Yoder Case: The Ongoing Fight Against Puppy Mills

Yoder Case: The Ongoing Fight Against Puppy Mills

How The Community Can Help

Mass breeding is a highly profitable industry, and many operators are reluctant to reinvest in the animals they exploit. While we always encourage those looking for a pet to adopt from shelters and rescues, we understand that some may consider purchasing from a breeder. If you do, follow these essential steps to ensure you are supporting ethical breeding practices:

1. Visit the property. Observe where all animals are housed, including the size and condition of their living spaces.
2. Meet the mother of the litter and ask about her breeding history.
3. How often is she bred? (Ideally, she skips a cycle after each litter.)
4. At what age does breeding start and end? (Best practices suggest no earlier than 1.5–2 years and no later than 6–7 years.)
5. What happens to breeding dogs when they are retired? Are they rehomed or kept on the property?
6. Request veterinary records. Ensure both the puppy and both its parents have received core vaccinations and breed-specific health screenings (e.g., hips, elbows, eyes, and knees).

Most importantly, if you see poor conditions, do not buy the animal. While it’s understandable to want to "rescue" an animal from a bad situation, purchasing a puppy only fuels the cycle of abuse. Instead, report the breeder to local animal control or your area's non-emergency police line for a welfare check.

The Need for an Animal Cruelty Conviction Database

In January 2025, Virginia House Bill 1814 was unfortunately tabled. This bill called for the creation of an animal cruelty conviction list—a long-overdue tool that has been proposed in various forms over the years.



A universally accessible database is critical. Currently, animal shelters, animal control agencies, and welfare organizations do not have shared access to each other's records. Running background checks on the thousands of individuals we interact with each year is financially and logistically unfeasible. However, if shelter software could integrate with a centralized database that flags individuals or addresses linked to felony animal cruelty convictions, it would serve as a crucial safeguard against repeat offenders.

While the failure to pass a state registry is disappointing, we remain hopeful and committed to advocating for stronger protections. You can read more about HB1814 here.

Recent Legislative Wins for Animal Welfare

Despite setbacks, Virginia has made significant progress in animal welfare legislation.

Senate Bill 903 (SB903) – Passed in early 2025, this law increases transparency and accountability in the pet industry by requiring pet shops to maintain detailed records when acquiring an animal. These records must include:

• The animal's origin
• Their health status
• The breeder’s credentials

Additionally, pet shops are prohibited from selling animals obtained from unlicensed breeders within Virginia—a major step in preventing unethical breeding operations.

SB1051 (Ebbin) / HB2313 (Lopez) – These companion bills strengthen animal cruelty enforcement by granting animal control officers greater authority to:

• Enter, inspect, and investigate boarding facilities
• Obtain warrants in cases of suspected cruelty

While SB903 enhances oversight at the state level, these bills empower local authorities to take swift action when animals are at risk. Shelters and rescues have long met strict standards, and now, legislators are ensuring that all facilities housing animals are held to higher levels of accountability.

By requiring transparency in pet sales and giving investigators more tools to address cruelty, Virginia is making real progress in preventing unethical breeding operations.

A Future of Greater Accountability

For organizations like the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, these legislative developments align with our mission to create compassionate communities where every animal thrives. Our shelter services, veterinary clinic, and community engagement programs are all strengthened by laws that promote animal welfare.



• As these new laws take effect, we anticipate:
• A decline in unethical breeding operations
• Improved living conditions for animals
• More informed choices for pet owners

However, the fight isn’t over—we will continue advocating for policies that ensure higher accountability and justice for animals in our community.

Together, through stronger legislation and responsible consumer choices, we can help end the cycle of abuse and exploitation in mass breeding operations.