1. Why is Winona County known as the "puppy mill capital of Minnesota"?
Winona County is described as the "puppy mill capital of Minnesota" because of the high number of local permits granted for the operation of large-scale dog breeding facilities within the county. A local permit is required prior to obtaining a federal or state license. Permitted facilities are found on the BREEDERS page. These permits are reviewed by the Winona County Planning Commission with final approval by the Winona County Board (see #2 below). The number of dog breeding facilities in Winona County have continued to grow each year. |