Thank you!
Our animals are safe
for another year.
Your support for the Bark to Ban Puppy Mills campaign worked. The Missouri legislature has adjourned for the year and the animals are victorious! The pet store bills (HB 2265 and SB 937) went down in defeat. These bills sought to prohibit municipalities and counties from banning the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores and would have even prohibited local regulations that would safeguard the welfare of the animals, protect public health, or provide consumer protection against the sale of sick puppies and the charge of excessive interest rates.
Do More. Avoid Buying From Pet Stores.
Pet stores sell dogs from puppy mills. Dogs in puppy mills are abused, live in unsanitary conditions, and seldom receive human socialization or veterinary care. Not only will purchasing from a pet store end up being costly for you, but it supports the operations of putting profit before animal welfare.
How Do I Identify a
Responsible Breeder?
If you decide not to adopt and choose to purchase from a breeder, take the steps below!
Kennel Visit
Visit the kennel and meet the breeder in person. Meet the mother of the puppy. if the breeder does not allow you to visit the kennel do not EVER consider purchasing a puppy from the breeder.
Questions
Responsible breeders should be asking you more questions than you will be asking of them, to ensure their puppies are going to homes that are a good fit.
Health
Reputable breeders provide health certificates for their puppies, including documentation of vaccinations, deworming, and genetic testing.
Qualifications
Ask questions about the breeder’s background, standards of care, puppy’s lineage.
Multiple Breeds
Most reputable breeders only have one or two breeds at most.
Large Numbers of Puppies
Puppy mills prioritize quantity over quality and their sole interest is profits.
Appearance
The puppy should not appear to have signs of physical and emotional neglect, including inadequate socialization.
Sale Tactics
If the breeder is pressuring you to buy and will not let you return later to make your decision be wary. Puppy millers are only concerned about the sale.
Level of Concern
Reputable breeders want to ensure that their puppies are going into to a suitable and loving home and a home appropriate for their breed.
Stay Informed.
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In the News
Check out Bark to Ban Puppy Mills on Show Me St. Louis’ 5 on Your Side.
Check out the Studio STL interview on Fox2now to learn how to combat animal abuse.
“Missouri remains the worst state in the country for puppy mills. Why can't we do better?” Check out this article from the Columbia Missourian.