New NY Law Would Ban Pet Stores From Selling Cats And Dogs

New York lawmakers are trying to stop pet stores from selling cats, dogs, and other animals to help end animal suffering and promote pet adoption.

Bill Number S04234:  is a bill sponsored by state Sen. Michael Gianaris and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal would impose the ban on the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits in pet stores to encourage adoption. The pet stores can provide space for shelters to feature animals customers could adopt.

The main motivation for the bill is to end the link between animal mills and pet stores. Mills, especially puppy mills, profit off breeding animals that are sold in pet stores. [auburnpub]

Most animals sold in pet stores are from Mills and most likely endured poor, horrific conditions, with no medical care or access to food and water. Customers who purchase these animals are unaware and could spend thousands on veterinary bills.

Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal said in a statement.

"We must end the pet mill-to-pet store pipeline...There is absolutely no reason that anyone should spend thousands of dollars on an often-unhealthy pet that was bred in abject horror when shelters and rescues statewide are bursting at the seams with healthy and innocent animals in need of 'fur-ever' homes."

The effort has the support of animal advocacy groups, such as the ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States and the New York State Animal Protection Federation.

[auburnpub]