puppy mill

noun

: a commercial farming operation in which purebred dogs are raised in large numbers and often in substandard or poor conditions
Currently, hundreds of thousands of dogs languish in puppy mills, large commercial breeding operations that supply most pet stores across the United States and contribute heavily to the pet overpopulation problem.Dog Watch

Examples of puppy mill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some people complain that buying from auctions only serves to encourage puppy mills. David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2024 Pierce and Campbell conceded the legislation was well-intentioned in cracking down on puppy mills but urged the house to delay consideration until next year’s budget session when the Board of Animal Health could be properly funded. John Tuohy, The Courier-Journal, 12 June 2024 Dozens of dogs died during a fire at an Ohio puppy mill, several outlets reported. Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 Indiana General Assembly:Controversial 'puppy mill' bill passes Indiana House Animals available for adoption can be found by going to the Petfinder or Adopt-A-Pet page. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for puppy mill 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'puppy mill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of puppy mill was in 1953

Dictionary Entries Near puppy mill

Cite this Entry

“Puppy mill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puppy%20mill. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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