Back in December 2022 Governor Kathy Hochul signed a measure into law that would ban retail pet stores from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits in New York State, and now, just about two years later, the ban is officially set to go into effect this December.
Dubbed the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill, the bill was introduced as a way to “end the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline and stop abusive breeders.” According to the ASPCA, there are currently thousands of puppies being sold in pet stores all across the state, and New York has one of the country’s highest concentrations of pet stores that sell puppies.
The issue is that the animals sold in these pet stores usually come from “puppy mills” where they’re often mistreated, kept in tiny spaces, and not provided proper veterinarian care or food. Not only is it an inhumane way to treat animals, but it also ends up hurting the families that purchase these dogs as they often develop health and behavioral issues down the road.
NY Attorney General Letitia James stated:
Bringing a new pet into a family should be a time of excitement and joy, but often animals from ‘puppy mills’ suffer from serious medical issues and leave families heartbroken over their sick pet and with a heavy bill to pay. This pet sale ban will help put an end to the dangerous puppy mill to pet store pipeline that endangers pets and costs New Yorkers thousands of dollars in veterinary care.
While animal shelter leaders and animal activists are applauding the bill, some pet store owners claim the law is unwarranted and that there isn’t sufficient evidence that the ban would improve animal welfare. Either way, the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill officially goes into effect this month on Sunday, December 15th, so expect to start seeing New York pet stores closing their doors for good.
Pet store owners who fail to comply with the new bill and continue to sell animals after December 15th can face penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. The new law does, however, allow pet stores to partner with animal rescue groups and charge shelters rent to use their space for adoptions.