You are reading

Hochul Signs Legislation That Bans Pet Stores From Selling Dogs, Cats and Rabbits

A Goldendoodle bought at a puppy mill in Brooklyn (Photo: Queens Post)

Dec. 15, 2022 By Czarinna Andres

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law a bill that bans pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits.

The law aims to end the puppy mill pipeline—and has long been championed by State Sen. Mike Gianaris, who represents western Queens.

“Today is a great day for our four-legged friends and a big step forward in our fight against abusive and inhumane puppy mills,” Gianaris said, who sponsored the bill in the state senate. “My thanks to Governor Hochul for standing up for the voiceless loving animals who are members of our families and deserve the respect we’ve shown them today.”

The legislation was passed by the state senate will relative ease—as it did so in 2021. This year, however, the bill passed in the assembly after failing to do last year. The bill was sponsored by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan).

Gianaris said that most of the animals available for sale in pet stores come from notorious dog, cat and bunny mills. He said the offspring of mill animals often have congenital issues and can cost families thousands of dollars in veterinary care.

He said pet-seekers should instead turn to shelters and rescue organizations to adopt animals in need of a home. Pet store owners, he said, will still be able to work with shelters to organize adoption events at their stores.

The law would affect roughly 80 pet stores that are registered to sell domestic animals in the state.

Hochul, in signing the bill, tweeted: “New York is taking action to end the puppy mill pipeline. Dogs, cats and rabbits across New York deserve loving homes and humane treatment.”

email the author: [email protected]
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Queens man charged with rape, assault, robbery in violent crime spree targeting spas: DA

A South Ozone Park man was criminally charged for targeting four Queens spas in armed robberies in just over a week.

Shahab Usman, 40, of 118th Street, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Dec. 6 on two separate complaints charging him with rape, assault, multiple robbery counts and weapons charges for a crime spree that left a spa customer paralyzed from a gunshot wound, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Thursday.

“New York’s Funniest Stand-Up” with Matt Koff

Dec. 6, 2023 by Jill Carvajal

The “New York’s Funniest Stand-Up” competition recently celebrated its 15th year as part of the annual New York Comedy Festival both founded by Caroline Hirsch of Caroline’s on Broadway. New York’s Funniest and previous winners have gone on to become some of the biggest names in comedy.

Two men sought in series of spa robberies, sexual assaults across Queens

The NYPD is looking for two violent men who have targeted four spas across three Queens police precincts in the last week-and-a-half, leaving several spa workers injured in assaults and one man critically injured after he was shot, according to authorities.

On Monday, Dec. 4, one of the men entered the Sun Spa at 112-21 Jamaica Ave. in Richmond Hill, within the confines of the 102nd Precinct, at around 3:40 p.m., when the suspect pulled out a handgun and demanded that a 50-year-old woman working in the spa take him to a private room, police said. Once inside, the perpetrator allegedly put the firearm against her head and sexually assaulted her.