Over 900 commercial puppy dealers in Virginia; only 16 have license

WASHINGTON – Virginia has a horrible secret that The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has uncovered in an extensive investigation released today: over 900 commercial puppy dealers, with 98 percent of them not licensed by the federal government's animal care agency.  The five-month investigation revealed deplorable factory-style "puppy mill" breeding in massive-scale operations, large kennels, trailers and backyards, breeding as many dogs as possible with little or no oversight or concern for the health and well being of the animals, and violating state and federal laws. 

To sell puppies to pet stores, breeders with more than three breeding females are required by federal law to have a license. The HSUS investigation found that many breeders are violating this law. Others bypass the pet store as the middle man and sell directly to the public via the Internet, where they are not required to have a license and therefore, operate totally without oversight.

According to Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, "We uncovered a massive, unregulated puppy mill and pet trade industry in Virginia -- on a scale no one had imagined.  Only two percent of the puppy breeders are even licensed by the federal government, yet they are churning out tens of thousands of puppies, often in deplorable and demonstrably inhumane conditions. Many live in filth and darkness. We want consumers to know where their puppies come from, and that their purchases support these businesses."

People may be aware that Missouri, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Ohio are centers for big puppy mill business, but The HSUS found Virginia loaded with surprisingly bad operations. "We know that this is the tip of the iceberg," said Stephanie Shain, The HSUS' director of outreach for companion animals.  "This investigation suggests that the puppy mill industry is larger than any of us thought, and that operators within the industry are skirting federal oversight in huge numbers."

In the investigation, available to view tomorrow at www.humanesociety.org/puppymill, the undercover team documented puppy mills throughout the state (including in Hillsville, Jewel Ridge, Atkins, Ferrum, Staunton, and Lynchburg) and pet stores who buy those dogs (including in Fredericksburg, Ashland, Midlothian and Waynesboro).  The HSUS found dogs being harmed and abused; laws being ignored, and consumers being duped over and over again through deceit and promises of a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder. The victims: the breeding dogs, the puppies who are severely ill from the conditions they came from, and the families who end up spending thousands of dollars for a dog, more money on vet bills, and end up heartbroken.  

Among the findings:

• A breeder, in business for over 30 years, who has between 500 and 700 breeding dogs on the premises.
• Puppies sold to pet stores -- and directly to the public -- at six weeks old, despite the Animal Welfare Act stating no licensed breeder shall sell a dog under eight weeks old.
• Puppies with severe health problems, sold at a reduced price to "unload them" to pet stores and ultimately to the public.
• A breeder for 25 years, operating with a criminal record for animal cruelty and without a license, selling hundreds of puppies over the internet hiding behind a deceiving website.
• Kennels with malnourished breeding dogs, and basic animal care laws like adequate food, water and shelter, completely ignored in most facilities.

The HSUS is determined to require higher standards for breeding kennels in Virginia and across the country, and require all large-scale breeders to be licensed and inspected at least once a year.  Shain adds, "We also need to stop consumers from buying dogs from pet stores and from deceptive breeders, because that is only allowing this business to thrive.  HSUS favors adoptions from shelters and breed rescue groups, but if people are intent on buying from a breeder, they need to find people who are not operating these deplorable puppy mills." 

Facts:

• The HSUS estimates 2 to 4 million puppy mill dogs are sold each year in the U.S.
• In Virginia, 43,000 dogs in need of adoption are euthanized every year.
• While a USDA license is no guarantee that a breeder is "responsible," it at least allows these operations to be tracked. Without the license the operations are ignored, operating without even a hope of the dogs receiving good care.
• Like most states, Virginia does not have a state kennel inspection program to ensure that dog breeders provide basic humane standards like clean water and veterinary care. 

• Mill puppies are more likely to have severe health problems, genetic defects and behavioral issues.
• Puppy mill conditions can include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor food and shelter, crowded cages, and lack of socialization.
• Dogs kept for breeding in puppy mills suffer for years. They are bred as often as possible, and then are killed or sold through auction like a used car.
• Reputable breeders never sell puppies online or at a pet store and will insist on meeting the family who will be purchasing the dog.
• Puppy mills drastically contribute to the millions of homeless dogs euthanized each year. 
• Puppy mills that sell dogs directly to the public through newspaper ads and the Internet escape federal regulation through a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act.
• The HSUS is working in state legislatures to improve regulations of puppy mills, and in the U.S. Congress to ban the imports of puppies from foreign puppy mills. 
• Never buy a dog from a pet store or the Internet. Visit a shelter where one of four dogs is a purebred.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—On the Web at humanesociety.org.