Yay! New York Shut Down the Puppy Mill Pipeline

Last week, the New York Assembly passed the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill — a piece of legislation that would end the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores across the state, effectively ending the puppy mill pipeline. It’s a process long-lauded by animal rights groups as inhumane. So it’s unsurprising both The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) supported the bill. 

“Shutting down the puppy mill pipeline will help stop retail sellers and commercial breeders from engaging in — and profiting from — unconscionable brutality,” ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadke said in a statement. Brian Shapiro, New York state director for the Humane Society of the United States, shared similar sentiments: “Today’s vote makes it clear that New Yorkers flatly reject cruel puppy mills and their pet store sales outlets.” 

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The puppy pipeline refers to a cruel cycle that begins with animals being born at breeding facilities under ghastly conditions before quickly being taken from their mothers, sold to a broker, trucked across state lines, and finally delivered to a pet store. Manhattan Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, along with Senator Michael Gianaris, led the push to develop and pass a bill to end the practice. 

“The cute puppies, kittens, and bunnies in pet store windows mask a sad reality: these animals are products of horrific neglect in puppy mills. Puppy, kitty, and bunny mills use and abuse animals to churn out pets for sale, which are often riddled with congenital diseases that cost unsuspecting consumers hundreds or thousands of dollars in veterinary bills and incalculable emotional stress,” she explained. “Over the years we have tried to regulate pet stores, but the industry continues to prioritize profits over the welfare of animals. My legislation will finally shut down the pet-store-to-puppy-mill pipeline once and for all.”

After passing in the Senate, the bill is now being sent to Governor Hochul for final approval. “We’re grateful to Assemblymember Rosenthal and Senator Gianaris for championing the passage of the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill and urge Governor Hochul to sign it to signal New York’s determination to reject animal cruelty statewide,” pleaded Bershadke.