On Monday, Chicago’s City Council Committee on Health and Human Relations unanimously approved a proposed amendment to a 2014 anti-puppy mill ordinance. The amendment would close a legal loophole, which enables pet shops to obtain dogs from out-of-state rescues with suspicious ties to large-scale, commercial dog breeders.
The amendment is now headed to the full City Council, where the final vote will take place toward the end of the month.
In what has been called a “national puppy laundering ring” by the Chicago Tribune, several area pet stores acquired expensive designer breeds from so-called “rescues” in Iowa and Missouri, whose owners also run established large-scale dog breeding operations. Some “shelter” dogs even sold for over $1,000 — an uncharacteristically high price tag when it comes to pet adoption.
Chicago Tribune’s 2018 investigation revealed that puppies from the same litter were being sold under pedigree status in areas that allow pet stores to sell commercially bred canines, while their Chicago-bound siblings were labeled as “rescue dogs,” presumably to circumvent the city’s ban on selling puppy mill dogs.
The newly-proposed legislation would prevent this from continuing by prohibiting Chicago pet stores from having ties to for-profit businesses, including breeders, and requiring them to charge modest adoption fees, rather than the exorbitant four-figure sums that designer and purebred dogs sell for.
Dogs suffer hellish conditions at puppy mills, where they live in excrement-soaked cages, endure extreme hot and cold temperatures, and are often sick, injured, and without basic veterinary care. Mother dogs are overbred until their bodies are “spent.”
“They’re agriculture commodities,” said Alderman Brian Hopkins, who introduced the bill. “They’re treated like pigs being raised for bacon, they’re treated like cattle being raised for beef, and they’re sold at a profit. That’s the whole point of the industry.”
It’s imperative that the City Council passes this much-needed amendment to stop pet stores and unscrupulous breeders from selling puppy mill dogs in Chicago. If you haven’t yet, sign Lady Freethinker’s petition urging Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot to support this crucial bill.

Great news. Iowa and Missouri are the creepiest place on earth for degenerate, imbecilic, brainless, scummy backyard breeders.
Criminals will always find ways around laws. Outlaw “pet shops” altogether because the illegal breeders depend on them. People can buy pets from licensed breeders, licensed animal shelters, licensed city pounds, and licensed pet supply stores that promote the showing and sale of rescued pets. Support this bill to put puppy mills out of business.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
What world we live in how we treat animals everyday bad news for animals around the wrold l am surprised there is
Any animals left how humans have been cruel or killed them animal have rights to live.
Animal lives Matter
love from uk
Please please help these animals. They don’t deserve this terrible treatment.
This LAW has been LONG OVERDUE to be passed & implemented…
All mills must be stopped
Good!
this must stop
Bravo Cari !
Continued success and we thank you!
Bravo Chicage
Good!**
Please save lives, sign the bill. Missouri and Iowa are the US most flourish states for puppy millers scum
Awesome cool