As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, we’ll reflect on the way our moms inspire us, love us and cheer us on. But before we do, we’d like to pause to remember that for millions of puppies nationwide, the word “mom” is nothing but a distant memory.

Every day, thousands of puppies are born into large, substandard breeding facilities commonly known as puppy mills. They're pulled away from their mothers, sometimes after just eight weeks, and sold into the commercial dog market. After little-to-no recovery time, the mother dogs are forced to breed again. When they can no longer reproduce, they are often abandoned or killed.

A breeding factory is no place to spend Mother's Day, and that's why we're dedicating this Sunday to all the moms in puppy mills. You can make a difference this Mother’s Day by pledging to make pet adoption your first option. Most pet store puppies come from puppy mills, and by pledging to adopt instead of shop, you’ll provide a home for an animal in need and change a life immeasurably.

Thanks for helping to make this important holiday even more special. Happy Mother’s Day from the ASPCA!