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.—
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California had passed a law in 2017 barring the sale of dogs in pet stores to prevent pets from puppy mills to inundate the state.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The nonprofit conducts large-scale rescues of abused and neglected animals, including cases involving puppy mills, hoarding, dogfighting rings, and backyard breeders.
—Meg Dunn, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Many of the contestants have been rescued from shelters and puppy mills, organizers said, helping to raise awareness for pet adoption.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Before the law, Wisconsin was a magnet for puppy mills with no regulation.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for puppy mill
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Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The nonprofit conducts large-scale rescues of abused and neglected animals, including cases involving puppy mills, hoarding, dogfighting rings, and backyard breeders.
—Meg Dunn, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Many of the contestants have been rescued from shelters and puppy mills, organizers said, helping to raise awareness for pet adoption.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Before the law, Wisconsin was a magnet for puppy mills with no regulation.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for puppy mill
Cite this Entry
“Puppy mill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puppy%20mill. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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