Stop puppy mills from flourishing in Iowa

I recently attended a community discussion in Ames regarding Iowa's commercial dog breeding industry. The presenter was Mary LaHay with the Iowa Voters for Companion Animals.

I was shocked to hear that “puppy mills” are flourishing in our state. These facilities house sometimes hundreds of breeding dogs, often in deplorable conditions. Many mills are co-located with other agricultural activities using livestock and machine sheds, providing hiding places for mill operations. Mills are commonly found near tiny rural towns and in Amish communities that attract tourists to Iowa.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture reports, many breeders force the puppies' parents to languish in filthy, tiny wire cages, to eat substandard food and be denied veterinary care. Breeding parents are killed or abandoned when their productive days have ended. Buying puppies from pet stores, online and via newspaper ads fuels this industry. Adopting from shelters and rescue groups is the kindest way to find a new friend.

The puppy mill industry is an embarrassment to Iowa and needs to be brought to the full attention of our residents, legislators and media. Puppy mills undermine the efforts of responsible dog breeders, place an incredible burden on our animal shelters and legal system and could ultimately hurt tourism. We need to clean up this mess forever.

Lisa Kuehl

Madrid