New Legislation to end pet sales in retail stores
A few members have asked about the new legislation regarding the puppy mill pipeline.
During the 2022 session the NY Legislature approved a bill to shut down the puppy mill pipeline and end the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores across the State. (S1130/A4283). The legislation will go to the Governor for signature.
The Bill was the result of advocacy from a coalition of animal welfare organizations include the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), New York State Animal Protection Federation (NYSAPF), Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR), Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), and the NYC Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee.
Right now, out-of-state puppy mills ship their puppies to New York pet stores, where they are marketed as healthy puppies from responsible breeders, which is far from the truth. Puppies sold in pet stores typically come from commercial breeding operations known as “puppy mills” that are designed to prioritize profit over the well-being of the animals. Dogs in these facilities are often kept in wire crates without adequate shelter, veterinary care, food or socialization. As a result, many of them suffer severe health and behavioral issues – and families are often unprepared for the financial loss and heartbreak that come with buying a sick puppy. (See the ASPCA press release)
“If consumers knew where the puppies, kittens and rabbits sold at pet stores came from they would be appalled. The conditions and treatment these animals endure is inexcusable,” said Libby Post, Executive Director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation. “This bill stops pet stores and unwitting consumers from bolstering an inhumane industry. The other organizations issued similar comments describing the puppy mill industry as unscrupulous and greedy. Rigorous undercover studies of every New York pet store and puppy mills provided evidence of the need to shut down this systematic abuse of animals.
The NYSVMS Government Relations Committee did not take a position on the puppy mill ban. However NYSVMS advocated in support of another important animal welfare bill that the legislature approved during the 2022 session. The Companion Animal Care Standards Act for Shelters and Rescues A6245c/S6870b, provides comprehensive, uniform facility and animal care standards for shelters and rescue organizations. This is the result of 10 years of work by the NYS Animal Protection Federation with the result that under the bill, all shelters and rescues would be licensed as animal shelters because the bill creates a licensing and inspection program that will be administered by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Division of Animal Industry.
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