A U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General report released last month found ongoing violations at puppy mills across the United States, detailing animals kept in conditions the agency called abusive and neglectful. Common signs of neglect and mistreatment in these facilities include poor hygiene, untreated medical conditions, and severe anxiety or fearfulness due to lack of socialization.

Animal welfare groups and some lawmakers have long argued that Animal Welfare Act enforcement is insufficient and are supporting legislation, such as the Puppy Protection Act of 2025 (H.R. 2253), to tighten breeder requirements. Currently, large-scale commercial dog breeders are regulated by the Animal Welfare Act, which sets minimal care standards but does not encompass the comprehensive welfare needed in many cases. In response, members of Congress have re-introduced legislation aimed at tightening breeder requirements, and animal welfare groups are pressing regulators for more vigorous action.

The inspector general’s office warned that scofflaw breeders pose “a threat to the well-being and safety of their dogs, leaving them vulnerable to neglect, mistreatment, and suffering,” according to the agency’s statement included in the report. As outlined in the audit, many of these operations merely operate as licensed Class A breeders or Class B dealers under the USDA without being specifically labeled as “puppy mills,” leading to a lack of clarity in regulatory oversight.

Inspectors documented vivid and stark examples of suffering. The report describes dogs forced to stand for hours in the hot sun without shelter and a puppy with a condition so severe “that one eye was sealed shut with a crusted-over discharge.” Other accounts in the audit describe a dog that lost a leg after an attack and at least one animal that “died in a cold, barren cage.” These descriptions were cited by advocacy groups when calling for legislative change.

Humane World for Animals, which has been vocal about the audit’s findings, said the report reinforces its view that enforcement programs must be strengthened. “The strength and integrity of enforcement programs are a matter of fundamental conviction for us, because, to state the matter plainly, animals are entirely at our mercy,” the organization said in a statement on its website. They emphasized that the emotional and behavioral issues seen in dogs from these mills stem largely from inbreeding and a lack of socialization, which are prevalent in overcrowded breeding facilities.

“Surely, the premise that dogs deserve to grow and live in decent and comfortable situations that provide shelter and safety is not a controversial one,” the group added. The organization’s commentary and analysis of the bill appear on the Humane World for Animals site and have been cited by lawmakers and advocates.

Lawmakers acting on the audit’s findings have moved quickly. The Puppy Protection Act was re-introduced last week by a bipartisan group of Representatives, including Brian Fitzpatrick, Jimmy Panetta, Guy Reschenthaler, and Jim McGovern. Other federal proposals to strengthen Animal Welfare Act enforcement, such as the Better CARE for Animals Act, have been promoted by advocates as complementary reforms.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the federal agency responsible for licensing and inspecting many large-scale commercial dog breeders under the Animal Welfare Act. The U.S. Department of Justice is involved in legal enforcement.

The audit also noted connections between breeders cited in its review and the American Kennel Club, a registry organization identified in the report’s broader context. Advocates say that tightening regulatory standards and clarifying enforcement priorities will reduce the number of facilities operating with minimal oversight. Currently, there is no definitive count of how many puppy mills are licensed in the U.S., reflecting the ambiguities in current classifications and the need for more robust regulatory frameworks.

Advocacy groups and some lawmakers say the OIG findings call for specific, enforceable standards rather than leaving details to inconsistent inspections. The report’s release last month and the re-introduction of the Puppy Protection Act last week have accelerated calls for a federal response that would standardize care, shelter, and veterinary requirements across regulated breeders.

Animal welfare organizations emphasized the human role in enforcing care. “The strength and integrity of enforcement programs are a matter of fundamental conviction for us,” Humane World for Animals said, urging Congress and regulators to act in the wake of the inspector general’s audit. This emphasis on accountability underlines the critical need for consistent inspections and actionable remediation strategies.

Congressional action is expected to be the next formal step after the audit’s publication, with lawmakers and advocacy groups monitoring how the USDA and the Department of Justice respond to the inspector general’s conclusions.

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