A national animal welfare group says Iowa has the third-most businesses it has identified as puppy mills, saying puppies and dogs at some of them are living in filthy, hazardous conditions without adequate care.
Missouri had the largest number of businesses on the list at 21, followed by Ohio with 16, and Iowa at 11. Rounding out the top five, Nebraska and Pennsylvania each had eight breeders on the list, the group reported.
It noted that the list is not comprehensive because many puppy mills are not inspected at all, thus no verifiable records on their conditions exist.
It estimates, however, that there are 10,000 puppy mills across the country. They often churn out large numbers of animals in unsanitary, inhumane operations that ignore the needs of the pups and their mothers, the group says, adding that dogs from puppy mills may be sick and unsocialized.