7 Ways YOU Can Help Stop SC Puppy Mills

I find it shocking that in modern society there are still hundreds of thousands of puppies born into commercial puppy mills where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. If South Carolina has a law on the books holding railroad companies liable for scaring horses, (yes, that is a real law, found HERE) then why does SC have a total absence of laws concerning breeders, kennels and puppy mills? You read that right. There is not a single law in this state regarding the welfare of dogs being commercially bred in any sort of breeding facility. (To see laws by state go HERE.)

While the Federal Animal Welfare Act defines the minimum standards of care for dogs bred commercially and requires that certain commercial breeders be licensed and routinely inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture, only animal-breeding businesses considered "wholesale" operations (those that sell animals to stores for resale) are overseen by the USDA. The AWA does not apply to facilities that sell directly to the public, including the thousands that do so via the Internet.

It’s my opinion that the States have the power to legislate higher standards of humane care for animals commercially bred within each state’s borders. Which means it’s up to us to let our legislators know that this is an important concern for South Carolinians. In 2008 Virginia became the first state to pass a law regulating the number of adult dogs a commercial breeder could possess, and 19 other states have followed suit. Some states also regulate the age in which puppies can be sold as well as basic requirements for facility cleanliness. I don’t know about you, but I strongly feel South Carolina needs such a law. In the deep South, we are still plagued with dog fighting, puppy mills, backyard breeders, and tethering of dogs. For the sake of our dogs, we need to do better. We need to help shape SC into a leader in animal welfare. Who’s with me??

Here’s a few things we can each do to raise awareness of puppy mills in our state, and to encourage our legislators to consider laws regulating the commercial breeding and selling of puppies.

1. Don’t buy from a puppy mill! Not even if you feel like you are “saving” that animal. You aren’t. You are funding the operation. Don’t buy from pet stores, who ALWAYS get their puppies from large scale, wholesale breeders and don't shop for pet related goods from stores who sell animals. Even if there are health certificates, AKC papers, USDA approved documents, don’t buy from them! Don’t buy from a parking lot or flea market, where commercial breeders will often set up to appear as if they are small Mom and Pop operations. Likewise, don’t be tempted to buy a dog off the internet! Learn how to recognize the signs of a bad breeder, ( see our article on the subject HERE) and always visit the breeding facility yourself to inspect how the dogs are cared for. And of course, consider adoption and rescue first!

2. Write your representative and senator. A sample letter is attached to this post. Click on the thumbnail below, sign your name and mail it in. Do this on a monthly basis and follow-up.

3. Use social media to maximize your immediate sphere of influence. Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc are fantastic ways to easily and quickly educate your friends and turn them on to the cause. They will in turn educate those within their sphere of influence. This is how movements are made. So LIKE this post, post it to your FB profile, Tweet out a message, link to a You Tube Video on Puppy Mills etc.

4. Keep up to date on local legislation by joining the ASPCA Advocay Brigade and watching for action alerts in SC. 

5. If you suspect a puppy mill in your area, don’t investigate on your own. Notify the authorities, and carefully detail why you suspect there is inhumane treatment of animals going on. You can also contact the USDA to see if the facility has a federal license  And check with the AKC to see if the breeder is in good standing. The AKC has been known to revoke registration privileges from breeders who violate care and conditions standards along with those who violate record-keeping regulations. An AKC inspector will also report a substandard kennel to USDA or to local authorities, whichever is appropriate.

6. Donate to local pet shelters and rescues. These groups get puppy mill rejects, dogs from busts and raids, and owner surrenders when the puppy mill dog is plagued with bad genetic issues. And these groups also have wonderful educational programs to raise public awareness of puppy mills, and to encourage regulatory legislation.

7. Buy Anti-Puppy Mill gear. Bumper Stickers, window decals, website badges and the like help to spread the word and provide funds to organizations dedicated to stopping puppy mills. I’m considering creating some specifically for SC… what do you think?

As always, I welcome your feedback and comments. Are you guys as appalled as I am that SC doesn’t have any laws specifically about commercial dog breeding? Do you have more ideas for stopping SC puppy mills you’d like to share?