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Proposed Bill Could Make Minnesota 4th State to Ban Retail Puppy, Kitten Sales

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Minnesota lawmakers introduced a new bipartisan bill that would ban the sale of puppies and kittens from retail pet stores.

In an effort to target puppy mills, backyard breeders, and to reduce the vast number of animals euthanized in Minnesota shelters every year, lawmakers have proposed a law banning retail store sales of puppies and kittens that are sourced from commercial breeders. If passed, pet stores would still be allowed to host adoption events with animal shelters and rescue organizations.

The bill would not prevent potential pet owners from buying directly from a breeder.

It’s hard to imagine, when you see an adorable, healthy-looking puppy peering back at you through the glass of your local pet store, where that four-legged furball came from. The truth is, almost all puppies – 99% of them – sold in retail pet stores around the country are the product of puppy mills.

Retail

Puppy mills are essentially a factory for pumping out the most amount of puppies, in the shortest amount of time, with minimal expense. Meaning, the breeders that run these puppy mills have their females in a constant cycle of pregnancy and birth. The dogs are given almost no medical care. Living conditions are deplorable. These dogs are usually found crammed into tiny cages with other dogs, standing and sleeping in feces and urine, their hair matted, skin painfully itchy from fleas or ticks, starving and malnourished. Many dogs are suffering from respiratory infections, blindness, joint issues, even life-threatening illnesses that are passed on to their puppies. Sometimes, these poor dogs are left for weeks in cages with fellow dogs that have died.

But the puppy mill’s only concern is profit. They don’t care for the health of their breeding stock. They don’t care for the health of the puppies that are produced. They don’t care where their puppies end up – as long as they make a profit.

“All breeders aren’t bad — I mean there are certainly good breeders. Good breeders don’t sell to pet stores, they interact directly with consumers,” Kathy Mock, chief government affairs officer for the Animal Humane Society told KSTP

Minnesota would join Maryland, California, and Maine, becoming the 4th state to ban retail puppy and kitten sales.

If passed, the law, and others like it around the nation, is a huge step in the right direction toward eventually putting an end to commercial mass breeding operations, also known as puppy and kitten mills, and ultimately saving countless lives.

Would you support similar legislation in your own state? Weigh in with a comment below!

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Avatar Of Karen I Leffew

    Karen I Leffew

    Feb 25, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    Another way to help stop puppy/kitten mills is to take away from the US Dept. of Agriculture’s control of the puppy mills. They have a Blue Book which has all the laws written down. These were signed into law by president LBJ in 1966. You can go online to request this book and you will see how they designate the inhumane conditions for the mills. Spread the information about the way the Dept.of Ag. has the control. PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW Proposals are written, but a lot of time never enacted. Here in VA. that is happening in the state legislature. Proposals are online for all to see, they get their name on the proposal and their it stops. Time to change the federal law, write to your senator/congressmen. More than stopping the pet store situation needs to be done.

  2. Avatar Of G Daniels

    G daniels

    Feb 24, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    So this is to hit puppy mills which also sell direct to consumers. This will do nothing to curtail puppy mills or dog overpopulation. Pathetic disinformation and crappy politicians

    • Avatar Of Brandy Arnold

      Brandy Arnold

      Feb 24, 2020 at 4:52 pm

      Puppy mills are large-scale commercial breeders that DO NOT sell direct to consumers except via online sales, which are the second largest income source for puppy mills after retail pet stores. If all 50 states ban retail puppy sales, puppy mills will have no customers and will be forced to close. As a dog lover, it is impossible to view this as anything but GREAT NEWS. I believe you are the one that is misinformed.

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