Which States Have the Most Puppy Mills? Missouri and Iowa are considered the leading puppy mill states in the country. The highest concentration of puppy mills is in the Midwest, but there are also high concentrations in other areas, including Pennsylvania, Ohio and upstate New York. Bella's new puppy, Jules, is a beautiful little boy! He arrived to FL from a "breeder" in Kansas on 12/30 and he arrived in horrible shape. He was filthy and sick with kennel cough and a flu! Bella was home today looking after him as he is on a course of medications, antibiotics and needs to be fed six times a day, in small portions, on a special diet. I shared with Bella that there are federal laws that protect animals bred in mills. In 1966, Congress passed the Animal Welfare Act, which outlines specific minimum standards of care for dogs, cats and some other kinds of animals bred for commercial resale. The AWA is enforced by the United States Department of Agriculture. Under the AWA, certain large-scale commercial breeders are required to be licensed and regularly inspected by the USDA. But there are many inefficiencies and loopholes in the system. I sent Bella a link from the Humane Society which discusses the AWA and how to file a complaint against a puppy mill or breeder. Bella is going to show it to and discuss it with her Dad.