Puppy Mills Legislation Advances As Senate Panel Backs Ban On Pet Shop Sales

By: Brooke Holzhauer | NJ State House News Service

New Jersey pet shops may soon be banned from selling commercially bred dogs, cats and rabbits under legislation released by the Senate Economic Growth Committee on Dec. 11.

Supporters say S2511 is designed to combat puppy mills and other unscrupulous businesses that supply retailers with animals that are sick, riddled with genetic defects or prone to behavioral problems. But Jeff Morton, representing the five-member Coalition of Responsible Pet Stores, says the group’s members don’t patronize such operators. “It is paramount to be able to resolve this issue,” he told the committee.

“We share the legislature’s interest in shuttering substandard breeders and keeping puppies bred in inhumane conditions out of New Jersey,” the coalition says on its website. 

HOW WE GOT HERE: 

• New Jersey in recent years has cracked down on pet dealers for violating consumer-protection laws. In September Attorney General Matt Platkin announced notices of violation against eight pet shops for allegedly violating the Pet Protection Act, “a law aimed at protecting consumers from unwittingly purchasing unhealthy pets and preventing stores from selling animals sourced from breeding mills and other disreputable operations,” according to a news release.
• Fines totalling $70,000 were assessed because the pet stores allegedly failed to display details about the animals’ origins, vaccinations, veterinary treatment and other information. Some didn’t display a list of consumer rights should puppies fall ill or die.

SUPPLY SHIFT: 

• Pet stores would switch to adoption events, rescue partnerships or selling pet products and services, which follows a growing trend in other states, according to the Humane World Action Fund, which lobbies on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States.
• “We would close down 100% if this were to go into effect,” Thomas Gallo, owner of Old Bridge PetCenter, told the committee. Gallo is contesting almost $14,000 in fines from Platkin’s office related to an Aug. 21 inspection. 

HEARING HIGHLIGHTS:

• “New Jersey pet shops selling puppies, kittens and bunnies raised in shockingly cruel conditions is simply against the values of our pet-loving state,” the bill’s sponsors, Democratic Senators Brian Stack of Union City and Raj Mukherji of Hoboken, said in a news release.
• “These animals are raised in deplorable conditions with little human interaction, and run the risk of having significant behavioral issues and or have a high chance of suffering from physical health issues,” Camden County Commissioner Jeff Nash told the panel. 
• Ariel Lefkowitz, public policy specialist for Stop Puppy Mills, said 155 New Jersey local governments prohibit puppy-mill sales, and urged the committee to support the bill. “It is well documented that New Jersey puppy stores are currently sourcing from massive Midwest breeders and brokers with awful animal welfare records,” Lefkowitz said.

WHAT’S NEXT:

• The bill was released by a 3-2 vote. The Legislation now will head to the full legislature for consideration.