New York Pet Stores Fear Closure over Banning of Pet Sales

​spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2022/06/09/pet-stores-fear-closure-with-passed-retail-dog--cat-sale-ban

A week ago, I posted about 2 very important animal welfare bills that were headed to New York Governor Kathy Hochul's desk for final approval. One of those bills was a ban on pet stores selling pets that came from breeding facilities, a bill aimed at tackling puppy mills and cruel breeding facilities. With the possibility of a ban looming, New York pet stores are claiming they fear that their businesses will have to close as a result of the loss in sales and strong competition from chain stores like Pet Smart or Amazon.

In the story, one particular pet store owner claims that if the ban comes in to effect, he would essentially have to change his whole business model as up to 90% of sales come from pets. He also claims that the facility he receives his pets from is accredited and that he is simply a target of angry activists. 

What this business owner fails to recognize is that puppy mills are inherently cruel for a variety of reasons, it's not just about blatant abuse and neglect, there's deeper rooted issues involved in selling animals from these facilities.

ADOPT DON'T SHOP

One of the biggest problems with pet stores selling baby animals is that they tend to lure new pet owners away from desperate shelter animals. We can't deny the allure of a baby animal, and often times, babies are hard to come by in shelters which is why pet stores selling animals are so successful. Consumers rarely consider where those babies came from and shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars for puppies, when cats, dogs, and other small animals sit in shelters waiting for their chance. For every animal purchased from a pet store or a breeder, an innocent animal is euthanized to clear space for more rescues. You might not be getting puppies from abusive puppy mills but your puppies are killing shelter animals. This is one fact that pet store owners have not accepted and instead, are only looking at how the ban will affect their profits.

Reshaping the business model seems astronomical, but if I was in that position, I'd already be reaching out to my local shelters and offering to house pets and help rehome them, much the same way I would have been sourcing puppies to sell. Given that shelters are often overflowing with animals, pet stores shouldn't have any issues sourcing cats, dogs, or other small animals that are in need of homes. A coalition between pet stores and shelters is even a possibility if those involved put their heads together and figure out how to make it work for all parties. Ultimately, the defense of losing business is lacking in substance when there are other options, especially options that would help to free up shelters.

The bill is currently being reviewed by the Governor's office and we should know a decision soon. I will update you guys when a decision is made on the ban.

HAPPY VEG