We’re making dogs and cats the winners in the fight against puppy and kitten mills

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Our Animal Rescue Team deployed to Milburn, Oklahoma, in March of this year to help the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office respond to alleged cruelty at two puppy mills. The team found that dogs and puppies were living without proper veterinary care—some with only spotty access to shelter and clean water—all so that they could be bred at high volume and sold online and at a notorious flea market. It was deeply inspiring to see our team comfort the dogs, connect them to the care they need and transfer them to our temporary shelter, the first step in their new lives away from the cruel puppy mills where they were languishing.

But we always say that we cannot rescue our way out of the largest, toughest issues facing animals. That’s why we also work to change the system so that puppy and kitten mills are eradicated.

As we were finishing writing this blog, a win came in from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which upheld Maryland’s statewide prohibition on the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. The Humane Society of the United States filed an amicus brief in the case, supporting the state’s argument that the law is constitutional and its goals (stopping puppy mills, protecting consumers and reducing the burden on shelters) are legitimate. This decision is a major blow to the puppy mill industry and its pet store sales outlets and builds on the already strong precedent in federal courts. We expect recent litigation filed in New York challenging the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act to have the same result and encourage New York puppy stores behind the baseless lawsuits to instead put their energy into changing their business model to the humane one that will be required under the new law starting Dec. 15. This new law will prohibit about 50 pet stores from selling puppy mill puppies.

We are celebrating these and all the other remarkable wins against cruelty affecting dogs and cats all over the U.S. this year. Here are some more highlights from 2024:

At least 16 Horrible Hundred puppy mills permanently closed: Our steadfast work and pressure led the U.S. Department of Agriculture to permanently revoke the licenses of several puppy mills highlighted in our Horrible Hundred reports, an analysis we release each year on problem puppy mills across the country. For example, in February, the USDA permanently revoked the license of a dog and cat breeder that our Animal Rescue Team helped close down in 2023. Then, in the summer of 2024, the USDA revoked the licenses of several more breeders who were repeat offenders in the Horrible Hundred listings. Since we first started publishing the report in 2013, at least 265 puppy mills it described have closed, with at least 2,500 animals rescued from them. All told, at least 16 puppy mills listed in the 2024 report or prior reports have closed or been fined this year.
At least 20 new localities pass humane pet store bills: With the passage of the Vermont humane pet store bill and the decisions of approximately 20 new localities to end the sale of puppies in pet stores this year, a total of eight states and almost 500 cities and towns have taken action to stop the sale of puppy mill dogs in stores. The New York bill goes into effect on Dec. 15, 2024.
Three dangerous bills defeated: We defeated efforts by Petland and its allies to pass dangerous preemption legislation that would have stymied local pet store ordinances in Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri.
Increased USDA enforcement: Responding to pressure from us and other animal welfare groups, the USDA and the Department of Justice entered into an Memorandum of Understanding in March, agreeing to collaborate on the toughest Animal Welfare Act cases.
Increased public awareness: Earlier this month, we revealed the findings from our investigation of New Jersey puppy store sources, including undercover images of Midwestern puppy mills that have sold to New Jersey pet stores, along with “secret shopper” footage taken in several stores, demonstrating the need for a statewide prohibition on retail puppy sales.
Several puppy-selling pet stores closed: We worked directly with several jurisdictions where pet stores were selling puppies in defiance of local laws. This resulted in fines and other enforcement actions; several of the stores closed. One of those was the Petland Bellaire store in Houston, where Lovie Langston purchased her puppy.
Lawsuits against Petland: We gathered consumer complaints and worked with our Animal Protection Law team to support several new lawsuits against Petland. The most recent lawsuits were filed in Ohio, where Petland is headquartered. We also helped plaintiffs settle lawsuits against a notorious Petland franchisee in Texas.
New York pet store forced to pay restitution: The HSUS provided evidence for the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit against two Long Island Shake A Paw stores, which resulted in a $300,000 settlement for restitution to buyers of sick and dying puppies.
More than 100 media stories: The release of our 2024 Horrible Hundred report generated more than 100 media stories, and we participated in dozens of media interviews and podcasts, and disseminated videos as part of a broader social outreach that educated hundreds of thousands of potential pet buyers. This year, as a special priority, we expanded our paid outreach to a wider and more diverse audience with paid ads in Black-owned newspapers, as well as ads and publications catering to bilingual and Spanish-speaking communities.
Federal bills garner support and move forward: Supported by our research and reports, both the Puppy Protection Act and the Better CARE for Animals Act gained bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. The bills, which drew more than 200 co-sponsors each, will need to be reintroduced in the upcoming 119th Congress.

Year by year, we’re building greater public awareness about the mistreatment suffered by dogs and cats at massive commercial breeding facilities, in which dog and cat mothers and fathers are confined and treated as little more than moneymaking machines. You can help add to the momentum to make dogs and cats safer from exploitative practices by talking about the cruelties of massive commercial breeders with your family and friends. This is especially important during the holidays, when people may be tempted by puppy mill dogs on display in shops; share our tips on humane ways to get a puppy. Together, we can create a more humane future for the species of animals with whom we share our homes. They deserve nothing less.