Which States Have Banned Puppy Mills?

By now, most dog lovers know that puppy mills are bad. Yet, that hasn’t stopped these breeding businesses from existing and even thriving. I volunteer at table events where I help spread awareness about puppy mills, and I have had many people ask me “which states have banned puppy mills?” Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as uplifting as you’d think, but it’s important for us to know so we can make positive changes.

This was one of my former foster dogs who came from a bad breeding situation

Are Puppy Mills Illegal?

Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities where the owners prioritize profit over the health and socialization of the dogs. Dogs are family members for many people, which is why it’s widely believed that puppy mills are illegal or should be. But sadly, puppy mills aren’t illegal anywhere in the United States.

Puppy mills are still legal for many reasons. First, people keep supporting them. Sometimes, people don’t know what they’re supporting, but some people simply don't care, including some of the people enacting laws. Secondly, “puppy mill” can be a broad term, so it’s hard to ban them altogether. So, while some states have made efforts toward improving laws, none have gotten rid of puppy mills altogether.

Which States Have Banned Puppy Mills?

Sadly, no states have completely banned puppy mills. But many have made progress. Some states have breeding laws to ensure dogs are getting proper care, but there’s still more to be done. For example, I live in Wisconsin, and there are some breeding laws here, but there are also still puppy mills. That’s because the breeding laws only cover the bare minimum, and not all facilities are inspected as often as they should be.

One notable step toward banning puppy mills in states is banning the sale of puppy mill dogs in stores. There are currently 7 states with retail pet sale bans:

• California

• Illinois

• Maine (only applies to new pet stores)

• Maryland

• New York

• Oregon

• Washington

If you’re interested in passing a retail pet sale ban in your state, city, or county, I encourage you to contact organizations like Humane World for Animals, who specialize in ending animal cruelty. They can help you with the process. It’s easiest to do local ordinances first before going statewide (I’ve helped pass a few across Wisconsin).

This puppy mill survivor was too scared to move when I first fostered him

Why Haven’t States Banned Puppy Mills?

Individual states haven’t banned puppy mills for the same reason they’re still legal across the U.S.: it’s a tricky law to regulate. First, the law would need to define puppy mills in a way that can easily be enforced (such as stating details like number of dogs, number of violations, etc.). Then, there needs to be enough inspectors to enforce bans. And there needs to be enough people in support of the law, which unfortunately, I’ve seen many council members that are against these types of changes.

Starting with the retail pet sale bans is easier because it has clear wording: no puppies sold in pet stores. While these laws don’t target the puppy mills directly, they cut off major sources for these breeders, which can cause them to eventually go out of business.

Hopefully, states will be able to ban puppy mills one day. But from what I’ve seen trying to pass these ordinances, the process is a lot more complicated that it seems.

Puppy Mill Laws By State

Even though states haven’t banned puppy mills, some have made efforts to prevent them. Many states have breeding laws to help get rid of the worst puppy mills. These laws usually require that the dogs get access to basic necessities (it’s heartbreaking that we even need to require that). However, many states still have no breeding regulations at all.

Check out the current table of commercial pet breeding laws to see what your state requires for breeders. The site explains: “In all, over 30 states have laws addressing commercial breeders. While the laws vary, they generally require a person who meets the definition of a commercial breeder to obtain a license, pay a fee (which often varies depending on how many dogs the person breeds), have his or her breeding facilities inspected, and maintain certain minimum standards of care.”

If your state has little to no breeding laws, it’s much easier for puppy mills to operate there. Consider bringing up this issue to local legislators to see if positive change can be made.

This sweet German Shepherd was scared of being in a home after starting her life in a puppy mill

What Can We Do to Ban Puppy Mills?

While banning puppy mills isn’t realistic in most states, it can be if we make progress towards it. If you want to help end puppy mills once and for all, consider helping in the following ways:

• Don’t buy from stores selling puppies

• Introduce a humane pet store ordinance in your city

• Protest outside of stores selling puppy mill dogs

• Contact your legislators

• Report suspected puppy mills

• Spread the word about puppy mills and unethical breeding

For more information on these actions, check out our “What is a Puppy Mill?” article. Remember - even small steps can make a huge impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Puppy Mills are There in the United States?

According to Humane World for Animals, there are approximately 10,000 puppy mills in the United States. These puppy mills vary in size and severity, but the one thing in common is that they’re breeding dogs for profit, not well-being.

What was the First State to Ban Puppy Mills?

No state has officially banned puppy mills, but California was the first state to ban the sale of puppies in pet stores. Banning puppy stores cuts off the sources for puppy mills, which can help get rid of them.

Which Pet Stores Sell Dogs from Puppy Mills?

Most pet stores sell dogs from puppy mills, especially Petland, which is the biggest puppy store chain in the U.S. This is because ethical breeders want to ensure their puppies go to the best homes, so they won’t ship them off somewhere to be sold. Check out Bailing Out Benji’s database of puppy store sourcing to see where puppy stores near you get their dogs from.

How Can You Tell if a Breeder is a Puppy Mill?

A breeder could be a puppy mill if they’re shipping puppies somewhere else to be sold, not letting you meet the mother of the litter, not letting you see where the dogs are bred, and pressuring you into a sale rather than finding the best fit for each puppy. If you ever sense that a breeder is being unethical or dishonest, it’s best to find somewhere else to get your puppy instead. After all, puppy mills still exist because people keep funding them.

Here's another one of my foster dogs that was rescued from a bad breeding situation

More States Need Puppy Mill Laws

Just because no states have banned puppy mills yet doesn’t mean that will always be the case. Animal advocates will keep fighting for stricter breeding laws while cutting off sources for puppy mills whenever possible. 

Keep spreading the word about puppy mills and help in other ways if possible because every effort helps. Dogs can’t speak for themselves, so it’s important for us to step up and help them.