For multiple years in a row, Missouri has seen the most documented puppy mills of any other state in the U.S.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) released its 'Horrible Hundred' list¹, and Missouri made top billing with 30 dealers — triple the number of puppy mills for any other state. Ohio, the runner up, had nine puppy mills on the list; Illinois had two².

In an undercover investigation, the HSUS recorded video of distressed dogs circling cramped, barren cages and others pacing in pens at numerous dog breeding facilities licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Missouri³.

Despite the visibly cramped and poor conditions, only a few of the operations were cited for cleaning violations or failure to give access to inspectors. They met USDA's minimal and insufficient standards, under which hundreds of dogs languish for their entire lives in dismal, yet legal, puppy mills.

Until recently, it was legal in Missouri to put a full-grown dog in a cage the size of a dishwasher, and leave it there for life. Voters there approved a ballot measure in 2020 aimed at eliminating puppy mill cruelty, but the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act was soon repealed. In its stead the Missouri legislature approved new standards the governor says will protect dogs in a way that won't put responsible breeders out of business⁴.

The new standards increase fees for obtaining a license to operate a puppy mill, require breeders to provide dogs three times the space previously required, require 24/7 access to an outdoor exercise run; and ban wire cage flooring from being used in new enclosures.

It's a step in the right direction, and some breeders have complied with the new rules, but those that cannot, or will not, have abandoned their dogs or sent them to auction.

Missouri law allows breeders who are shut down to sell their dogs to other breeders at auctions — even while facing multiple lawsuits — and make tens of thousands of dollars, pushing animals into yet another cycle of breeding and abuse at a different puppy mill⁵.

Clearly, the state's recent legislation is not enough. Missouri has to take its puppy mill problem seriously! Sign the petition asking Missouri's Governor to ban puppy mills in Missouri once and for all.

More on this issue:

1. The Humane Society of the United States (2020), "The Horrible Hundred."
2. : Kelsi Anderson, KSDK (12 May 2020), "Missouri leads Humane Society's 'Horrible Hundred' puppy mill report for 8th year in a row."
3. The Humane Society of the United States (17 November 2020), "New undercover footage reveals bleak existence for dogs at USDA-licensed puppy mills that supply puppies to popular pet stores."
4. Elizabeth Daigneau, Governing (24 May 2011), "Missouri's Puppy Mill Politics."
5. The Humane Society of the United States (21 May 2020), "Missouri moves to shut down Horrible Hundred puppy mill for keeping dogs in filthy conditions."