Protect animals in puppy mills. Proposed law will put restrictions in place and improve puppy mill health standards.
Illinois State Representative John Fritchey recently proposed legislation aimed toward cracking down on puppy mills. House Bill 198, named “Chloe’s Bill” after a young puppy in Southern Illinois who survived abuse, will do two things:
- Limit breeders to possessing no more than 20 unaltered dogs
- Prohibit felony animal-cruelty offenders from obtaining dog-breeding licenses
According to Fritchey, Illinois has no meaningful puppy mill regulation. If passed, the proposal would require dogs to be kept in shelters with proper heating, cooling, ventilation and no wire flooring. In addition, pet stores and breeders would need to provide and display a dog’s full history, including the dates of medical treatments and procedures, breeder contact information and the pet’s retail price.
Anyone in violation of the law could be fined, their operations ceased, a driver’s license revoked and animals seized.
How can I help?
At this time, Pennsylvania is the only state with a law as comprehensive as the Illinois proposal. Please help get this law passed by contacting your Senators and Representatives and urging them to support this bill.
- Contact Your State Senator or Representative
- Illinois Senator Richard Durbin
202-224-2152 - Illinois Senator Roland Burris
202-224-2854 - Look up and call your United States Representative to urge them for similar legislation in your state!
- Tell your friends about the horrific situation dogs are living in daily and ask for their help
- Without your plea, puppy mills will continue their mass breeding operations without being held responsible, and dogs will continue to suffer in silence
On behalf of all the dogs and puppies that are currently suffering in puppy mills, thank you for taking action today!
More on Puppy Mills
Where did my dog come from?
As the animal welfare movement grows, more people are adopting their dogs from rescue groups, the city pound and/or humane societies and shelters. However, many people are still purchasing their pets from pet stores or breeders. Unfortunately, these people are unaware of how or where their beloved pet originated. If only they knew that approximately 3,500 pet stores in the United States are selling around 500,000 puppies a year acquired from puppy mills, they would never purchase a dog again, but rather rescue a loving family pet from their local shelter. Not only do pet stores acquire their puppies from puppy mills, but often breeders do as well.
What is a puppy mill?
Puppy mills are facilities where humans breed helpless dogs, providing minimal care to maximize their profits.
There are approximately 5,000 puppy mills in the United States! Dogs are often inbred to maximize their use, thereby saving money for the breeder. One female will often breed repeatedly until she becomes “useless” due to illness and/or injury from excessive breeding. At this point she will most likely be killed or sold to another puppy mill for further exploitation.
Dogs that are born and raised in puppy mills often have genetic disorders due to inbreeding or injuries from loose wires or dog fights. Additionally, they often live in such abhorrent conditions including, but not limited to, standing in feces, lack of air conditioning or heating and cramped quarters that cause them to become physically and/or emotionally ill.
For more information on puppy mills, please visit ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and the Humane Society of the United States.
