Pet stores in New York will be prohibited from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits beginning in December 2024, thanks to a new law signed by Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday that aims to reduce the supply of animals from so-called puppy mills.
Hochul, a Democrat, believes that prohibiting pet retailers from selling pets will assist to preserve animal welfare and put a stop to abusive, wholesale breeders.
New York will join California, Illinois, and Maryland
New York will join a small group of states, including California, Illinois, and Maryland, in prohibiting such sales. The bill keeps the door open for pet retailers to partner with animal shelters to boost adoptions, including rental space.
“Dogs, cats, and rabbits across New York deserve loving homes and humane treatment,” Hochul said in a statement.
Animal welfare organizations applauded the bill’s passage, while several pet businesses expressed concern that it would harm legal operators in the industry.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Chief Executive Officer Matt Bershadker said it was a “historic win” for both animals and customers.
“By ending the sale of cruelly bred puppy mill dogs in state pet shops, New York is shutting down the pipeline that enables retail sellers and commercial breeders to profit from unconscionable brutality,” he said in a statement.
In a Facebook post, Selmer’s Pet Land in Suffolk County, New York’s Long Island, warned that the legislation will allow irresponsible breeders to thrive in the black market and make it more difficult to purchase a pet.
“By ending licensed and regulated local pet stores, you will remove the people who vet breeders, ensure the health of newly homed pets with established veterinarians, and guarantee the success of a new pet family,” Jessica Selmer, president of People United to Protect Pet Integrity, was quoted by the New York Times as saying.
According to the survey, the state has roughly 80 pet retailers, which has been on the decline. According to the publication, the regulation would allow anyone to acquire animals directly from breeders.
The bill won broad support in a Democratic-dominated State Legislature.