The History of Puppy Mills
The roots of today’s commercial dog breeding industry go back more than a century. In the mid-1800s during the Victorian era, wealthy women in England began breeding dogs for show, leading to the formation of Kennel Clubs across Europe. By 1884, these ideas made their way to the U.S. with the founding of the American Kennel Club (AKC), a registry focused on purebred dogs and competitive breeding standards.
In the early 1900s, waves of European immigrants brought farming knowledge and industrial techniques that reshaped agriculture in America. After World War II, the U.S. economy surged, and families began leaving rural farms for suburban life. With newfound prosperity, many middle-class families began purchasing purebred puppies as a symbol of status and stability.
But the demand for dogs quickly outpaced what neighborhood breeders could supply. Farmers, facing a loss of income, saw an opportunity. Dogs were smaller than livestock, required less land, and came with minimal overhead. Breeding dogs for mass sale became a new form of agriculture. And so, the commercial dog breeding industry was born.
These facilities prioritized quantity over care, often housing dogs in cramped cages with poor sanitation, inadequate medical attention, and no regard for the dogs’ physical or emotional well-being. Pet stores sprang up in cities and suburbs, creating a pipeline that moved puppies from farm sheds to display windows, leaving people unaware of the puppies’ horrific beginnings.
Public awareness began to shift in 1965, when a Pennsylvania family’s Dalmatian, Pepper, was stolen and later found dead, after being sold to a New York research laboratory. Outrage over her death reached Congress, where Representative Joseph Resnick of New York introduced the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act, the first version of what would become the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) in 1966. This marked the first federal effort to regulate the treatment of animals bred for research, exhibition, and commercial sale.
Navigating Fetch the Facts
Fetch the Facts was not created to promote the commercial puppy industry. Its purpose is to help educate consumers, encourage responsible decision-making, and hopefully slow the steady influx of dogs entering shelters due to unethical sellers, misleading marketing tactics, poor breeding practices, and financing companies that take advantage of consumers’ lack of financial literacy. Until shelters are no longer overcrowded, Fetch the Facts will continue to advocate for adoption while also promoting greater transparency, research, and public awareness throughout the dog industry.
This website is designed to help consumers better understand the history of puppy mills, how puppy selling should never have evolved into a large commercial industry, and the terminology commonly used throughout the dog trade. Learn how marketing and emotional advertising influence puppy sales, and follow step-by-step guidance on researching breeders, sellers, rescues, and online puppy listings before making a purchase or adoption decision.
This site breaks down the federal and Pennsylvania systems, explains how to navigate licensing and inspection records, discusses how to recognize potential rescue scams, and explains how financing a puppy can create significant financial and long-term risks for consumers.
Click the buttons below to learn more
What is the Puppy Pipeline?
Red Flags of the Puppy Industry
How To Buy A Puppy Responsibly
The Power of Marketing Language
Alphabet Soup
Online Puppy Sites
What is a CVI?
What is a Health Guarantee
Canine Care Certified
Federal Oversight
Understanding the USDA
Minimum Standards of Care
Who is Exempt?
Licensing & Registration Explained
Certificate Status Explained
AWA
Violations Explained
Pennsylvania Oversight
Understanding Pennsylvania Dog Law
Kennel Types Explained
Find Kennel Inspections
How to Read Inspections
Puppy Buyer’s Guide
Laws Protecting Puppies & Consumers
Rescues & Shelters
Animal Nonprofits & Rescues Explained
How to Research an Animal Rescue: Step-by-Step Guide
How to Read a 990 & What to Look For
Potential Red Flags for Rescues & Nonprofits
Predatory Financing
Proceed With Caution
Puppy Financing Terms Explained
What Puppy Financing Really Costs
Resources
Free downloads
Research Services
Take Action
Research Corner
The resources and information above are gathered in one place below. Education and informed consumer choices are critical tools in exposing and reducing inhumane puppy breeding and sales practices.
Stress in pregnant dogs can affect puppies’ lifelong health & behavior.
A 2017 study of high volume commercial dog breeding facilities.
Learn and understand the stages of puppy development.
Twenty two U.S. states that have enacted Puppy Lemon Laws.
Standards of care for animals transported
in commerce.
Pennsylvania’s Puppy Lemon Law and how to file a consumer complaint.
PA’s CVI frequently asked questions fact sheet.
Find a USDA-accredited veterinarian.
Need help researching?
The goal of this site is to put all of the information in one place and make it free to the public but we know researching a puppy seller, breeder, rescue, or shelter takes time and sorting through public records, inspection reports, and licensing information can be overwhelming. Fetch the Facts offers consumer research services to help make the process easier. Whether you’re looking to support a responsible breeder or want to learn more about a rescue or shelter before adopting, we’re here to help.
Fetch the Facts does not promote or discourage a consumer’s choice to select a specific dog breed, but encourages informed and responsible decisions regardless of where a dog comes from. We believe that supporting responsible breeding practices, ethical rescues, and informed pet ownership can help improve animal welfare and reduce the number of dogs entering shelters over time.
If you are interested in this service please choose from one of the options below:
Puppy Trace Report
This report traces the puppy’s path from its current seller back to the breeder using publicly available records available under federal and applicable state laws. Depending on what information is publicly available, the report may include:
- The seller’s license number
- Seller inspection reports
- The breeder’s and/or broker’s license number
- Breeder and/or broker inspection reports
- Previous business names or aliases associated with the breeder, broker, or seller
- Copies of inspections or enforcement reports
- The transporter’s USDA registration number and any publicly available transporter violations or enforcement records.
This report is based solely on publicly available information and record availability may vary by state, agency and seller.
Not sure how many reports you need?
Review the examples below before submitting your request. Puppies from the same litter and seller can often be researched together, while puppies from different litters or sellers require separate research reports.
Shelter/Rescue Transparency Report
This report reviews a rescue or shelter using publicly available records and information available under federal, state, and local laws (when applicable). Depending on what information is publicly available, the report may include:
- The organization’s registered business or nonprofit name
- State charity or nonprofit registration information
- USDA and/or state license information (if applicable)
- Inspection reports and publicly available violations
- Previous business names, aliases, or affiliated organizations
- Consumer complaints
- Enforcement actions, or legal cases that are publicly documented
This report is based solely on publicly available information and record availability may vary by state, agency, and organization type.
PetSmart “made a conscious decision not to sell dogs and cats because of the hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats that are euthanized each year.” And they donate space to local rescues to help with adoptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
➡️ When does a breeder need a USDA license?
Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) breeders with 4+ breeding females must be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Then, some states have their own breeder and/or kennel laws. Breeders are required to follow both federal and state laws. You can view federal requirements here. Fetch the Facts only has Pennsylvania laws currently on the site but will be adding more soon. You can view Pennsylvania laws here.
➡️ Can I ask the puppy seller for USDA and State license numbers for both the breeder and the broker?
Absolutely! You’ll want to know the entire journey of how your puppy got to you so you can ensure that it was treated ethically and from a small breeder if that’s what is being claimed. It’s extremely important to verify this information BEFORE purchasing. Find USDA inspection records here. Find PA inspection records here. Check other state laws here.
➡️ I found a puppy for sale from a licensed breeder. Does that mean the puppy isn’t from a puppy mill?
The USDA standards of care are set to bare minimum. They are meant to keep a puppy alive and not to thrive. Some states have slightly higher standards of care but the only way to verify that you are supporting an ethical breeder is to visit where the puppy and mother live.
➡️ If I found a puppy on an online site, do I still have to verify the breeder and broker?
Definitely! Most puppies listed on puppy listing websites are from commercial breeders and commercial brokers. Despite a claim of “small family breeders” or similar language, the majority of small family breeders never list their puppies on websites or sell to pet stores. You can find more information about online puppy marketing here.
➡️ Doesn’t every dog deserve a home? Wouldn’t I be saving the puppy the puppy anyway by buying it from anyone?
That is one of the tactics some sellers use to pressure buyers into making an emotional purchase. It can be difficult to walk away knowing the puppy may remain in that situation, but continuing to buy from unethical sellers can help keep the cycle going. Research where the puppy is coming from before making a decision. This applies to rescues as well. Not all rescues operate ethically, and some bad actors present themselves as rescues or rehoming organizations.
➡️ My puppy comes with a “guarantee of good health”. Does that mean it was seen by an accredited veterinarian?
No. It’s important to verify that the dog has a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). Verify that it is an accredited veterinarian here. And make sure to view the original certificate so you can verify it has a raised seal.
➡️ My breeder has a breeder certification badge (or multiple badges) listed next to their name. Does that mean that they are credible?
Not necessarily. The majority of breeder badges or certifications are earned simply by completing an online application and paying a fee. These badges do not automatically make a breeder more qualified or ethical. It is basically a marketing tool. Learn more here.
➡️ The puppy is listed as [insert 3 letter agency here]. Does that ensure a high quality breeder?
Not necessarily. Remember that the puppy-selling industry is still a business. The goal is to breed, market, and sell puppies for profit. Like many industries, the puppy-selling industry also uses marketing techniques to build consumer trust and encourage sales. Learn more here.
➡️ I want to rescue but I’m afraid that the online site may be a scam. How can I verify it is a legitimate rescue?
It takes a little work to verify but Fetch the Facts has a step-by-step guide. You can find that here.