Photos by Alexa Solis /Nevada Sagebrush

By Rocio Hernandez

Puppy Mill Free Reno hosted a puppy parade on Saturday, May 3. There was human bonding and trick training by Dusty Robinson from A Doggie’s Dream, speakers, and live music by the Reno Video Game Symphony.

Puppy mills are a commercial farming operation in which purebred dogs are raised in large numbers. According to Puppy Mill Free Reno founder Billy Howard, the event was put on to raise awareness about the abuse and neglect those dogs born and raised in puppy mills face.

“The dogs, cats and rabbits in these facilities never see a veterinarian, are never groomed, do not have their dental hygiene checked, know anything close to a kind touch,” Howard said. “They don’t even have names.”

Howard wants the city of Reno to pass a piece of legislation to ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores. According its website, their Puppy Mill Free Reno’s petition has raised 7,566 signatures.

Rocio Hernandez can be reached at rhernandez@sagebrush.unr.edu.