Words by Smiley Team
The New York legislature has passed a bill called the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill, banning the sale of pets, including cats, dogs, and rabbits at pet stores. The goal is to protect animals from abuse and cruelty in the mill system.
According to PAWS, an animal support organization, about 90% of puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills. And in some states, these animal breeding facilities can keep hundreds of dogs in cages their whole lives with the sole purpose of serving as a breeding animals.
Over 500,000 of these breeding dogs reside in the US according to the Humane Society, and more than 2.6 million dogs are sold each year, this way.
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“Once signed into law, the Puppy Mill Pipeline bill will finally end the sale of cruelly bred puppy mill dogs in pet shops across New York state, which has one of the country's highest concentrations of pet stores that sell puppies,” Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO, said in a statement.
“Shutting down the puppy mill pipeline will help stop retail sellers and commercial breeders from engaging in — and profiting from — unconscionable brutality.”
The bill has been supported by a handful of animal rights organizations, including the ASPCA, the Humane Society, the New York State Animal Protection Federation, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, among others.
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris were large proponents of the bill. Gianaris said the bill would help prevent the abuse of animals.
“With so many good animals in need of rescue, there is no need for abusive puppy mills to supply pet stores. Our four-legged companions should be treated with respect, not like commodities,” he said in a statement.
The bill is now waiting to be signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul. If signed into law the bill would stop the flow of mill animals into New York.
DONATE: Look into the Humane Society – they support animals of all kinds in rehabilitation, sheltering, and adoption.
SUPPORT: Dogs Lovers Digest put together a list of animal shelters throughout the US. Look into supporting a local one near you.
