Puppy mills cause severe welfare harm to breeding dogs and their offspring - legislative and consumer approaches are both proving effective in different contexts.
Puppy mill welfare is among the most egregious companion animal welfare failures because it involves systematic, chronic suffering for breeding dogs who spend their entire lives in conditions that deprive them of basic needs. The scale - millions of dogs in mill conditions globally - makes this a priority welfare issue. Legislative approaches that require buyers to see where puppies are born prevent mill sales that rely on third-party pet stores and online advertising to obscure conditions. Consumer education about what responsible breeding looks like empowers individuals to make welfare-positive choices.