Puppy Mill Bans Gain Traction Nationwide

Marguerite Cassandra Toroian, noted financial analyst and author of the user-friendly investment guide “Don’t Buy the Bull”, has a long history of philanthropic activity. In addition to her work on the board of a Delaware-based homeless shelter, Marguerite Cassandra Toroian is a proponent of regulations that promote animal welfare, including the outlawing of puppy mills.

Puppy mills are defined as commercial breeders that disregard animal safety and welfare to maximize profits. The dogs raised in the egregious conditions of puppy mills often suffer from genetic defects and infections. To eliminate the profitability of puppy mills, many states and municipalities have passed laws that prohibit pet shops from obtaining animals from these types of breeders. California legislators were first to ban the sale of cruelly bred dogs from retail stores in 2017. Maryland and New York also followed suit. 

At the local level, more than 300 cities, including Boston, Chicago, and Austin have also banned the practice. Alongside the bans, many animal welfare groups are conducting awareness campaigns to encourage consumers and retailers to first consider adoption and to only buy dogs from licensed, reputable breeders.