Your article from the April 24 on animal abuse got me thinking: How many people are against animal abuse but don’t do anything to prevent it?

Well, here are some of my ideas on how to prevent puppy mills.

1. Try to help put an end to puppy mills. The dogs there are mistreated with cramped cages, lack of food and little water even on hot days.

2. Don’t buy dogs from pet stores or online. Most pet stores get their dogs from puppy mills. Getting them online is even worse. Puppy mills need a license to sell their dogs to pet stores, online stores don’t.

3. Don’t get dogs at dog auctions either. Dog auctions are just puppy mill runners getting rid of their unwanted dogs.

I suggest getting a dog or cat from an animal shelter. You can find friendly dogs there that will be a good friend to your family. If you’re looking for a pure breed you can find those at animal shelters, too, they’re just a little bit harder to find.

If you get your pet at an animal shelter you won’t be supporting animal breeders who don’t treat their animals right but you will be giving a great animal a home.

If you want more information about how to stop animal abuse, go where I went to get my information, The Humane Society of the United States.

Their Web site is www.hsus.org.

Alex Withrow

Albert Lea