fightpuppymills

1. Don't buy any puppies for any Pet Store. Most all puppy's you see in pet stores come from a puppy mill, a larger scale substandard commercial
breeding facility. They came from mothers who are caged and bred as often as possible and usually give birth to puppies who may have costly medical
problems that you might not know about until after the puppy gets to its new home.

2.Adopt a Shelter Dog. You should always check with your local shelter or on a notible website such as "PetFinder" first. Not only will you save a life,
but you will ensure that your money is not supporting a puppy mill. There are a lot of dogs waiting for homes in shelters and it is estimated that one in
four is a purebred. At the HCHS, we have had a number of purebred dogs come in and find great new homes and they are spayed/neutered and cost a
fraction of what they cost elsewhere. There are also breed-specific rescues if you are looking for a specific breed.

3. If you just can't find the perfect pup and you have exhausted all your options, find a Responsible Breeder. A responsible breeder is one who has the
dogs' interest in mind. They want their pups to go to good homes.

4. See Where your New Puppy was Born and Bred. One of the signs that you might be speaking to an unscrupulous breeder is that they will not let you
visit the facility in which your puppy was born. Always ask to see the breeding place and meet both parents of your pup.

5. Internet Buyers - Beware. Buying a puppy from the internet is as risky as buying it from a pet store. If you purchase a puppy based on a picture and
a phone call, you have no way of seeing who the puppies parents or where they are coming from. And those who sell animals on the internet are not held
to the Animal Welfare Act regs, which means that they are not inspected by the USDA.

6. Share your Puppy Mill Story with us here at the HCHS. We would like to share it with others here on our website.

7. Speak Out. Contact your local state and federal legislators that your are disturbed buy the inhumane treatment of these dogs in puppy mills and would
like to see something done to ensure that all animals bred to be pets are raised in good conditions.

8. Tell Your Friends. If you know someone who is planning on buying a puppy, let them know about the puppy mill information we have on our website.
Just click "Want a Puppy" on the homepage. And be sure to tell them that there are wonderful, happy dogs in shelters just waiting to be adopted.

9. Think Globally. If you have a webpage, a MySpace page, or a blog, consider adding links to the information on puppymills.

10. Act Locally. When people are looking to buy or adopt a pet, they will often ask the advice of their vet, groomer, or pet supply store. Again, tell them
about the great dogs that are living in shelters waiting for a forever home. Pass the word around about puppy mills!