New York has banned the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits in retail pet stores, making it the latest state to do so amid attempts to stop commercial breeders from operating so-called “puppy mills.”
Specifically, it prevents stores from selling the pets but allows them instead to work with animal rescue organizations to provide space in their stores for animals available for adoption. It will also ban pet breeders from selling more than nine animals a year.
Hochul said the move aims to put an end to the “puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline and stop abusive breeders.”
Animal welfare groups commended the new law while noting the cruel conditions that breeding animals are often kept in under commercial breeding operations.
Opponents Say Law Hurts Ethical Store Owners
Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said in a statement: “Our undercover investigations have exposed sick puppy sales and cruel practices in New York pet stores, highlighting the need for this historic law. 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.”While advocates have praised the new law, others such as People United to Protect Pet Integrity (PUPPI)—a coalition of pet store owners—have warned the ban could unfairly impact responsible pet store owners who are not part of the so-called “puppy mills” and are actively raising puppies in ethical conditions.
They also argue the new law will not serve to shut down commercial breeding facilities, many of which they say are located out-of-state, and could instead prompt the closure of the dozens of pet stores remaining in New York.
Jessica Selmer, president of PUPPI, called the law “careless” and “counterproductive” and said she hopes the governor will “consider legislative remedies to some of the pitfalls of the bill.”
New York is the latest state to enact such a measure, following in the footsteps of California, Illinois, and Maryland.
Maryland signed a similar law in 2020 and Illinois barred pet shops from selling commercially raised puppies and kittens just one year later.