Dogs kept in commercial breeding facilities (also known as puppy mills) suffer treatment that would be unthinkable for your family pet—but much of it is perfectly legal. These dogs often have little or no access to adequate veterinary care, food, water, regular exercise or socialization.

But if new legislation introduced in the U.S. House passes, it will improve the existing minimal standards of care.

The Puppy Protection Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), will amend the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to outlaw cruel wire flooring and stacked cages, and mandate minimum veterinary, exercise and socialization requirements for dogs in USDA-licensed breeding facilities. 

Ensuring basic standards of care is just one piece of the puzzle in fighting the cruel, commercial puppy-breeding industry. For these improvements to be meaningful, the USDA must change course and commit to enforcing the AWA. It must also be accountable to the American public by restoring public access to animal welfare records.

We need your help! Take a stand for puppy mill dogs by visiting the ASPCA Advocacy Center to quickly contact your U.S. representative and urge him or her to support and cosponsor the Puppy Protection Act.