those violations are being dealt with.
If the USDA does nothing about repeat offenders, then they’re not doing their job. And it’s Congress, who instilled them with this responsibility through law, who needs to enforce that they are. Our Congress is beholden to us. We can take steps to remind them of this, and we can also not by puppies from pet stores, pet fairs, and online. And we can also petition for all cities and states to ban the sale of puppy mill puppies in pet stores.
Cruelty needs to stop!
Is there any lows man will not stoop to for MONEY? (Rhetoric, because I know the answer.)
Freedom&Justice
Get rid of these horrible inhumane puppy Mills!
It boggles my mind just how many puppy mills operating under cruel treatment can be allowed to stay in business. Can’t understand under any circumstances why the animal welfare under any part of the government doesn’t or won’t stand up and say shut them down and enforce the law. Animals do not ask for this and we have hundreds maybe even thousands of dogs needing good homes from shelters and rescues. We do not need puppies from mills. Animal welfare acts need to be able to reinforce and get these cruel people out of business. Sicking how they get away with it year after year. Boggles my mind.
The world we live in is pretty frightening for animals that is why as human beings we need to protect them. Everybody has to do there part to stop these sick people who love to abuse and torture animals.
They either need to die or be sent to prison for live and rot there
We really need to start looking after animals. These animal abusers must be sick and whoever brought them up ought to be ashamed for not teaching them right from wrong. What are they trying to prove by hurting a defenceless animal? They should be locked up to protect society. Please teach your children respect for others and respect for animals.We need to start protecting animals and looking after the planet.
If the USDA does nothing about repeat offenders, then they’re not doing their job. And it’s Congress, who instilled them with this responsibility through law, who needs to enforce that they are. Our Congress is beholden to us. We can take steps to remind them of this. The USDA is legally bound to enforce the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and Horse Protection Act (HPA). I think it’s HIGH-TIME that OUR government does the job(s) they are SUPPOSED to be doing! Animals are suffering horribly, terribly, needlessly……..hurting, dying, starved, little to no water, bleeding, broken, beaten, never a loving touch…….NO! This has to stop. ALL puppy mills everywhere have to go! Shut them down, get the animals the help they need and fine the hell out of these “breeders” for each animal and jail time for each animal. Not probated or suspended sentences. These animals have been SUFFERING in hell, now let these sorry people who call themselves breeders!
“BAN THESE HEATHEN/UN-GODLY ACTIONS…..PROSECUTE “ALL OPERATORS” OF PUPPY MILLS”
This is horrible and cruel. These puppy mills need to be shut down and the owners need fined and thrown in jail.
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil but because of those who look on and do nothing.
Albert Einstein
I think we should ban all types of breeders bad and so-called good at least until we can empty out the overcrowded shelters and stop euthanizing healthy animals. Private breeders are just as bad as puppy mills because they are providing dogs which can also be found in purebred rescues and shelters. Good bloodline is BS and an excuse to make quick money while doing nothing. Ban all breeding.
Puppies born in puppy mills are less healthy than honest breeders puppies.Honest breeders limit the number
of times their bitches breed.
As for getting dogs/puppies from shelters, their charges for adopting fees are so high and the rules they insist on having
makes the dogs not only expensive but keeps many from getting their animals there.
Some dogs are bred to be working dogs , it makes them happy, yet to adopt from the shelter means you sign a contract to make them house pets. All insist that the animals be spayed or neutered even though it changes
the personality. I support ( and donate to ) shelters. I will not buy from puppy mills, my dogs come from well known
breeders ( and I know them personally) because my dogs need to work ( and be in the house when I am there- I
do love my dogs ). If you know of a puppy mill report it, and keep reporting till you are heard.
The people who would treat dogs this way, deserve jail time, and to never be allowed to be near another dog, cat,
bird- or any other living pet.
I am sorry this is so long but it is a complicated matter after the animals are rescued.
What manner of messed-up people operate such hell holes? Pimps, the lot of them.
SHUT THEM DOWN ! What is the problem here can the USDA not see these people’s licenses need to be revoked this is sad how can they watch and know this is going on and do nothing this needs something done now and fast it’s been long enough many dogs have suffered and many more wil. Come on now enough acting dumb about this bad situation get on the ball and do what is right someone has to have some kind of a heart don’t they .
It’s awful to run a business that is so cruel and not caring to ubuse and not take care of their animals.I hope these things are shut down
Those who run puppy mills should be tied to a post and whipped!
CRUELTY BEYOND ALL BELIEF
There are to many beautiful babies that need love and home in shelters. There needs to be an end to puppy mills for good. The people who run them prosecuted
As a UK citizen this would not be allowed in the UK. As soon as it was reported action would be taken against these
people. Nobody should be buying a dog from these puppy mills. America needs to get its act together and shut down these places.
agreed
It’s wonderful to hear the U.K. does not tolerate this kind of abusuve treatment of dogs. Unfortunatel the U.K. is as guilty as any country of horrendous treatment of animals in other ways, and industries and sports.
Yes, agree the UK has its fair share of animal cruelty and abuse by individuals but if somebody is reported for running puppy farms where the conditions are cruel and animals are suffering then the authorities take action
straight away. I know this because it happened recently in the county where I live and the RSPCA turned up with the police and the animals were removed because people were outside protesting at the treatment of these animals – which is what people need to do as animals don’t have a voice. Absolutely no-one should buy puppies from these places – as in the UK people who run them are only interested in profit and care nothing for animals.
I always bought from local breeders, but with my last dog from a supposed breeder in my state, California, when I went to pick him up, I found out his mother was in “Georgia” so obviously a puppy mill dog. But once I held him, I could not refuse him so I love him with all of his physical and mental problems. But we have to do our best to refuse to buy from all the sources of puppy mills. We the people have the ability to shut them down. Honest, compassionate breeders WILL NOT use pet stores, etc., to sell their dogs. So, no buying from stores – no income – no point in running puppy mills.
Please don’t buy from breeders, rescue instead.
Barbara Medina: You start out by saying that you always bought from local breeders, but that you are certain your last dog came from a puppy mill, BUT that you couldn’t refuse him. Then you tell the rest of us that we should refuse to buy from puppy mills, or buy puppy mill dogs. I agree wholeheartedly with your last statement, but it seems a tad hypocritical for you to say that we should never buy from stores–as you so obviously did. This is one reason why inhumane puppy mills continue to exist; people buy, knowing–or suspecting–that they’re buying a puppy mill dog.As an addendum, legitimate animal shelters are overflowing with animals because people refuse to spay or neuter their pets. I volunteer at one of those animal shelters, and I see what happens when there just isn’t any more room. If people would adopt, we could save millions of homeless animals from being euthanized every year. You are right about one more thing: it’s up to us to stop the cruelty and inhumanity of puppy mills wherever they are.Politicians certainly aren’t going to do it.
Congress needs to do there job and enforce the law in this matter! We the people have paid them to do this after all! We put them in the position they are in. They need to remember that!!!
Unacceptable. These need to be shut down. Huge fines and prison time.
TO ALL USDA GOVERNORS CONGRESSMAN MAYORS OF ALL THE STATES AND TOWNS DO YOUR DAMN JOB AND GET THESE DOGS OUT OF THE MISERABLE TORTURING LIVES. YOU KNOW ITS GOING ON AND YOU DO NOTHING? YOUR ALL MONSTEROUS EVIL HUMAN BEINGS TO KNOW THIS IS GOING IN YOUR TOWN AND YOUR DOING NOTHINTOWN STOP IT. GET THE DOGS OUT OF THEIR HELL AND FIND THEM LOVING HOMES. HOW DO YOU PEOPLE SLEEP AT NIGHT? ALL OF YOU MUST BE MAKIN ALOT OF MONEY AND HOW PATHETIC AT THE EXPENSE OF DOGS LIVES AND AWFUL INHUMANE LIVING CONDITIONS AND HORENDOUS TREATMENT FROM THE PUPPY MILL SCUM RUNNING THEM. SHUT THE DAMN PLACES DOWN NOW AND GET THOSE DOGS OUT. WHST ABOUT THE CATS? DO WHATS RIGHT.
USDA YOUR A HEARTLESS MONSTEROUS EVIL ORGANIZATION THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF EVERYONE. WHY IS THE LAW NOT BUSTING IN ON ALL THESE KNOWN PUPPY MILLS AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN? Where is the governor and the mayors of the states and towns being silent and not putting people under arrest and in jail from now own. Whats wrong with this country and its leaders. Stop this and rescue these innocent dogs from slow torture and find them loving homes. This makes me so angry. DO SOMETHING AND GET THEM OUT.
Please close down every puppy mill and punish these barbarians with hard labour or evdn better feed them to the crocodiles. Let the animals sort out ALL animal abusers once and for all. Earth needs cleansing.
Sick what people do just for money. They should lock them up like that and see how it makes them feel…in the same conditions. Pet stores should be banned and only registered breeders should be able to breed and sell animals. With them being checked on a regular basis to monitor the well being of their “assets”…sick!
So many wonderful animals at Humane Society and other Rescue sites that need loving homes, no reason for Puppy Mills, especially horrific ones like this.
The owners of these pippy mills need to caged, starved and nun eglected themselved so they can know how it feels. ????
Congress needs to do its job by passing a law banning puppy mills in the United States and by requiring the FDA fully enforce this law by giving the resources and funding to do so.
They are complicit otherwise, Congress and the FDA.
those mills need be shut down asap them dogs deserve loving caring homes abd caregivers this makes me sick how ppl do this to animals even that teenager and what she did to that poor cat justice needs to come in for them animals sufferin from abusers this is sad this keeps happening what is wrong with some ppl
No amount of fines or jail time will stop these monsters. One day the dogs will gang up together and the only thing that will be left of their tormenters will be a bag of bones.
Why don’t the government stop this nonsense. Ooops, my mistake, I mistook them for an organization that should care about what the public wants. Our goverment and laws are as bad as the criminals. They know these things are going on but do nothing to solve the problems. People need to stop buying from these places. Shelter dogs are just as good as any. Buying from these people who own these puppy mills are only helping to provide agony, torture, pain and inhumane treatment to all the defenseless animals that are at the mercy of humans. They don’t deserve that. Once they are born, they deserve to be loved and cared for. But I guess the USDA don’t care about kindness, compassion, dignity, respect and love. They are morons who wants to sweep the problem under the rug and pretend they are committed to helping animals. I truly wish no more animals, of any kind, be born into this world anymore. We don’t deserve them. I don’t even know why we have a government, the USDA or laws. Neither of them do their jobs. They are all MORONS!
Advertising will help get the word out.
In relationship to dealing with animal cruelty and animal killings, USDA = United States Department of Assholes!
Please save all these dogs, and find wonderful, loving homes for them. Love you all pups ! So sad when I see you and other animals abuse and neglected.
It is inconceivable that places like this can exist in this country!! I have been adopting my pets from our local animal shelter.
Puppy buyers should insist on coming to the property to look around & meet the breeder. The breeder must be able to produce their appropriate licenses & inspections & reports. AKC breeders get inspection reports. The breeder must not ship puppies & insist that the customer comes to their property to look around in and out, view reports, meet the adult dogs and the puppies & make sure the place looks decent & sanitary. Watch the interaction between the breeder & the dogs & puppies. You can tell when animals have a loving relationship with their owners. Since States are ineffective in closing down puppy mills the people need to take matters into their own hands & make sure you’re not buying from one. If people insisted on seeing where their puppy came from they wouldn’t buy from pet stores & the puppy mills would be out of business.
Its 2018 & we STILL HAVE PUPPY MILLS?? WHAT THE HECK?? PUPPY MILLS SHOULD BE A THING OF THE PAST!!! PPL WITH PUPPY MILLS NEED TO BE PUNISHED BEYOND THE EXTENT OF THE LAW. THEY NEED TO BE MADE EXAMPLES OF!! This is NOT FAIR TO THE ANIMALS. PPL WHO BUY FROM PUPPY MILLS SHOULD BE FORCED TO WORK IN A HIGH KILL & .SHELTER FOR A YEAR OR TWO, UNTIL THEY NEVER WANT TO SUPPORT A PUPPY MILL EVER AGAIN!!!
With Animal Shelters struggling due to over crowding-we simply MUST BAN ALL puppy mills and mass breeders. More education also needs to be taught about spaying and neutering pets-it should be a requirement in having a cat or dog-they must be fixed, microchipped and vaccinated. Pet Stores should work MORE WITH local shelters in adopting out animals and States can work together in bringing dogs and cats into areas where there are waiting lists. Also anyone who reads this-CALL YOUR Congress Members-urge them to support the ban on puppy mills and to also reject Steve King’s Amendments to the Farm Bill. Ask them to support Animal Welfare Bills and co-sponsor them as well!
It’s time we help all animals that need it. Our animals are, beloved, loving and caring animals please help
if we have to explain you will never understand
typical of the HSUS.. no mention of the cats and kittens. no concerns for them.
The USDA sounds like a waste of tax payer monies. Another dysfunctional beaurocracy.
It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that these puppy mills are still able to operate. Life doesn’t seem to matter to them. All of these helpless animals!! It makes my heart hurt for them.
The only way to send a clear message to Congress and the administration is to vote them out.
Therein lies part of the problem – Congress appears to be beholden to no-one except themselves so they stay in power. Until a clear message is sent to the politicians that they are there FOR the people, you won’t see much change, unfortunately.