Campaigns

Puppy Mills: Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor sections are widely
read, so if published, you are sure to
reach a large number of people to
whom you might not otherwise
have access.

 

Important Points You May Include about Puppy Mills

  1. A puppy mill continuously breeds female dogs and keeps animals in deplorable conditions.
  2. Many puppies suffer from chronic physical ailments and receive little or no socialization.
  3. Puppy mills often sell to unsuspecting customers through pet stores, over the Internet and through newspaper ads.
  4. Breeders who sell directly to the public are often the proprietors of puppy mills, yet are tragically excluded from regulation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  5. Puppy mills are profitable because of the high demand for purebred dogs.
  6. Adopt puppies from local shelters or rescue groups, rather than buying from a pet store or via the internet or newspaper ads. Statistics show that approximately 25% of dogs in shelters are purebreds.
  7. Contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and ask them for more funding and better enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act.
  8. Click here for the DDAL Factsheet on Puppy Mills (pdf).

How to Submit a Letter

  1. Use our Online Media Guide.
  2. Enter Your Zip Code.
  3. Choose one or more newspapers from the list and submit online.
  4. Local papers are a great way to reach your community.

General Tips for Your Letter

  1. Write concise sentences, and stick to one issue.
  2. Keep your letter short, no more than 300 words.
  3. Be timely. If responding to something already published, send it your letter no more than 2 - 3 days after the article you're responding to was published.
  4. The letter should be typed and double-spaced. Sign it and include your home and work telephone numbers.
  5. Look at other letters the newspaper has published for an idea of what makes it into print.
  6. Address your letter to "Dear Editor."

The Letter Outline

  1. State the name of your organization (if applicable) and the purpose of your message.
  2. Convey brief background material about the problem.
  3. State your opinion about the problem, backed by relevant and accurate statistics from a reputable source.
  4. Tell your readers what action they should take.