During Puppy Mill Action Week in November, The HSUS launched the new Puppy Friendly Pet Stores program. We asked dog lovers to work with local pet stores to encourage them to develop and implement "puppy friendly" policies by refusing to sell puppies in their store or "making official" a policy of not selling puppies. Puppy Mill Action Week is over now, but our Puppy Friendly Stores campaign continues. We still need your help to sign up Puppy Friendly Pet Stores in your community and take these other easy steps to help fight puppy mills.

1. Visit your local pet store and encourage the store to become a Puppy Friendly Pet Store.
Store owners who sign and return the pledge which declares that they will discontinue selling puppies in their store by the end of the year, or those who "make official" a current policy of not selling puppies, will be listed on The HSUS website. They will also receive materials to display promoting their decision and to educate their customers on adopting a pet or finding a responsible dog breeder.
Get tips on how to help stores go puppy friendly »
Download the invitation »
Download the pledge »

2. Sign the "Stop Puppy Mills" pledge promising not to shop at stores where puppies are sold.

3. Contact and urge your elected officials to co-sponsor the Puppy Uniform Protection Statute (PUPS), HR 6949, to require broader federal oversight of puppy mills. 
Call the Capitol (202.224.3121) or visit humanesociety.org/leglookup to find your federal legislators. Urge Congress to support PUPS to help crack down on puppy mills and close a loophole allowing many massive mills to evade oversight.

4. Purchase new "Stop Puppy Mills" merchandise as holiday gifts and stocking stuffers—new tote bags and other items are available on our Campaign Gear page. 
Get your gear »

5. Write to newspaper editors about the pet store/Internet puppy mill connection.
Download a letter you can sign and send to your local paper »

6. Listen to and share the new version of "How Much is that Doggie in the Window" sung by Patti Page. 
She recorded the original nearly 60 years ago when puppy mills weren't the massive problem they are today. Now, over the same familiar melody, new lyrics sing the praise of shelters instead of puppy mills, and the song is destined to become an anthem for homeless pets. Patti's song may inspire you to visit your local animal shelter to see how you can offer support. Shelters bear the brunt of the homeless pet crisis caused by over-breeding. Listen here »

7. Re-visit!
Make a follow-up visit to your local pet store or visit more stores in your community and ask them to sign on to be a Puppy Friendly Pet Store. Work with your local store to help facilitate partnerships with animal shelters that will bring new business into the stores and increase the adoption rates of local shelters.