Starting December 15, 2024, New York State will officially ban the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops. This decision, however, doesn’t affect adoption. You can still adopt these animals from licensed and certified organizations, but anyone caught violating this new rule could face fines of up to $1,000.
This law, known as the “Puppy Mill Pipeline Act,” marks an important step forward in how we ethically relate to animals. It aims to curb the harmful practices of puppy mills and reduce the risk of fraud against unsuspecting buyers. The push for this law came after a 2021 civil lawsuit against Shake A Paw, a pet store chain on Long Island. Over 100 complaints were filed by buyers who claimed they were sold sick puppies. The case ended with a $300,000 payout, but that money couldn't erase the suffering of the dogs, most of whom sadly didn’t survive.
Since then, various U.S. states have followed suit, with New York joining the ranks of cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, where this kind of trade is already banned.
The message is clear: we need to adopt, not buy from stores that profit from the mistreatment of animals. By choosing to adopt from responsible, trustworthy organizations, we can help put an end to this harmful industry and stop treating animals as commodities.
References:
https://www.aspca.org/barred-from-love/laws-rules/new-york-puppy-mill-pipeline-law
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-legislation-end-puppy-mill-pipeline
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