puppy mill

noun

: a commercial farming operation in which purebred dogs are raised in large numbers and often in substandard or poor conditions

Currently, hundreds of thousands of dogs languish in puppy mills, large commercial breeding operations that supply most pet stores across the United States and contribute heavily to the pet overpopulation problem.

—Dog Watch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The puppy mill industry has been terminated in Chicago. —Jack Mccordick, The New Republic, 16 Feb. 2023

It was later determined that the location of the fire was not a puppy mill but a structure that housed the family’s pets, officials said. —Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2023

Before arriving at the shelter, Daisy was removed from an alleged puppy mill in Brick, New Jersey, along with over 170 other cats and dogs, per NJ.com. —Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2023

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has pushed the governor and other state leaders to do more against the puppy mill pipeline and go after stores that sell animals from those facilities. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 15 Dec. 2022

Gianaris, however, argues that there isn't a single New York pet store that hasn't been touched by the puppy mill industry. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 15 Dec. 2022

Police say Scales was running a luxury rental scheme and bulldog puppy mill. —Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2022

The animal welfare organization, based in Port Washington, New York, and National Mill Dog Rescue worked together to save dozens of dogs and puppies from a Missouri puppy mill. —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2022

Despite their time at the puppy mill, the dogs are in decent health, though some of the pups are under-socialized. —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above