Progress! New York Prohibits the Sale of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits from Pet Stores
Animal rights activists celebrated the huge step forward in the fight to end puppy-mill farming, with the new legislation going into effect from 2024.
Animal advocacy groups in the US have hailed new legislation that will ban the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits at retail pet stores in the state of New York, as part of efforts to put a stop to puppy breeding mills.
The legislation (S.1130/A.4283) signed by Governor Kathy Hochul will go into effect in 2024, with violators facing a penalty of up to $1,000.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Chief Executive Officer Matt Bershadker called the move a "historic win" for animals.
"By ending the sale of cruelly bred puppy mill dogs in state pet shops, New York is shutting down the pipeline that enables retail sellers and commercial breeders to profit from unconscionable brutality," he said in a statement.
Not only is commercial breeding often cruel to the animals themselves, but it can also result in heartbreak for their human companions too. Thousands of consumers have revealed to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that their animals “fell sick and sometimes died shortly after purchase”, after having been duped by supposedly reputable breeders, who are actually just sourcing puppies from dismal mass-breeding facilities.
"Our undercover investigations have exposed sick puppy sales and cruel practices in New York pet stores, highlighting the need for this historic law," HSUS CEO Kitty Block said in a statement. "New Yorkers will no longer be duped by pet stores into spending thousands of dollars on puppies who are often ill and almost always sourced from dismal puppy mills."
Credit: HSUS
"New York State will no longer allow brutally inhumane puppy mills around the country to supply our pet stores and earn a profit off animal cruelty and unsuspecting consumers," Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal said in a statement after the new law was adopted. "Countless families will be spared the heartache of spending thousands on a beloved new pet that is genetically damaged and chronically ill."
In addition to banning the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in stores, the new legislation will allow pet stores to host adoption services in collaboration with animal shelters or rescue organizations to help connect New Yorkers with animals in need of a home.
"By ending the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores, shelters and rescues will be able to partner with these stores to showcase adoptable animals and place them into forever homes," Rosenthal explained in her statement.
California became the first state to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in 2017, with Maryland and Illinois passing similar legislation in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
With the holiday season in full swing, this new legislation is also a reminder to “adopt don’t shop” when it comes to companion animals.
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