Update: Sadly, this bill did not receive support from the Senate committee that considered it. As a result, it will not move forward this year.
Bill Description: If passed, this bill would establish basic requirements for pet dealers for the sale of dogs and cats. Puppies and kittens would be required to be at least 8 weeks of age prior to sale and prior to being transported into the state for sale. Pet dealers would be required to refund a consumer’s money if the dog or cat becomes congenitally ill or dies after being sold.
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Animals sold at pet stores often are bred at “mills.” These mills are facilities at which animals are mass-produced and then transferred to commercial venues for re-sale. Because profits are tied to the number of animals produced, these breeding facilities sometimes increase profits by restricting the amount of space offered to each animal, providing limited or no access to veterinary care, and offering minimal opportunities for socialization and individual attention. The provisions in S. 2441 benefit consumers as well as animal welfare. Healthy, well-socialized animals make better companions and tend to stay with their human families for longer periods of time, thereby benefiting the families, ensuring animal welfare, and reducing the pressure on animal control agencies, animal rescue organizations, and animal shelters. Finally, sixteen states already have enacted so-called “lemon laws” — consumer protection measures geared to provide recourse to members of the public who purchase sick or diseased animals from pet shops.