Shelters across the state are overflowing with rescue animals in need of loving families.

DALLAS, TX – The Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) is bringing public awareness to the plight of Texas shelter animals and encouraging prospective pet owners to adopt from Texas shelters and rescue groups as opposed to buying pets from online retailers or pet shops.

“One of the most important reasons to adopt this holiday season is to ensure Texans are not supporting and inadvertently endorsing commercial breeding facilities, better known as puppy mills, that supply pet stores and sell pets online,” said Shelby Bobosky, Executive Director of THLN. “Puppy mills are breeding operations that house hundreds of dogs in deplorable living conditions without proper food, water, veterinary care, or human interaction.”

The sole purpose of a puppy mill is to mass produce puppies and sell them for monetary gain. There is no regard for the welfare of the breeding stock or the puppies that are produced. Puppies from puppy mills are often seriously ill, poorly socialized, and many times suffer from life-threatening congenital defects due to being poorly bred. National pet store chains that sell puppies take great pains to advertise that their puppies are from reputable breeders, but it has been proven time and time again that is not the case. Reputable breeders will never sell their puppies to a pet store.

Meanwhile, many shelters and rescue groups are at capacity with dogs and cats and may not be able to accommodate more until their current animals find a home. 

“By adopting a pet from your local shelter or an animal welfare organization, you will free up space for another homeless animal to have the opportunity to find a forever home and relieve the pressure on local shelters and rescues. Plus, shelter animals are already behavior-evaluated, vaccinated, treated for parasites, tested for life-threatening disease, and micro-chipped,” concluded Bobosky. 

To learn more or to schedule an interview, contact Cara Gustafson at (561) 797-8267 or [email protected].