LAMAR

The HSUS placed this billboard in a busy spot in Norwalk, Conn.

With a recent protest and roadside billboard, The HSUS recently brought its national public education campaign to fight against puppy mills to New England.

In December, a billboard encouraging local residents and travelers to “find out the true cost of that puppy” ran for eight weeks in Norwalk, Conn. The billboard was located near a pet store of serious concern to nearby residents.

Puppy mills are mass breeding facilities where dogs are crowded into cages and puppies are churned out factory-style with little regard to their health or to sound breeding practices. Most dogs sold in pet stores—and via the Internet—come from puppy mills. The HSUS receives complaints every week from people who purchased a sick or dying dog who came from a pet store.

The billboard was a compliment to the work of a coalition of animal advocates who organized in lower Fairfield County to raise public awareness about puppy mills and their connection to local pet stores. Motivated by the opening of a new store selling “designer” puppies, the group disseminated information about puppy mills to the public, raised funds for future advertising and provided resources for those who have had problems with pet shop puppies.

Protests held outside the store prior to the holidays were so successful that the group returned on April 1 to protest again. Members said they plan to continue protests every week for the foreseeable future.

The group is also circulating information from the HSUS Dog Savers Kit, including stoppuppymills.com bumper stickers and bookmarks, at local dog parks and schools.

For more information about puppy mills visit www.puppymilltruth.org.