A puppy mill—also known as a commercial breeding facility—is a business operation making profits off the large scale breeding of dogs. Parent dogs are kept in horrific, filthy conditions without adequate shelter, food, or water
Dogs are often underfed and extremely malnourished
One of several dogs at Marlisa McAlmond’s Cedar Ridge Australians in Alton, Missouri, whom state inspectors found to be underweight and ailing. The state has sued the operation for recurring violations. /Missouri Dept. of Ag., 2020.
Dogs often develop severe physical and medical issues that are left untreated
A dog with a bulging eye was one of many with disturbing medical problems found at Samples Creek Kennel, a Missouri puppy mill owned by Pamela Baldwin. Documents received in 2018 indicate that Baldwin sold at least a dozen puppies to Tiffanies, LLC. Tiffanies is a massive dog broker that ships puppies to pet stores across the country. Tiffanies has a recent history of providing puppies to Massachusetts pet stores. /MO Dept of Agriculture, 2017.
Dogs are rarely—if ever—cleaned and groomed
In September 2019, USDA inspectors documented a brown poodle who was severely matted with an oozing lesion. The dog came from a puppy mill in Elkland, Missouri. The owner was cited twice in late 2019 for animal care violations.