Massachusetts animal shelter rescues dogs from Missouri puppy mill

The dogs were living in overcrowded puppy mills.

BOSTON (WWLP) – Approximately 22 specialty breed dogs were rescued from a commercial breeder in Missouri, and are now resting in Massachusetts.

According to the MSPCA, Cocker Spaniels, Papillons, and Havanese arrived in Massachusetts on Saturday from Missouri and were brought to the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem for their state-mandated 48-hour quarantine. The 22 dogs were living in overcrowded commercial breeding facilities called puppy mills. Dogs in these mills are often overbred and do not receive proper medical care and socialization.

The dogs that were rescued range in age from one to ten years old and will be available for adoption after their quarantine and receive the medical attention they may need.

“National Mill Dog Rescue works with commercial breeders to help find better options for dogs that are used in commercial breeding facilities,” said the Vice President of the MSPCA’s Animal Protection Division, Mike Keiley. “It’s an important mission that we want to help with however we can, which often means bringing dogs to Massachusetts where we’re confident loving homes await.”

“But, that’s just one piece in stopping the inhumane practices of puppy mills,” he elaborated. “More needs to be done, and a big piece of that is stopping the sale of puppies in pet shops.”

Certain bills are pending at the State House that would ban pet shops in Massachusetts from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits, which is integral in ending the suffering of dogs that are in puppy mills. This would allow consumers to buy the animals from responsible breeders, and pet shops would be allowed to partner with shelters and rescue organizations to provide animals for adoption in their stores.

“Inhumane commercial breeding facilities supply pet shops with animals for their stores,” said MSPCA Advocacy Director, Kara Holmquist. “In those places, females can be bred as early and often as possible, and puppies are often taken from their mothers at such young ages that they’re predisposed to a range of problematic behavioral issues.”

“Plus, the dogs can be inbred or overbred, which causes a lot of health and genetic disorders. And, they can be kept in crowded conditions without socialization. If pet stores are no longer able to sell dogs, cats, and rabbits, fewer animals will suffer in those facilities,” she added.