Exciting News, Updates and Progress

EPMA makes it a priority to get out into the community and have conversations that get people thinking about puppy mills and how they negatively affect the local community. Visit this page to find out about the latest happenings and the progress of the Erie Puppy Mill Awareness group.

September 2017 - EPMA ROCKS ERIE

EPMA ran a contest to engage the community called #EPMARocks! We used the trend and excitement of the Rock Out Erie fun to reach into the community to educate. Click here to check out some wonderful pieces that were painted, hidden, and found in honor of Erie Puppy Mill Awareness! Fourteen rocks were painted in honor of Erie Puppy Mill Awareness with some beautiful pieces of art by Karen Vesk that showcased our message. The winner was Elizabeth Gall. Our hope is that people find these rocks and become educated on this topic!

April 2017 - EPMA represents at humane lobby day

Jessica Carlson serves as EPMA's bridge to the Humane Society of the United States and she works hard to help us advance legislation protecting animals and consumers from Puppy Mills. She traveled to Harrisburg for Humane Lobby Day 2017 and here she's pictured with Ryan Bizzarro and other animal advocates.

April 2017 - spreading the word about puppy mills

Erie Puppy Mill Awareness Executives Jessica & Laurie are pictured here, reaching out to college students and area adults about puppy mills at Gannon University's Earth Day Festival. Each conversation makes a difference!

March 2017 - EPMA's Own CELEBRITY BARDTENDER

EPMA's Jessica Carlson was asked to be a Celebrity Bartender at a fundraiser for our local animal rescue group, HOPE. She was thrilled to participate. We love working together with other animal advocacy groups in Erie!

February 14, 2017 - "Advocate We Love" Award

Jessica Carlson, EPMA Executive Board Member received the "Advocate We Love" national award by The Humane Society of the United States - Puppy Mill Campaign. She was presented the award on February 15, 2017 at the Anna Shelter by Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, County Councilmembers Jay Breneman and Bob Merski. Jessica serves as the HSUS Liaison for EPMA and her main project is building legislation that protests Erie consumers and puppies and dogs nationwide from the horrors of puppy mills.

January 10, 2017 - Erie county council meeting

Exciting News!!! Please Read!!! 🐶 🐱 🐰

Erie Puppy Mill Awareness board members, Jessica Carlson and Dr. Jenny Grimshawe, had the privilege to provide testimony at the Erie County Council meeting on January 10, 2017 along with Linda Coleman Jones, Founder/Director of EARS-Erie Area Rabbit Society & Rescue. They spoke to the council in regards to passing a local Resolution "In Support of Commonwealth Regulations To Control The Ill Effects Of Puppy Mills in Pennsylvania."

We are excited to announce that Resolution 4, 2017 passed unanimously at the meeting! This is just the beginning as we continue the vital work to educate and raise awareness to create positive change with our other hard working board members: Denise Radford, DVM, Sherry Beliveau, Laurie Craig, Lea McElhinney, super volunteer Stephanie Schultz and our many other animal advocates.

A BIG shout out and thank you to The Erie County Council members; Chairman Jay Breneman, Vice Chairman Dr. Kyle Foust, Edward T. DiMattio Jr., Kathy Fatica, Andre Horton, Fiore Leone and Carol Loll for their support on this resolution. And a little extra thanks to Mr. Breneman for being so helpful with helping us with this process and continual journey on our fight to help our fellow fur friends!