The Full Story By Mindi Callison We live in a world where headlines move faster than truth, where urgency is rewarded more than accuracy, and where being first can feel more important than being right. Most stories are more complicated than they first appear. There are layers, context, and missing pieces. Social media and news outlets play into this regularly…. Read more »
Written by Mindi Callison April 2026 There is a phrase I come back to often when I think about the work Bailing Out Benji does: Our work may only be an inch wide, but it is a mile deep. In a space as emotionally charged and complex as dog breeding, sales and rescue, there is constant pressure to go the… Read more »
The USDA Exodus: Cancelled Licenses Don’t Always Mean Closed Doors Hundreds of dog breeders are cancelling their federal licenses, but many still appear to be selling online. Written by Alexis Bell In February of 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture issued a press release outlining new goals for cracking down on chronic violators of the Animal Welfare Act. Among… Read more »
Puppy mill advocacy is evolving. Learn why precise language, accurate data, and clearer messaging are essential to protecting dogs and strengthening policy.
Written by Mindi Callison Two Generations Earlier this year I stood on the property of a commercial dog breeding facility in Missouri and watched dogs run around and play in their yard. They weren’t pacing or spinning in small kennels and they weren’t cowering when we introduced ourselves for pets and play. It wasn’t like the kennels that have shaped… Read more »
TikTok’s Puppy Boom ©Bailing Out Benji 2025 Written by Mindi Callison The Growing Problem of Influencers Selling Puppies Online Our research team has noticed a disturbing pattern emerging across TikTok and other online platforms: influencers are selling hundreds of puppies each weekend from commercial breeders and unlicensed operations without the proper licensing or transparency. We have audited hundreds of interstate… Read more »
Our new breeder search engine makes it easier than ever to research licensed dog breeders at the state and federal level before bringing a puppy into your family. This nationwide tool was created to empower consumers and advocates with clear, accessible information so they can make informed, ethical decisions when looking for a dog or educating others about responsible sourcing…. Read more »
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
In an effort to bring more transparency to the online puppy marketplace, Bailing Out Benji recently conducted an in-depth audit of Puppies.com, one of the largest websites connecting breeders with potential buyers. With growing concerns about puppy mills using online platforms to sell dogs, our goal was simple: to determine which sellers listing puppies on the site had verifiable ties… Read more »
©Bailing Out Benji 2025 All research and information was done by the research team at Bailing Out Benji and must be cited as such when shared or quoted! To view the rest of our CVI data, click here. Each month, Bailing Out Benji collects and analyzes all of the USDA inspections that are publicly posted on the USDA search engine, while… Read more »
