The Reality of Puppy Mills

Cookie's Story

Cookie’s visible under-bite makes it a little difficult for her to chew, but that is the least of her problems. The last six years of her life left her so terrified that when she came to the Wisconsin Humane Society we couldn’t even touch her. She was too frightened to be outside. Cookie had never been beyond her tiny metal cage and she had never seen the sun shine or breathed any clean air. She received inadequate food and little or no socialization with humans.

Cookie was sold at a puppy mill because she was worthless to the only people she ever knew; she could no longer have puppies. They made lots of claims about her, but one thing was certain, she was going to need a lot of tender love and care to bring her out of her shell.

Unlike many dogs that live sensory deprived lives, Cookie was fortunate. With the help of one of the Wisconsin Humane Society’s patient foster families, she learned to trust people and to learn to live with caring people.

Demand for small breed puppies is driving this suffering because well meaning individuals want the companionship of small breeds with specific physical characteristics. And, they are willing to obtain them with little regard for the sacrifices required by their parents.

Please support legislation to regulate groups that exploit dogs.