Distressing Photos Show What A Puppy Mill Really Looks Like

Photos from a recent puppy mill seizure show just how brutal conditions at commercial breeding facilities really are.

WARNING: Some images below may be considered graphic.

The ASPCA joined with local law enforcement to conduct the seizure in Needham, Alabama, after several new owners complained that dogs obtained from the facility were severely sick.

Investigators found 130 dogs in "filthy" and "deplorable" conditions, along with puppy remains, according to the ASPCA. Many of the dogs were malnourished or dehydrated, and suffered from dental disease, hypothermia and ocular damage.

They're currently receiving medical and behavioral treatment at an undisclosed location while the investigation unfolds.

"It's clear that profit was put above the well-being of these dogs," Tim Rickey, vice president for ASPCA Field Investigations and Response, said in a statement. "As is the case with most puppy mills, these dogs were treated as products for sale and not valued as living beings."

Meanwhile, the facility's owners, Rebecca Miller and Janice Freeman, have been arrested and are awaiting charges. Law enforcement officers also found illegal drugs and $20,000 in cash on the premises, the ASPCA reported.

As always, if you're thinking of adding an animal to your family, do your research and adopt responsibility. Many of the dogs being sold at pet stores or through ads on Craigslist are sourced from breeding facilities just like this one.

If you'd like to help these dogs and others like them, you can donate to the ASPCA here.