Buying puppies in a pet store like they are a new TV or a pair of jeans is quickly going out of style. The public is waking up and realizing that the puppies are coming from inhumane breeding facilities, commonly known as puppy mills.

More than 120 cities/counties across the United States have banned the retail sale of dogs and cats, specifying that they can only come from rescues or shelters. These retail bans are saving thousands of doggy lives by showcasing them in a new way. Pet stores are converting over, and contrary to popular belief, the reason behind this isn’t to put an end to all breeding or buying of dogs.

Instead this movement is helping promote reputable breeders who refuse to sell through third parties such as pet stores or brokers. In fact, the truly reputable breeders would never sell their puppies in a pet store because they care where those puppies are going. They wouldn’t sell to a stranger because they had the cash.

Because Iowa is home to more than 220 puppy mills and is notoriously known as the second worst state in the entire nation when it comes to these mass breeding facilities, we owe it to the dogs to do better. When making the decision to add a pet to your family, choose wisely.

Adoption is always a great first option, and there are many loving pets at your local rescue or shelter waiting for a family to call their own. And if you choose to buy your next pet make sure you ask questions and don’t buy the puppy without seeing how the parents are living.

So, how much is that doggy in the window? Too much. The cost falls on the suffering of the parent dogs back at the puppy mill. And that inhumane life is too high of a price.