There are approximately 3.5 million companion animals euthanized each year, most of which are healthy but homeless.

Every year in the US, according to a national survey by HSUS/Maddie's Fund, "you have roughly 17 million people who will acquire an animal but have not decided where that animal will come from."

While more and more are being adopted from shelters and rescue groups, there are still a great number of animals being purchased from irresponsible breeders, pet stores and puppy mills. 

While not all breeders are irresponsible in and of themselves, there are too many purebreed dogs (and cats) in shelters and rescue groups that need homes. Please look to them first when choosing your next pet aka family member.

The ASPCA has some wonderful FAQs and guidelines about puppy mills and how pet stores hide behind USDA licensed breeders (who are often running puppy mills). 

The standards that breeders (thus, puppy mills) are required to meet by law are extremely minimal. Under the federal Animal Welfare Act, it is completely legal to keep a dog in a cage only six inches longer than the dog in each direction, with a wire floor, stacked on top of another cage, for the dog's entire life. Conditions that most people would consider inhumane, or even cruel, are often totally legal. - ASPCA

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An excellent article found on RadioFence.com about the harsh realities of puppy mills provides more insight into the miserable lives the breeding dogs (and cats) lead. 
Statistics
  • Average annual number of companion animals that are euthanized at shelters: 3.5 million
  • Percent of dogs and cats that are adopted from shelters: 25%
  • Percentage of people that get their pets free or at low cost: 65%
  • Cost of taxpayer money annually to round up, house, kill and dispose of homeless animals: $2 billion
  • Total percentage of dogs in shelters that are purebred: 25%
  • Total number of homes that own at least 1 companion animal: 70 million
Source:
American Humane Society, Born Free U.S.A., Pet Finder via Statistic Brain

  • Percentage of pet owners who consider their animals to be members of the family in 2011: 63.2%; this is up from 49.7% in 2006
 Source:  2012 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, AVMA

  • Estimated number of puppy mills in the U.S.: 10,000
  • Estimated number of puppies sold annually who originated from puppy mills - USDA licensed and non-USDA licensed: 2.15 million
  • Estimated number of female dogs kept for breeding at USDA licensed facilities: 114,457
  • Number of USDA Class A and B licensed facilities that breed dogs for the pet trade: 2,024
Source: HSUS Fact Sheet, 2013 via AnimalFolksMN

27 states and the District of Columbia  have enacted laws which establish some form of humane care standards for animals kept at pet shops and sold in a retail environment

Source: Born Free; United With Animal Protection Institute
Useful links once you've adopted your new best friend:

Barking Royalty Blog
Here Pup
Expertise