Naturally, of course, the Amish are far from the only ones associated with puppy mills. According to PETA, these mills can consist of anything from kennel complexes to areas with no protection from the elements at all. They have designated spots where female dogs are bred for their puppies, which are then sold to pet stores and so on. Sadly, the truth is that profit can be considered the priority, often far over the welfare of the animals. 

According to The Puppy Mill Project, there are around 10,000 such places in the United States alone, and two million puppies are bred in them each year. And it seems that the Amish are at the heart of some of the country’s busiest puppy mills in areas such as Pennsylvania and Ohio. Dog auctions are said to be particularly popular among these communities, with dogs sold then and there. Tragically, they are usually suffering from illness or malnutrition from the cramped conditions in which they are often kept. 

Amish Dog Breeders suggests that the breeding and raising of dogs is another facet of the long-held Amish links to animals and agriculture and that the community advocates for responsible breeding. This is more reflective of the moral and righteous notions of the Amish and their faith. Per Ranker, though, the lure of the profitability of Amish puppy mills seems to have risen with the lack of demand for their agricultural efforts and the rising expense of land suitable for their needs.