Nature
No more buying pets in NY: The new law banning retail stores from selling pets takes effect this December
New York is banning retail sale of pets next month, but you will still be able to get them from other breeders.
In a landmark move to protect animal welfare, New York State is set to implement the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act on December 15, which will prohibit retail pet stores from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits.
The new law aims to combat the unethical practices of puppy mills, large-scale commercial breeding operations that prioritize profit over animal health and well-being. These facilities have long been criticized for keeping animals in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions with minimal veterinary care and inadequate socialization.
“I’ve been in some of these puppy mills, and it’s haunting still to this day to see how these animals were kept, and it is so unfair to the buyer of these animals that’s trying to get a family pet,” Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross said.
By 2022 there was only 80 pet retailers in the state.
What the law entails in detail
The legislation, co-sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris and Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, introduces several critical changes:
- Retail sale prohibition: Pet stores can no longer sell, lease, or transfer ownership of dogs, cats, and rabbits
- Adoption alternatives: Stores may partner with nonprofit animal rescue organizations to showcase pets available for adoption
- Enforcement: The Attorney General’s office will enforce the law, with penalties up to $1,000 per violation
Background and motivation
The law follows a significant civil lawsuit against Long Island pet store chain Shake A Paw back in 2021, which was found to have sold sick puppies and denied reimbursement for veterinary bills.
New York joins seven other states like California, Maryland, and Oregon in implementing similar restrictions, signaling a growing national movement to protect animals from exploitative breeding practices.
“Dogs, cats and rabbits across New York deserve loving homes and humane treatment,” Hochul said in a statement in 2022 when the law was finalized.
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