“Never underestimate the power of one voice—it may be the one that starts a movement.”  – Margaret Mead

In Pennsylvania, politics are failing some of the most vulnerable residents: our companion animal friends. While compassionate Pennsylvanians are calling for change, efforts to strengthen animal protection laws at the state level remain gridlocked. As cruelty continues unchecked in commercial breeding operations, it is clear we cannot wait for Harrisburg to act. Local action is not just a strategy; it is a necessity.

According to Humane World for Animals, the U.S. is home to at least 10,000 puppy mills, with fewer than 3,000 regulated by the USDA. These facilities are responsible for producing an estimated 2 million puppies annually, most of which are sold in pet stores or online, where the inhumane conditions they come from remain hidden from public view. In Pennsylvania—a state infamous for being a puppy mill hub—the suffering is particularly severe.

Despite claims of USDA licensing, routine kennel inspections do little to expose the daily horrors inflicted upon breeding dogs. Cramped cages, lack of veterinary care, forced breeding, and complete neglect of basic welfare needs are the norm, not the exception. The public rarely sees these realities—only the adorable puppies marketed in brightly lit stores or glossy websites. I was proud to spearhead and help pass Humane Pet Store ordinances in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Forks Township, PA. These laws prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits (and guinea pigs in some cases) in retail stores, directly severing the pipeline between our communities and puppy mills. My work in Allentown is featured in the upcoming documentary, Dogspiracy, premiering in the U.S. in 2025. The film aims to shine a national spotlight on the puppy mill industry, and I was honored to be interviewed to discuss how grassroots action led to meaningful legislative change in our region.

Still, more must be done. Animal shelters across Pennsylvania and the country are in crisis. Rescues and shelters are overwhelmed with abandoned and surrendered animals. Many of these animals come from the very breeding operations from which pet stores and online retailers profit. When consumers unknowingly purchase puppies bred in puppy mills, it not only fuels suffering, it also adds immense strain on the shelters left to pick up the pieces.

Even more troubling is the rise of so-called “designer breeds.” Hybrid dogs like shih-poos, mini labradoodles, cava-poos, and French bulldogs are sold for thousands, sometimes even $10,000 or more, under the illusion of exclusivity. The reality is these animals are bred purely for profit, often without regard for their health, temperament, or welfare. Many suffer from preventable medical and genetic conditions that become the adopter’s burden, or lead to surrender when care becomes too expensive.

Animals in shelters and rescues deserve better. Adoption not only saves lives but supports local rescue efforts. Shelters vet adopters, offer medical screenings, require spaying or neutering, and include microchipping to help lost pets return home. In contrast, pet stores and online brokers vet no one. If you have a credit card and a driver’s license, you can walk out with a puppy, no questions asked.  

Adoption is justice for animals bred, abandoned, and forgotten.  Shelters don’t sell animals—they save lives.

That is why I continue my work as a Board Member of Pennsylvania Voters For Animals to push for stronger local protections and more public awareness. We can no longer rely on a gridlocked legislature or hope that they will do something next legislative session.  Instead, we must educate our communities, pass local ordinances, and support reputable organizations like ours in their fight for the protection of all animals.

And perhaps most importantly, we must believe in the power of one person to make a difference.

I began this journey advocating for a single ordinance in Allentown. That effort has rippled outward, reaching surrounding municipalities, inspiring grassroots actions across communities in Pennsylvania, and will be featured in an international documentary. This movement is proof that when one voice speaks out, others will rise to join it. You can be that one person.

We must swiftly rise together —because their suffering cannot wait any longer.

Sheryl Petrillo

Board Member, Pennsylvania Voters For Animals

Founder & President Emeritus, Animal Defenders Greater Lehigh Valley