Last year, we introduced to Iowa the first ever state-wide puppy mill awareness event! Over 20 different events were held during the month of September by shelters, rescues and other businesses/groups- and it was a huge success!

We are SO pleased to announce that this year, we have done it again! With the help of participating animal welfare organizations, we are proud to announce….

Bailing Out Benji’s SECOND Annual State-wide Puppy Mill Awareness Event

Iowa has over 230 USDA licensed “puppy mills”, with over 23,000 adult dogs trapped in cages for the entirety of their lives! (This number doesn’t include the unlicensed mills that we often hear about in the news!) Iowa, alone, sells over 100,000 puppies to pet stores and through internet sales… Although puppy mill awareness day is September 21, that isn’t stopping these guys from making puppy mill awareness a MONTH LONG EVENT!

The participating groups have agreed to spread the word about the fact that Iowa is the second worst state in the nation when it comes to puppy mills. Some groups have chosen to host events or add the puppy mill theme to already planned events, others have elected to have displays at their adoption events and facilities all month long. This helps bring the issue to the communities and shows solidarity among the animal welfare organizations. The groups have been encouraged to keep the display up all month long– places like the Humane Society of North Iowa in Mason City have elected to keep it up all year long! Their display has been up since last year and has helped to educate so many new people!

Please take note of the participants below and feel free to thank them for all that they do for the homeless animals, as well as those trapped in puppy mills.

Participating Groups–

Please go to their page, like them, and give them a shout out for participating:

Poweshiek Animal League Shelter

Atlantic Animal Shelter

Last Hope Animal Rescue

Almost Home Animal Shelter

Noah’s Hope Animal Rescue

Humane Society of North East Iowa

Humane Society of North Iowa

Paws of Greene County

Jasper County Animal Rescue League

PAW Fort Madison