The Ontario government has introduced The Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act (PUPS Act), which it says is aimed at combating puppy mills. Unfortunately, the bill falls far short of tackling puppy mills or other commercial breeders. While the bill aims to prohibit some harmful dog breeding practices, it doesn’t set out standards for adequate housing, food, exercise, socialization, and veterinary care, as well as screening for genetic problems that can have serious health and welfare impacts on puppies.

The PUPS Act does say that dogs can’t be kept in unsanitary conditions, yet it doesn’t protect dogs from being caged for their entire lives without exercise, and doesn’t limit the number of dogs who can be kept at a facility.

But perhaps most troublingly, the PUPS Act also does not require dog breeders to be licenced or overseen by the province. Without a licensing regime, there is no way to keep track of who is breeding dogs and where they are operating, making animal cruelty law enforcement nearly impossible, and preventing authorities from shutting down a breeder with terrible conditions. 

That’s one of the main reasons why puppy mills and backyard breeders are pervasive in Ontario—because anyone can set up shop, without permission or oversight. Puppy mills and backyard breeders typically operate in basements or barns, and authorities often have no idea that they exist.

Please join us in asking Ontario to strengthen the PUPS Act to require licenses for breeders, set robust legal standards for breeding and care, set limits on the number of dogs who can be kept, ban the commercial sale of dogs, and encourage pet stores to partner with rescue groups to help dogs get adopted.

Banner: Jo-Anne McArthur | We Animals Media with the Montreal SPCA