New York Bans Pet Stores From Selling Dogs, Cats, and Bunnies

​www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/nyregion/pet-store-ban-ny.html

After much deliberation, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, signed legislation that will ban the sale of dogs, cats, and bunnies, from pet stores in an attempt to shut down puppy mill traffic throughout the state. The legislation will affect New York's approximately 80 pet stores who argue this ban will put them out of business and make it harder for pet owners to obtain pets legally. Despite this, the legislation was passed and pet stores will no longer be legally permitted to sell these animals.

Puppy or kitten mills relentlessly breed animals for profit. Often times, these pure-bred animals have underlying health issues that are rarely addressed before adoption leaving pet owners with staggering veterinarian bills. These puppies or kittens are part of a system and are nothing more than products to these breeders. One can argue that there are "responsible breeders" but the fact of the matter is, they're making money off of pure bred animals while shelters burst at the seams with adoptable animals. We all know how alluring a pure bred puppy can be, that's exactly why they're doing it. That allure prompts us to spend thousands of dollars when a shelter dog would cost a fraction of that amount and would be given a second chance at a happy family life.

Responsible or not, these facilities are the reason that shelters are struggling to care for the animals they have. They are the reason that shelters in some cases, euthanize to allow for more animals to come in. These breeders / breeding facilities, supply pet stores with adorable puppies / kittens that draw our attention away from shelters. The pet stores then profit off of the mills that are breeding them, continuing the cycle of exploitation all while shelter animals struggle to find loving homes. I don't care about the pet store owners in all honesty. They can shift their business to a pet store supply or something else for that matter, they have to understand that they are in part, responsible for shelters struggling to find homes for animals.

I'll never argue that maybe, some of these pet store owners had good intentions. Maybe they truly care for the animals that they bring in. All of this aside, they're contributing to a system that sees dogs bred relentlessly for profit while shelters fight to have animals adopted or fostered. They are actively working against rescue opportunities whether they intend it or not. Perhaps they can work with shelters to adopt out shelter animals in a partnership of sorts. There are ways they can remain open and help the shelter population without being supplied cute little puppies that could have come from horrid situations.

Congratulations to New York for their commitment to ending puppy mills and supporting the many shelters that continue to work tirelessly to get their animals in to loving homes.

HAPPY VEG