b'Beyondtheminimalguidelines,whatUSDA- licensed breeding facilities. Thischange faster than any law could mandate. happensinpuppymillsisthekindofincludes ensuring proper veterinary care,It is also important to remember, we shocking cruelty that most people cannotadequate housing, exercise, and socializa- donotneedeveryonetostopbuying even fathom inflicting on an animal. Whattionbasic needs that many dogs in thesepuppiesfromretailpetstores. Wejust follows is a small sampling of the count- operationsarecurrentlydenied.Thisneed to get enough consumers to refrain lesscrueltiesthathappeneverydayatappliesonlytodogbreederswithoverfrom buying, that it makes it impossible commercial breeding facilities:four breeding females who sell puppiesforthemtostayinbusiness.Take Steve Kruse (Stonehenge Kennels inwithoutface-to-faceinteractionswithBlockbuster Videoasanexample. They Iowa) poured hot sauce into a dogs openbuyers, such as online or selling puppiesfamouslyfailedtoembracetherise wound to stop the dog from licking it. Atwholesale to stores that will in turn sellofstreamingintheearly2000s. While some inspections, it had been noted hethem to the public.companies like Netflix were developing had more than 140 sick or injured dogs.Meanwhile,theBetterCAREformail-orderDVDrentalsandthen Inanotherinstance,hethrewabagofAnimals Actwouldstrengthenenforce- movingquicklyintoonlinestreaming, dead puppies at USDA inspectors. ment.ItgivestheU.S.DepartmentofBlockbuster stuck to its brick-and-mortar Nelson(Matthew)HochstetlerJusticetheauthoritytoworkalongsidemodel.Hereistheimportantpartto (Treeline Farms aka Treeline Puppies intheUSDAtotakeswiftactionagainstconsider: at the time Blockbuster Video Illinois): A Shih Tzu was discovered withbreeders who are neglecting or abusingwent out of business, there were still peo-multiple wounds, oozing green pus, onple who wanted to rent movies from both back legs. The dog was flinchingthem. However, there were too few of and clearly in pain. The licensee admit- those people to keep them open. We do ted the injuries had occurred two daysnot need to convince everyone. We just earlierbutnoveterinaryvisitwasneedtomovetheneedleenoughto scheduled, leaving the dog to suffer. hurtsalesandsubsequentlyput Marsha Cox (Mar-Don Kennels incommercialbreedingfacilitiesoutof Missouri):Violationsincludeleavingbusiness. dogs outside in freezing weather, dogs Florida is home to more than 2,000 showing clear signs of distress and ill- animal shelters, dog rescues, and other ness without receiving veterinary care,animal-relatedorganizations.Imagine and dogs found without access to cleanthecollectivepowerwewouldhave, drinkingwater.Youcanreadmoremoving past infighting and ideologies, abouttheseandotherviolationsonif we mobilized under one clear goal: The Horrible Hundred 2025 list docu- putting an end to commercial breeding mented by Humane World for Animalsfacilities. (formerlyknownasTheHumane Animalshelters,includingprivate Society of the United States).shelters, municipal shelters, dog rescues It is important to understand that(breed specific and all-breed), individ-the above commercial breeders are notBoston Terrier cowers in crate at puppy mill. ualdogloversthischallengeisfor outliers. They are not bad actors. Theyyou. Dog groomers, veterinarians, dog-are not the exception to the rule. They areanimalseveniftheyarealreadygie daycaresthis is for you too. Social emblematic of the commercial breedinglicensed. This means more power to shutmedia influencers? Yepyou too. industry,whereprofit-drivenpracticesdowntheworstoffendersandbring allow countless dogs to suffer unaccept- meaningfulconsequencestothosewhoHere is what we can do: able treatment every day.violate animal welfare laws. ONLINE: Despite over 1,000 documented vio- WhiletheselawsareastepintheHave a dedicated page on your web-lations in 2023across more than 400right directionif they passreal changesite educating people about puppy mills facilitiesnoneofthoseinvolvedhadcanhappenfasterwhenweinfluenceand their connection to retail pet stores theirlicenserevoked.Noanimalswereconsumers. AsIwaswritingthisessay,sales of puppies. For animal shelters and removed.SodonoteverthinkthataCracker Barrel restaurant unveiled a newrescue organizations, the responsibility is USDA-inspectedfacilitymeansahighlogo, triggering an intense backlash. Thetwofold: we owe it to consumers and we standard of care. It does not.uproarwasimmediateandwidespread:owe it to the dogs who we will never Twoimportantfederalbillsaimtosocial media erupted, influencers chimedmeetwhoaresufferingunacceptable improvethewelfareandsafetyofdogsin, stock prices plunged. Within days, thetreatment. trappedincommercialbreedingopera- companyrespondedtotheoutcrybyAvoid general anti-breeder sentiment tions: the Puppy Protection Act and theannouncing it would retain the traditionalandinsteadspecificallyspotlightcom-Better CARE for Animals Act.logo. Regardless of how you feel aboutmercial breeding facilities. The subject of ThePuppyProtection Actfocusesthe Cracker Barrel logo situation, it illus- breeders is a nuanced topic worthy of its on raising the standards of care for dogs intrateshowconsumerpowercandriveown deep dive. 28 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'