Hochul Urged To Sign 'Puppy Mill Pipeline' Law, Now On Her Desk

LONG ISLAND, NY — Animal advocates are rallying to urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the proposed "Puppy Mill Pipeline" bill, which is now on her desk "just in time for Christmas," they said.

The measure prohibits the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits by retail pet shops while allowing pet stores to partner with rescue organizations to showcase adoptable animals.

Advocates, including Humane Long Island, are urging the governor to sign Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and Senator Michael Gianaris' bill immediately.

John Di Leonardo, anthrozoologist and president of Humane Long Island, spoke out: "Thousands of pet stores across the country have evolved to no longer sell animals from commercial breeding facilities and instead showcase homeless pets for adoptions and focus sales on a range of pet-related products and supplies," he said. "However, with Christmas quickly approaching, New York pet stores are stocking their shelves with puppies, cats, and rabbits sourced from puppy mills and kitten and rabbit factories. These factory farms mass-produce animals for sale with few regulations and little regard for animal welfare, setting up families for a lot of heartbreak this holiday season."

Humane Long Island, he said, "reminds consumers to adopt, not shop, this holiday season" and urged Governor Hochul to sign the legislation into law.

Barbara Dennihy, of Centereach, is the New York State director of the Companion Animal Protection Society. She added that her organization urged Hochul to sign the bill, "shutting down the cruel and inhumane puppy/kitten mill pipeline into New York State. Over the last 10 years, CAPS has investigated every pet shop in New York and many of the puppy and kitten mills selling to them."

Her organizations has created a documentary on what she said were reports of cases of. consumer fraud, and "inhumane, abhorrent conditions at the mills. . . . The enactment of a statewide retail ban on the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits at pet shops will have a profound impact on this cruel industry and will inspire more states to follow suit."

In September, Long Island animal advocates and elected officials also teamed up to implore Hochul to sign newly passed "Puppy Mill Pipeline" legislation.

The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons was joined at an event by representatives of the Kent Animal Shelter and the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation to urge Hochul to sign the bill.

This spring, in a show of bi-partisan support, both the New York Assembly and Senate signed the legislation — S1130 and A4283 — which also opens the door to authorize collaboration with shelters to provide a place to showcase cats or dogs that are available for adoption.

And now the last step rests with Hochul, who has just days to sign the bill.

"The majority of animals for sale in retail pet shops come from animal mills, known for their inhumane action," organizers of the September event said. "Often, sold animals can be sick as a result of poor breeding and cost purchasers thousands in veterinary care. The Puppy Mill Pipeline legislation would allow retail pet stores to partner with area shelters and rescues to adopt animals."

Some pet store owners have voiced opposition to the measure.

Jessica Selmer of Selmer's Pet Land in Huntington Station said she is pro-rescue and the dogs she sells come from reputable breeders. However, the law, if signed by Hochul, could put her store out of business, according to Fox 5 New York.