Mindi Callison is the Founder and Executive Director of Bailing Out Benji, a national nonprofit organization that focuses on building a grassroots effort to create change for puppy mill dogs.
At just 21 years of age, Mindi founded this organization after discovering a local puppy-selling store in her town. She began ongoing protests at pet stores in her hometown of Ames, Iowa and that inspired advocates from all over the country to do the same. In just a few short years, after being featured in a documentary and several books, Mindi’s Iowa-based organization has expanded to include volunteer teams across the country. This nimble, innovative organization is entirely dedicated to ending the inhumane breeding practices of dogs and cats in commercial facilities. They work to research and reveal the links between puppy mills across the country and the pet stores and websites where the puppies are sold.
This research has been crucial in passing many local and state bills across the country which regulate the sales of puppies, kittens and rabbits in stores. While most national organizations are headquartered on the coasts or in large cities, Bailing Out Benji’s Iowa roots allow them to serve as a much needed and powerful voice for animals across the Midwest, which is a strong hold for animal agriculture and dog breeding.
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Eleanor the golden retriever who was rescued from Daniel Gingerich’s puppy mill.