Animals aren't products.

Don't give a gift of suffering - say "no" to animals as gifts this holiday season.

  Take the Pledge 
World Animal Protection Logo

Animals aren't products.

Don't purchase animals to give as gifts this holiday season.

  Take the Pledge 

Do you know where animals sold in pet stores come from?

Animals sold in pet stores come from cruel commercial breeding facilities called mills where hundreds or thousands of animals are confined to small cages, tubs, and tanks without adequate food, water, or veterinary care.

Turtles are taped and packed tightly in a container.

From the Mill

At mills, death is simply the cost of doing business. Government inspectors have found cannibalization, sick and dead animals, dirty cages, and moldy food at mills.

To the Pet Store

Animals are tightly packed into containers and shipped to pet stores across the US, even in extreme temperatures. Some don’t survive the trip.

Most people who buy animals in pet stores aren’t aware of the suffering these animals endured before reaching the store.  

Got questions?

We've got answers!

What is an animal mill?

Similar to puppy mills, reptile, bird, and small mammal mills produce as many animals as quickly as possible without regard for their well-being. Undercover investigations of mills that supply PetSmart and Petco have documented:

  • Decomposing animals among living animals
  • Cannibalizations
  • Cages encrusted with feces, grime, and old food 
  • Animals exhibiting abnormal stereotypic behavior 
  • Animals unable to access water 
  • Severely injured and ill animals with hair loss, scabbing, skin conditions, diarrhea, and eye abnormalities 

Aren't there laws protecting animals sold in pet stores?

Some animals, like reptiles, amphibians, mice, rats, and fishes, have no federal laws protecting them. Small mammal and bird mills are regulated by the Animal Welfare Act, but the law isn’t enforced. Mills with long histories of neglect and abuse are rarely shut down. Instead, they receive warnings, minor fines, or no consequences at all 

How can I help?

Pledge not to purchase animals as gifts this holiday season. Many shelters and rescues are overwhelmed this time of year, consider adoption instead!

Ready to take the pledge?