New York State Legislative passes Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill

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Several animal welfare groups praised the New York Legislature for passing the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill earlier this month.¹ According to an organizational release from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, this groundbreaking legislation will end the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores across New York state.

Currently, out-of-state puppy mills ship their puppies to New York pet stores, and then they are marketed as healthy puppies from responsible breeders.² Unfortunately, most of these animals have several health conditions and behavioral issues. The breeding dogs are often kept in crowded cages without adequate shelter, veterinary care, food, or socialization.

“Puppy mills breed cruelty. Banning the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in New York pet stores will deal the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline a near-mortal blow,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan) in support of the bill.

Rosenthal added, “The cute puppies, kittens, and bunnies in pet store windows mask a sad reality: these animals are products of horrific neglect in puppy mills. Puppy, kitty, and bunny mills use and abuse animals to churn out pets for sale, which are often riddled with congenital diseases, that cost unsuspecting consumers hundreds or thousands of dollars in veterinary bills and incalculable emotional stress.”²

Multiple animal welfare groups support The Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill including The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (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.¹

“Once signed into law, the Puppy Mill Pipeline bill will finally end the sale of cruelly bred puppy mill dogs in pet shops across New York state, which has one of the country's highest concentrations of pet stores that sell puppies," said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and chief executive office.²

This bill is supported by Rosenthal and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) and will now be passed on to Governor Kathy Hochul.

Reference

1. NY state senate bill S1130. NY State Senate. Published January 7, 2021. Accessed June 6, 2022. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S1130
2. New York lawmakers pass groundbreaking bill to end the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores. News release. ASPCA. June 3, 2022.