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Hayley Nitz
Mrs. Debock
English 4
February 13 2015

Research Question: How can the government and citizens refine laws and regulations in puppy
mills?
Working Thesis Question: The government must apply rigorous regulations in order to protect
the health of puppies in puppy mills.
Refined Thesis Question: The government should apply stricter laws in local and national levels
to limit the inhumane treatment of puppies and the citizens should increase local awareness of
the cruel conditions in order to prevent people from purchasing said puppies.

Annotated Bibliography
Kenny, Krysten. "A Local Approach To A National Problem: Local Ordinances As A Means Of
Curbing Puppy Mill Production And Pet Overpopulation." Albany Law Review
75.1

(2011): 379-406. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.

Krysen Kennys article describes the loopholes in the inspection system for puppy mills.

Regulations for puppy mills provide very minimal standards and even these standards are rarely
enforced. Dealers are subject to inspections twice a year but reparative actions are only taken is
the offender commits the same crime twice. Prior to a warning of one violation, dealers will
often fix that problem but make up for the monetary investment, in another area of their business.
Due to the inability of the federal government to properly address laws for these problems, the

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public is often left to educate others on the issue, however often times these attempts fail.
Kennys article will support my position that current laws against puppy mills are ineffective and
more effective laws should be established.

Sacks, Pamela. "Puppy Mills: Misery FOR Sale." Animals 133.5 (2000): 10. MasterFILE
Premier. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
Pamela Sackss article describes the statistics related to the monetary expenses and
demand for dogs that commonly inhabit puppy mills. In 1995, 149 members of congress asked
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to adopt stricter regulations. The Pet Joint
Advisory Council estimates that 3,700 of the nations 11,500 pet shops, sells between 300,000
and 400,000 puppies a year, in which 90 percent are obtained from out of state. Additional
studies show that including in this number, there are over 4,000 licensed commercial dog
brookers in the United States. The USDA attempts to regulate rules but does not have the money
or staff to do so. There are only 66 inspectors which not only have to inspect kennels, but zoos,
parks, circuses and biomedical-research laboratories. Sackss article will support my position that
statistically, puppy mills are in fact a danger to societies.

Tushaus, Katherine C. "Don't Buy The Doggy In The Window: Ending The Cycle That
Perpetuates Commercial Breeding With Regulation Of The Retail Pet Industry."
Drake

Journal Of Agricultural Law 14.3 (2009): 501-519. Academic Search Complete.

Web. 12

Mar. 2015.

Katherine Tushauss article describes the underlying idea of what a puppy mill is. The
first puppy mills were established after World War 2 when crop profits began to fail and farmers

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needed a new source of income. Although it has been nearly 30 years since an amendment to the
federal Animal Welfare Act imposed minimum standards on wholesale breeders, the fact remains
that life is still brutal in the mills. In order to save as much money as possible, the animals are
raised in relentless and unhealthy environments. These environments include crowded cages with
little water and food available as well as no access to veterinary care and no human interaction.
Those particular conditions may lead to genetic disorders, stress and disease. Most of the time,
the animals do not require an adoption application in order for the new owner to not be able to
contact the breeder if any problems arise. According to Tushauss article will support my position
that puppy mills provide inadequate conditions that cause cruel conditions that should be
stopped.