New York pet shops will no longer be permitted to sell puppies, kittens, or even rabbits in the coming weeks. This is because of the law that Governor Kathy Hochul signed in 2022.
The purpose of this law is to prevent puppy mills from operating. Pet stores like Pet Zone at Crossgates Mall are forced to close their doors two weeks before the new year even though they have always said that they never utilize puppy mills.
Retail pet retailers that continue to sell pets will be subject to fines of up to $1,000 per infraction as of December 15. New Yorkers can still adopt pets from licensed breeders, animal rescues, or established humane society, according to government officials.
Workers informed the Times Union that while some of their puppies are from private breeders, the majority are from USDA breeders. Following that, customers receive a microchipped puppy, a puppy resource kit, USDA inspection reports, and a year of online instruction.
The rule permits pet shops to offer pet supplies and change their names, yet more than 90% of Pet Zone’s revenue comes from puppy sales.
In a statement, Ted Bell informed News Channel 13:
We regret to inform you that our pet shop may have to close on December 15th as a result of the recently passed law. We have had the honor of providing healthy, content pups to thousands of homes since 2006. We now have to confront the heartbreaking fact that, in addition to the community losing a reliable resource, our hardworking staff may also lose their employment right before Christmas. Puppies and the livelihoods of the diligent individuals who have put their all into this enterprise are not protected by this law.
Therefore, many people who have worked at these stores for years will now be looking for new jobs, even as many animal activists applaud this new regulation.
Ted Bell states that the goal is to sell all of the animals that are left at the store by the 15th. He has faith that they will all find a place to call home.