New York: Ban on Sale of Dogs and Cats Planned

The bill aims to combat puppy mills and promote the adoption of animals.

A puppy mill, also known as a puppy farm or puppy factory, is a commercial breeding facility characterized by rapid breeding and poor conditions.

A bill that would ban the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet and animal stores in the state of New York has now passed the state legislature and is awaiting the signature of Governor Kathy Hochul.

The bill encourages pet stores to partner with shelters and rescue organizations and to use their retail space to showcase animals available for adoption.

The New York bill aims to put a stop to puppy mill breeders and to promote the adoption of homeless animals.

The New York legislation would not completely ban the purchase of animals from breeders. It would remain legal for breeders to sell animals directly to prospective pet owners; the legislation would merely prohibit sales through third-party retailers such as pet stores.

The bill is supported by numerous animal welfare organizations, including the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and the New York State Animal Protection Federation, to name just a few.

However, the legislation faces opposition from the pet trade industry and the American Kennel Club. The AKC regularly speaks out against bans on retail pet sales, arguing that such laws are «anti-breeder» and harm consumers in the pet market.

If signed into law, it will prohibit New York pet stores from selling cats, dogs, and rabbits, making it the latest of its kind in the United States.

According to the ASPCA, New York State has one of the highest concentrations of pet stores selling puppies in the entire country. This makes the law particularly important.

In 2017, California passed a law prohibiting pet stores from selling non-rescued cats, dogs, and rabbits. Maryland, Maine, Illinois, and Washington State have since passed similar laws.

In addition, numerous cities and municipalities across the country have enacted local bans on retail pet sales. In New York City, the sale of rabbits — but not cats and dogs — in pet stores had already been banned before this bill, partly due to the particular issues associated with the long-eared animals. Some people mistakenly consider rabbits to be low-maintenance «starter pets», when in reality they require very specialized care.

Rabbits can make wonderful pets, but people are often unaware of how much space, time, and effort they need to thrive.

One of the most comprehensive retail bans on pets exists in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There, pet stores are prohibited from selling birds, reptiles, spiders, and small mammals such as hamsters and gerbils — unless the animals come from a shelter or rescue group. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advocated for this law, citing the poor conditions these animals are frequently subjected to in mass breeding operations.