The city of Philadelphia is taking Puppy Mill Action week seriously. Although the entire state of Pennsylvania has some of the toughest anti-puppy mill laws on the books, Philly's city council is now debating a new ordinance introduced this week that would make it even harder for commercial breeders to raise pets in harsh or inhumane conditions. According to Kenyatta Johnson, the councilmember who introduced the new ban, unlicensed puppies are showing up in pet shops despite current laws -- so it's time for a crackdown.

"The bill will prohibit pet retailers from selling dogs or cats that they have purchased from breeding mills," Johnson said. "Often times these breeding mills focus on profit, not the welfare of the actual pets."

If the city council approves the new ban, all Philadelphia pet shops will have to provide written proof that the animals did not come from commercial breeders, but instead came from approved previous homes like animal rescues, humane societies or government shelters.