Last Updated on June 14, 2023 by Dogs Vets
New York Legislature Approves Law Prohibiting the Sale of Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits in Pet Shops
A Groundbreaking Victory for Animal Welfare: New York Votes to Halt Pet Sales in Stores.
In an unprecedented move that signals a major victory for animal rights, the New York State Legislature has passed a landmark bill prohibiting the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores.
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The decision, announced on Friday, awaits the official seal of Governor Kathy Hochul to be transformed into law.
Crushing the Cruelty: The Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill
This groundbreaking legislation, aptly titled the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill, is designed to “halt the influx of inhumanely bred puppies into New York,” according to an official ASPCA press release.
It targets the so-called ‘puppy mill pipeline’, a term referring to the process where puppies bred under harsh conditions are sold to unsuspecting customers through pet stores.
Matt Bershadker, the CEO of ASPCA, commented, “With the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill, we’re ending the sale of puppy mill dogs in New York, a state with one of the highest numbers of pet stores selling puppies. The bill strikes at the heart of a cruel and profit-driven industry.”
Powerful Allies in Animal Advocacy
Champions of the bill, Assemblymember Linda B.
Rosenthal and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, received robust support from prominent animal welfare groups such as the ASPCA, 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.
“Puppy mills propagate cruelty. This ban on the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits will deal a crushing blow to the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline,” stated Rosenthal.
She illuminated the bleak reality concealed by adorable window displays: the puppies, kittens, and bunnies are often the result of brutal neglect in puppy mills.
Counting the Cost of Cruelty
Highlighting the hidden cost of this brutal practice, Rosenthal said, “Animals are abused and exploited to mass-produce pets for sale, which often suffer from congenital diseases, burdening unsuspecting consumers with enormous vet bills and emotional distress.
” The bill, she asserts, will effectively seal the pet store-to-puppy mill pipeline.
Endorsing the bill, Gianaris emphasized its role in preventing animal abuse. “There are countless animals waiting for rescue.
There’s no need for pet stores to be supplied by abusive puppy mills. Animals should be treated with respect, not as commodities,” he stated.
Missouri’s Troubling Statistics and Celebrity Support
A staggering statistic from the ASPCA revealed that almost half of the puppies sold in New York pet stores come from Missouri, the state with the highest concentration of puppy mills in the U.S.
Ahead of the bill’s passing, numerous celebrities, including Edie Falco, Andy Cohen, Alec Baldwin, Justin Theroux, and Kristin Chenoweth, rallied their support, voicing their advocacy in an open letter,
“You have the opportunity to break this cycle of cruelty by shutting down the puppy mill pipeline.”
This legislation, once enacted, will mark a decisive move toward improved animal welfare, potentially inspiring other states to follow suit.
Here are 5 facts about the prohibition of the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores in New York:
- Legislation Passage: In 2023, the New York State Senate passed a bill that prohibits pet stores from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits. This groundbreaking legislation aims to combat the inhumane conditions found in many “puppy mills” and “kitten factories” that traditionally supply pet stores.
- Adoption and Rescue: The law doesn’t mean that pet stores in New York can’t have dogs, cats, or rabbits. Instead, the legislation encourages pet stores to collaborate with animal rescues and shelters to promote the adoption of animals, instead of supporting inhumane breeding facilities.
- Animal Welfare: The purpose of this law is to promote animal welfare. Many animals sold in pet stores come from large-scale breeding facilities where they are often kept in poor conditions. This law aims to discourage these practices and promote more humane treatment of animals.
- Precedent Setting: New York is among the first states to pass such a law, following in the footsteps of California and Maryland. These laws set a precedent that other states could potentially follow in the future.
- Penalties: Pet shops that violate this law could face penalties, including fines. The law provides a deterrent to pet shops selling these animals, helping to ensure that they follow these new rules for animal welfare.
This news was first reported by People Magazine.
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