At this very moment, hundreds of thousands of dogs are living in filthy, inhumane conditions, often sleeping in their excrement and repeatedly bred until disease or mill operators end their lives.
Animal Rescue Corps has witnessed the horrors of puppy mill cruelty firsthand many times, including in November 2021 during Operation Revocation, a collaborative emergency rescue by Animal Rescue Corps, Animal Rescue League of Iowa, ASPCA, and other rescue partners of over 500 dogs from USDA-licensed breeder Daniel Gingerich in Iowa. Gingerich agreed to surrender all animals in his care after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) documented more than 190 violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The complaint against Gingerich, filed by the DOJ, detailed horrific conditions at multiple locations in Iowa where Gingerich kept dogs with untreated injuries and illnesses, like parvo and distemper, dogs with painful fur matting, dogs in confined cages with no water, and moldy food.
One of the dogs at Gingerich’s puppy mill was a golden retriever we’ve come to know as Goldie.
Goldie’s Act: Federal Legislation
During an inspection of Gingerich’s puppy mill in April 2021, the USDA failed to document Goldie’s existence, much less the horrific state of her emaciated body or the inhumane conditions around her. So she continued to suffer. By the time animal welfare agents discovered her, it was too late. Due to her extreme emaciation, Goldie had to be euthanized on-site.
In honor of her memory and in hopes that no animal would suffer like her again, Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA-03) joined five other bipartisan lawmakers to introduce Goldie’s Act ( H.R. 6100).
The Importance of Goldie’s Act:
This legislation would help dogs in mills by closing loopholes in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and would mandate that USDA inspectors document and report all observed AWA violations, as intended by the law.
Specifically, Goldie’s Act would require the USDA to:
- Conduct annual inspections of licensee and grant access to all licensee facilities, requiring detailed descriptions of any observed violations
- Confiscate animals who are suffering
- Monterariliy penalize licensees who violate the AWA
- Share inspection information/reports with state, local, and municipal animal control or law enforcement within 24 hours of the inspection
Be an Animal Advocate
Because of the advocacy of caring people like you, the horror of puppy mills has made waves in the news throughout the country and brought attention to this inhumane practice. You can take action right now to support animals by supporting Goldie’s Act. Here’s how:
- There are over 60 co-sponsors of Goldie’s Act. Click this link to see if your representative is one of them and thank them for supporting H.R. 6100. Sample language below.
- Don’t see your representative listed? Reach out and politely ask them to support Goldie’s Act by clicking here and navigating to “Give Feedback on This Bill.” If you don’t know your representative, look them up here.
Sample Language for Cosponsor Support:
Subject Line: Please Cosponsor Goldie’s Act
Dear Representative,
I am your constituent and politely request that you cosponsor Goldie’s Act (H.R.6100). This bill would help upgrade the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
This bill was named after Goldie, a severely emaciated golden retriever that had to suffer and die in one of the USDA’s problematic facilities. The Iowa facility, owned by Daniel Gingerich of Maple Hill Puppies, had more than 190 violations in 2021 alone. It took the USDA nearly a year to seize the animals after failing to report horrific abuse and revoke Gingerich’s license. Goldie was one of Gingerich’s victims who was euthanized on-site due to her skeletal condition.
Congress desperately needs to update the AWA which has not been ratified since 1966. Unfortunately, under the parameters of the AWA, the USDA is not taking action to penalize noncompliance or protect dogs that are suffering. No violators lose their license, and no one pays a financial penalty–even when dogs are left to suffer and die in their facilities. Thank you for leading the charge on this critical issue and advocating for animals.
Sample Thank You Language:
Subject Line: Thank You for Cosponsoring Goldie’s Act, H.R.6100
Dear Representative,
Thank you for cosponsoring Goldie’s Act (H.R.6100), a bill to restore welfare to the Animal Welfare Act. This bill will prevent further animal suffering in puppy mills and hold the USDA accountable. Thank you for leading the charge on this critical issue and advocating for animals.
A Future Without Puppy Mills
Puppy mills breed misery, pain, and suffering.
By supporting Goldie’s Act and animal welfare everywhere, you can help stop this inhumane practice. Please share information about Goldie’s Act so that no animal needlessly suffers in puppy mills again. Animal Rescue Corps strongly supports Goldie’s Act as we work toward a future without puppy mills.
EACH PERSON HAS THE POWER TO JOIN FORCES TO STOP THE VIOLENCE, CRUELTY, ETC. JOIN FORCES WITH ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS AND USE YOUR VOTE. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS. USE YOUR VOICE. USE YOUR VOTE.
My own feelings are puppy mills should be banned period. They are vile and disgusting and if you can’t regulate them to assure the quality of the lives of the animals, then ban them!!!!!
The more you breed puppies, the more you breed misery, pain, and suffering. Stop all breeding NOW!
All Beings are sacred. “Do no harm,” applies to all sentients. Kindness is Godliness. We can and must do better.
No more Puppy Mills because it equals constant suffering!! Ban them!!!
Please co-sponsor and vote to pass HR 6100. No animal should be allowed to suffer, the USDA needs to be pro-active in eliminating this abuse.
The world is already over populated. Do not encourage breeding, which adds suffering to all.
Puppy mills are torture! You breed sick, inter-bred dogs. There are way too many dogs in the world now! Stop the insanity! STOP breeders & puppy mills now!
I agree with you. Puppy mills should be banned totally. All breeding should be banned due to overpopulation of dogs and cats. Stiffer penalties and jailtime for animal abuse. Puppy mills torturous. Owners should do jailtime. Dog fighting should put you away a long time. Congress needs to support us on this. Stop evil people please.
Every person who breeds animals should be required to be licensed, provide a certain amount of space per animal, provide vetting, adequate food & fresh water. The license (required yearly) also should state how many animals they are allowed to have. No puppy mills or back yard breeders !
Puppy mills are disgusting, cruel and just wrong. As long as we have shelters euthanizing dogs (or cats) for space, nobody should be breeding animals. It is usually about greed on the part of the breeder, and very little concern for the well being of the parents.
Misery, pain and suffering = puppy mills!