Puppies are the epitome of innocence and charm.   It's hard to imagine that such a cute animals could come from an industry based on suffering.  Odds are that it if the puppy was sold in a pet store, his or her parents are confined in a squalid, mass breeding factory called a puppy mill. 

In puppy mills these breeding dogs spend their entire lives in a small wire cage and are bred during each heat cycle.  They have no human companionship and little hope of ever becoming part of a family.  They receive scant or no veterinary care, no excercise, and never see a bed, a treat or a toy.  After their fertility or potency wanes, they are commonly killed, abandoned, or sold for a pittance. 

Puppy Mills are legal , but lack of state regulation and limited oversight makes Indiana an especially attractive location for these commmercial operations.  Facilities that breed or broker animals for resale - pet stores, for example - must be licensed and inspected by the US Department of Agriculture.  A USDA license doesn't prevent the inherent cruelty of these puppy production lines, and mill owners often operate illegally without USDA registration.  Holding a USDA license is no guarantee of even minimal care standards. 

Thousands of breeders don't fall under USDA regulation.  They sell directly to the public or over the internet, breeding and selling just as many puppies as their wholesale counterparts.  They are not required to adhere to the Animal Welfare Act, nor to any federal or state humane care standards.

Because of the lack of statewide regulation or registration, it's difficult to gauge exactly how many large-scale breeding facilities operate in Indiana.  However, the lack of oversite makes the state especially appealing to those operating such large-scale facilities. 

Indiana can do better for our canine friends.  Hoosiers should insist that our law makers address this sorry situation through comprehensive legislation that provides oversight and regulation, at the minimum, for those operating commercial dog breeding facilities.  You can help by visiting www.in.gov go to General Assembly Legislator listings, choose Legislators from there you can either email your legislator or gain their contact information should you choose to call or write them.  Remember sometimes all it takes is one voice to make the difference.