From December 2024, pet store owners in the state of New York will no longer be permitted to sell dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Law Against Puppy Mills
This is provided for by a new law signed on Thursday by Governor Kathy Hochul, aimed at cutting off the supply of animals from so-called puppy mills.
Hochul, a Democrat, said that the ban on selling pets in pet stores will help protect animal welfare and crack down on abusive large-scale breeders.
New York will join a small group of other states, including California, Illinois, and Maryland, that have enacted similar sales bans. The law leaves pet stores the option of partnering with animal shelters to facilitate adoptions, including by renting out space.
“Dogs, cats, and rabbits throughout New York deserve a loving home and humane treatment,” Hochul said in a statement.
“Historic Victory” for Animal Welfare
Animal welfare groups celebrated the signing of the law, while some pet dealers expressed concerns that the legislation would harm reputable businesses in the industry.
The President and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Matt Bershadker, called it a “historic victory” for animals and consumers.
“By ending the sale of cruelly bred puppy mill dogs in state pet stores, New York is closing the pipeline that allows retailers and commercial breeders to profit from unscrupulous brutality,” he said in a statement.
Selmer’s Pet Land in Suffolk County on New York’s Long Island warned in a Facebook post that the legislation would allow unethical breeders to flourish on the black market and would make it more difficult to obtain a pet.
According to the report, the number of pet stores in the state, which is declining, stands at approximately 80. The law would allow people to animals directly from breeders, the newspaper reports.
The bill was supported by both parties in the state's Democrat-dominated legislature.
| You can help all animals and our planet with compassion. Choose compassion on your plate and in your glass. Go vegan. |
