Breeders by State
Browse USDA-licensed facilities across all 50 states
The distribution of USDA-licensed breeders across the United States is far from even. A handful of states in the Midwest, particularly Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Ohio, account for a disproportionately large share of the nation's commercial breeding operations. This concentration is rooted in decades of agricultural tradition, lower land costs, and historically lighter state-level oversight. Meanwhile, states like California, Maryland, and Maine have enacted their own breeder regulations that often exceed federal standards, resulting in fewer but more closely monitored facilities.
The table below shows every state and territory where USDA-licensed facilities operate, along with the total number of documented animal welfare violations. Click any state to drill down into individual facility profiles, inspection timelines, and compliance grades. These numbers update as new USDA data becomes available.
All States & Territories
Click any state to see all licensed breeders and their inspection history
States with Most Violations
These states have the highest number of documented animal welfare violations
| Rank | State | Facilities | Total Violations | Avg. per Facility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Iowa | 696 | 3,212 | 4.6 |
| #2 | Missouri | 2,197 | 3,204 | 1.5 |
| #3 | Florida | 920 | 3,115 | 3.4 |
| #4 | Ohio | 1,042 | 2,906 | 2.8 |
| #5 | Pennsylvania | 656 | 2,879 | 4.4 |
State Inspection Facts
Important facts about breeder oversight across the United States
leads the nation with 696 licensed facilities and 3,212 documented violations.
of active commercial breeders went uninspected in the last reporting year according to USDA audit findings.
puppy mills are estimated to operate in the U.S., fewer than 3,000 are federally regulated by USDA.
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