Puppy mills are commercial kennels that mass-produce dogs in squalid, overcrowded cages, without proper veterinary care, shelter from heat or cold, or adequate food and water. Substandard care and attention are given to these dogs since puppy mill owners care more about profit than the health of the dog. Cat breeding occurs under similar conditions to supply pet stores with kittens.

Puppy mill dogs often suffer from starvation and are forced to sit all day and sleep in their own excrement. Even though pet store puppies may look healthy at first sight, many are incubating disease at the time of sale, including the deadly Parvo virus, parasites and skin diseases. Many also have serious congenital defects like eye and hip problems. These dogs are also prone to serious behavior problems since they've been confined to cages without human interaction during their first crucial months of life.

Of the roughly 150,000 dogs and cats that end up in Washington shelters each year, more than half are put to death because there aren't enough homes to go around (nearly half are puppies and kittens). Puppy mills carelessly add to the overpopulation crisis by selling over 500,000 dogs each year through America's pet stores.

Roughly 90% of puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills. If people chose to adopt puppies and kittens rather than purchase them at pet stores, commercial breeders would have no outlet to sell their "product".

The American Kennel Club themselves say that they "cannot guarantee the quality or health of dogs in its registry."

"Mixed-breed dogs are what nature intended of dogs, and are on the whole, healthier, often more intelligent, of more even disposition, and live longer lives than many purebred dogs."

• Have your animals spayed or neutered.
• Say NO to pet store puppies and kittens.
• Adopt from your local shelter.