Donald K. Allen for President

Puppy Mills

As a veterinarian, I have consistently tried to educate the public about the puppy mill – pet store connection and the outright fraud committed by pet store owners saying, “We do not buy from puppy mills.” There is no other source. Since they buy from brokers, theirs is a legal statement. Of course, the broker buys from puppy mills.

As President, I would appoint a secretary of agriculture that would effectively shut down puppy mills through true enforcement of existing law and national educational exposure of this despicable business. Instead of working from the bottom up, I would effectively mandate the dismantling of commercial interstate puppy trade from the top. This would be a no- or low-priority issue for any other candidate.

The suffering inherent in puppy mills, with the mother dog bred every heat until she is no longer productive, living her entire life in a rabbit hutch, would come to an end. Her misery would be vindicated.

Pet stores that sell puppies prey on the naivety of customers regarding puppy mills. The potential buyer is impulse-bonded to the puppy when the “puppy specialist” (usually a teenager) places the puppy in their arms. The sales pitch sounds so convincing, and the puppy’s credentials are lauded by the sales team. Financing is available for the grossly overpriced pup. The pet-lover doesn’t want to put the puppy back in that little cage, so they consent to buy. Just sign here.

Let’s stop this.