National Puppy Mill Awareness Day (PMAD) is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of September to raise awareness for the horrific conditions dogs are subjected to in puppy mills.

Puppy mills are large-scale commercial dog breeding facilities where millions of puppies are bred and sold for profit each year, despite overcrowding in animal shelters and the severe overpopulation of dogs.

Dogs living in puppy mills are kept in cramped, filthy conditions and often go without access to adequate food, water, and medical care. Female dogs are forced to give birth repeatedly until they are unable to conceive anymore, at which point they are usually killed or abandoned as breeders can no longer make a profit off of them.

This year, PMAD falls on Saturday, September 21, and countless cities across the U.S. will be hosting events throughout the month to encourage the public to adopt companion animals from rescue groups or shelters instead of buying them from pet stores.

Attend an PMAD event near you!

16th Anniversary PMAD - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

WHAT: Puppy Mill Awareness Day 2019

WHEN: Sunday, September 22, 2019 (10 am - 3 pm)

WHERE: Buchanan Park - 901 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603

Click here for more information.

10th Anniversary PMAD - Austin, Texas

WHAT: Puppy Mill Awareness Day 2019

WHEN: Sunday, September 29, 2019 (10 am - 2 pm)

WHERE: Republic Square - 422 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78701

Click here for more information.

If there aren't any PMAD events occurring in your city, consider hosting your own event! Click here to learn more. 

Click here to learn more about Puppy Mill Awareness Day 

Photo: Unsplash