The Truth About Puppy Mills Pet Stores Don’t Want You to Know | Ep11

If you've ever considered buying a puppy from a pet store or online, this episode will change your perspective forever.

Dr. Johnny Lieberman sits down with seasoned undercover investigator Pete Paxton to uncover the grim realities of puppy mills, the massive breeding operations that supply pet stores with dogs raised in filth, neglect, and suffering. Pete shares firsthand accounts from over two decades of investigations, including wire cages piled with feces, dogs driven "cage crazy," and breeders who prioritize profit over welfare. The conversation exposes how pet stores mislead consumers with glossy ads and false claims of "reputable breeders," while USDA inspections often fail to enforce even basic standards due to inherent conflicts of interest.

Beyond the shock, Dr. Lieberman and Pete discuss the broader implications: the health risks to puppies (and buyers), the environmental ties to climate disasters increasing shelter overcrowding, and why adoption from shelters or fosters saves lives and provides better-matched, healthier pets. This episode empowers listeners to make compassionate choices, reject the "adopt don't shop" myths, and support real solutions like volunteering and fostering, without judgment, but with eye-opening facts.

Top 3 Takeaways

• Adopt, Don't Shop: When seeking a new dog, prioritize adoption from shelters or foster-based rescues over pet stores or online sellers. This saves lives from overcrowded shelters, avoids supporting puppy mills' cruelty, and often provides healthier, better-socialized pets with known personalities. Research local options, visit, and match based on your lifestyle for a fulfilling bond.
• Focus on Personality Over Breed: Ignore breed stereotypes when choosing a dog; emphasize personality traits that fit your family, like energy level or compatibility with kids/pets. Shelters assess and train dogs for better matches, reducing behavioral issues. Volunteer at rescues to observe firsthand, ensuring a happier, more suitable companion without fueling profit-driven breeding.
• Volunteer or Foster to Help: Combat puppy mill cruelty by volunteering at shelters: walk dogs, assist with training, or foster temporarily to free space and prepare pets for adoption. This directly saves lives amid rising disasters displacing animals. Start small, contact local groups like Humane Society, and contribute time over money for ethical impact.

About the Guest:

Pete Paxton is the Director of Investigations at SEED (Strategies for Ethical and Environmental Development), where he leads animal cruelty investigations focused on factory farms and pollution. With over two decades of experience since 2001, Pete has gone undercover at puppy mills, pet stores, slaughterhouses, and commercial fishing operations. His work has been featured in HBO documentaries like Dealing Dogs and Death on a Factory Farm, as well as National Geographic's Animal Undercover. He is co-author of the book Rescue Dogs, which outlines solutions to animal exploitation.

Websites: ethicalstrategies.org, humaneworld.org, and capweb.org.

About the Show

Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health explores the intersection of animal welfare, public policy, and human health. Hosted by Dr. Johnny Lieberman, each episode invites changemakers, legal experts, and health advocates to shed light on what really impacts our communities—and what we can do about it.

About the Host

Dr. Johnny Lieberman is a physician, public health advocate, and lifelong animal lover with a passion for connecting the dots between animal welfare, human behavior, and the systems that shape our lives. With a background in both medicine and public health policy, Johnny brings a unique lens to conversations about how our treatment of animals impacts human health, the environment, and social justice.

In Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health, Johnny brings warmth, curiosity, and a dash of wit to tough conversations that matter. From exposing the realities of factory farming to uncovering the links between zoonotic diseases and our food systems, his goal is to empower listeners to be informed, compassionate, and engaged citizens—while still keeping it real (and sometimes bringing in puppies).

Whether he's discussing legislative loopholes or snuggling his rescue dog between recordings, Dr. Lieberman believes that creating a healthier world starts with how we treat its most vulnerable beings.

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