NY To Ban Pet Stores From Selling Dogs, Cats, Rabbits

The New York Times reports:

Pet stores in New York State will soon be prohibited from selling dogs, cats and rabbits under a legislative ban meant to stem the sale of animals from breeding facilities that animal rights groups say subject pets to inhumane conditions.

The legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday means that New York will join a handful of other states, including California and Illinois, that have enacted similar bans designed to crack down on commercial breeders, sometimes called puppy or kitten mills.

By forbidding the sale of animals at New York’s shrinking collection of about 80 or so pet stores, officials are hoping to stop the pipeline of animals from commercial breeders that opponents argue raise animals that are often abused or ill, and then sold to consumers, saddling them with unforeseen veterinary bills.

Read the full article. Self-described “responsible breeders” and pet store advocates argue that the ban will simply create an underground market.