Puppy mills are notorious for overbreeding, which leads to overcrowding in these facilities and well as the pet overpopulation in the United States. …show more content…
Due to the fact that they are not caring properly for the dogs, it is only time before dogs die because of the conditions. The owners of the puppy mills then have to dispose of the dogs, which tend to be an improper way of disposing them; this is in violation of environmental laws. A huge environmental problem is with dog feces; this not only causes problems for the dogs but also can be harmful to humans. Dogs here lack basic care so it isn’t uncommon for them to be infected with and carry pathogens. Dog feces contain pathogens that can survive for a long time in water that seeps into the ground and eventually ends up into major rivers, which are major sources of public drinking water. In one example, “a stream downhill from a West Virginia puppy mill was found to have a coliform bacteria load 400 times greater than the legal limit” (HSUS). The dog feces also transfer to the soil; there is a high probability that any person or animal that comes into contact with the waste will get infected. The pathogens can be harmful to humans and even cause deadly infections. In puppy mills it is common for dog feces to build up on the ground. This produces methane, which is a powerful and dangerous greenhouse gas. Also, letting the feces build up causes them to become drier and flaky; this allows the particles to be picked up and become airborne. This can eventually lead to ammonia, which can affect humans through vegetation, water, and