Bill Sponsored By North Jersey Legislator Would Prohibit Buying Dogs From Puppy Mills

The ongoing saga of animal cruelty allegations against a North Jersey puppy store has shed light on the problem of purchasing dogs from puppy mills, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Puppy mills are high-volume breeders that provide dogs to pet stores, often from other states.

Legislation introduced in January would prohibit pet shops, including Just Pups, from selling dogs and cats from pet mills and only from shelters, pounds, kennels, or animal rescue organizations. Only face-to-face transactions would be allowed.

“This incident is not isolated and is not uncommon. Rather, it is yet another example of the pet store industry treating puppies as nothing more than products to sell and make a profit from,” said Cheylin Parker, a media relations specialist with the HSUS.

Violators would be fined $500 for infraction, in addition to other penalties.

The bill was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee March 7. Loretta Weinberg (D – District 37) is one of the bill’s co-sponsors. Identical legislation was introduced in the Assembly in February.

Just Pups has been at the center of controversy since Monday when police reported finding 67 puppies in a van outside the store at 3 a.m. Police said it was 38 degrees in the van. The dogs were crammed into cages, couldn’t stand up, and were covered in feces and urine.

Several people lodged complaints to the Better Business Bureau and posted on the store’s Facebook page about getting hit with hundreds or thousands of dollars in vet bills after allegedly purchasing sick animals from Vincent LoSacco’s store. One customer told the BBB that a puppy purchased from one of the business’ four stores dropped dead just two months after it was purchased.

LoSacco denies running puppy mills and said he does he purchase or sell sick puppies. He does purchase puppies from Missouri breeders and uses the van to transport them to the store.

A judge ordered the store closed following the animal cruelty allegations. About 50 protesters from the group Pet Shop Watchdogs were at the store Sunday. LoSacco unsuccessfully tried to lift the order.

The Paramus Board of Health was scheduled to hold a special meeting Monday but a Superior Court judge rescheduled the meeting for May 2 to allow LoSacco time to prepare for it. The Board has the ability to recommend to the Borough Council that LoSacco’s business license be revoked. The Borough Council could then vote to revoke it.

LoSacco also has Just Pups stores in Emerson and East Hanover. The East Brunswick store revoked LoSacco’s business license after the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals filed 267 charges of animal cruelty against him.