The Horrible Hundred Report: What It Is and How to Research a Breeder
The Horrible Hundred is an annual report on problem puppy mills and dealers in the United States, published by the Humane Society of the United States (now Humane World for Animals). Here is what the report is based on, what it can and cannot tell you, and how to research any breeder yourself.
What the Horrible Hundred report is
Published every year since 2013, the report names a selection of commercial dog breeders and brokers with documented problems, drawing on public records such as USDA inspection reports, state inspection reports and other documents. It is one organization's selection, not a complete list of every problem breeder, and each year's edition is different. Read the current edition on the publisher's site: Humane World for Animals.
What it can and cannot tell you
A report like this is a starting point. A breeder that is not named is not automatically a good breeder, and records can change after a report is published. Always look at the underlying public records yourself and at what families who bought from the program report.
Where a public Concern Flag on a program cites the report, that flag appears on the program's PuppyReports™ Card with its original source, so you can read the record yourself. A program's presence on or absence from any third-party list is not a PuppyReports finding.
How to research any breeder yourself
- Open the program's PuppyReports™ Card: documentation on file, Family Experiences and public Concern Flags with their original sources.
- If the breeder sells commercially, look up its USDA license and inspection reports in the USDA APHIS public search tool.
- Check your state's kennel licensing or inspection records where your state publishes them.
- Ask for health testing results for both parents, and confirm them with the testing registry.
- Visit in person, meet the mother, and see where the puppies are raised.
Puppy Mill Watch on PuppyReports
Puppy Mill Watch collects public Concern Flags about breeding operations, each tied to its original source, so families see the record before they choose. If you have first-hand information about a program, file a Concern Flag.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Horrible Hundred?
It is an annual report on problem puppy mills and dealers in the United States, published by the Humane Society of the United States (now Humane World for Animals) since 2013, based on public records such as USDA and state inspection reports.
Does PuppyReports show Horrible Hundred information?
Where a public Concern Flag on a program cites the report, the flag appears on that program's PuppyReports Card with its original source. A program's presence on or absence from any third-party list is not a PuppyReports finding.
If a breeder is not on the Horrible Hundred, is it a good breeder?
Not necessarily. The report is a selection, not a complete list. Check the breeder's PuppyReports Card, USDA or state inspection records, health testing, and Family Experiences before you choose.
How do I check a breeder's USDA inspection reports?
Commercial breeders that need a USDA license can be looked up in the USDA APHIS public search tool, which shows license status and inspection reports.
