Update: This bill did not complete the legislative process this year.
Bill Description: This bill would ban the sale of dogs or cats less than 8 weeks old. In addition, 8 weeks would be the minimum age for importing dogs or cats into the state. The legislation also provides remedies for those who purchase a dog or cat from a pet dealer only to find that the animal has an illness, disease or hereditary disorder. Finally, pet dealers are required to state in writing the animal’s date of birth and the name and address of the breeder/broker at the time of sale.
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This bill helps to keep consumer informed by disclosing where the puppies and kittens offered for sale in pet stores were bred. 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. 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. 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.