Thursday, January 16, 2025
A new law, the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act, took effect on Dec. 15, making it illegal for pet stores in New York state to sell dogs, cats or rabbits. It is being hailed as a major victory for animal welfare, with advocates celebrating its potential to reduce the inhumane practices associated with puppy mills.
The act was written to end the supply chain that sends animals from commercial breeding operations — often called puppy mills — to pet stores. These mills are notorious for mistreating animals, leading to severe health problems. In addition, they often mislead consumers about the conditions of the animals they sell.
According to the ASPCA, puppy mills prioritize profit over animals’ well-being. Dogs in these facilities that are used for breeding puppies often spend their entire lives in wire crates without adequate shelter, veterinary care, food or socialization. Cruel commercial breeders want to maximize profits by producing the most puppies at the lowest possible cost. Here’s how they do it.
Tiny cages. More breeding dogs equals more puppies, which equals more money, so cruel breeders maximize space by keeping dogs tightly contained. They are commonly kept in small, stacked, wire-floored crates or outdoor pens that are exposed to heat, cold and rain.
They eat, sleep and give birth in confinement.
They often arrive in pet stores with health issues ranging from parasites to parvo to pneumonia.
Rare vet care. Dogs need regular health care. Because that is costly and time-consuming, however, veterinary care is limited. Breeding dogs and puppies don’t get to see veterinarians often — not for regular checkups, vaccines, teeth cleanings or even when they’re sick.
Lack of grooming. Puppy-mill dogs aren’t bathed, their hair isn’t brushed and their nails aren’t cut. This can lead to painful matting, and nails so long that it hurts them to stand or walk.
No walks, playing or petting. Since puppy mills only sell puppies, there is little incentive to provide much physical or emotional care to the adult breeding dogs. Lack of normal human interaction hurts social animals like dogs. They may pace back and forth in their cages, bark nonstop, cower or appear entirely shut down.
Nonstop breeding. Female dogs are bred at every opportunity, even if they are sick, injured, exhausted or have genetic traits that could be damaging to their puppies.
Sudden separation. Puppies aren’t given time to gradually separate from their mother and littermates.
Once there’s a buyer, puppies are immediately removed. This sudden separation can lead to fear, anxiety and other lasting behavioral problems that may be difficult or impossible to treat.
The new law is designed to outlaw this business model, to ensure the delivery of healthy pets to families, and to keep consumers from facing costly veterinary bills.
Supporters believe that it will stop the flow of cruelly bred puppies to the state’s pet stores. The legislation doesn’t impact responsible breeders who sell the dogs they breed directly to families, and it doesn’t impact animal shelters or rescue organizations.
State Attorney General Letitia James emphasized the importance of the law, saying, “This pet sale ban will help put an end to the dangerous puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline that endangers pets and costs New Yorkers thousands of dollars in veterinary care.”
The law requires all pet stores in New York to source animals exclusively from USDA-licensed breeders. Investigations and footage from the USDA have repeatedly exposed the cruelty of puppy mills, where breeding dogs are often left to die when they are no longer able to produce puppies.
Pet stores, like Shake a Paw on Long Island, have faced legal action for selling sickly puppies with congenital diseases consistent with those found in puppy mills. Shake a Paw was ordered to pay $300,000 in restitution to nearly 200 customers who bought puppies with serious health issues.
The new law also reflects a growing trend among consumers and businesses alike to support humane pet-supply models. It offers pet stores an opportunity to shift toward more humane practices while still staying in business.
Complaints about retailers selling dogs, cats or rabbits should be submitted to James’s office at ag.ny.gov/file-complaint/consumer.
Libby Post is executive director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation, which represents animal shelters and rescue organizations across the state
