There’s a new bill in Connecticut aimed at banning the sale of animals at pet stores. Lawmakers say many of the animals are products of unethical breeding practices.
WALLINGFORD, Conn. —
On Dec. 15, 2024, a law went into effect in New York banning the sale of cats, dogs and rabbits inside pet stores.
Connecticut state Rep. Amy Morrin Bello says that law has affected our state too.
“With that bill going into effect that bans the sale of cats dogs and rabbits in pet shops, we are seeing some of those businesses move into the state of Connecticut,” said Bello.
Supporters of that law argue that pet stores buy animals from puppy mill pipelines where animals are bread in inhumane conditions, and when they get to the pet store, they have health issues affecting their quality of life. Bello, herself, is all too familiar with this system.
“The first dog that I purchased as an adult, we got him from a pet shop, he was adorable, but he had health issues from the get go,” said Bello. “Our vet suspected that they can from his breeding. He wasn’t bred properly.”
Using that firsthand experience, Bello is trying to protect consumers by passing a bill that would ban the sale of these animals in pet stores and stop the state from becoming a hub for pet stores selling these animals.
“What we’re trying to do is limit that, but not limit pet ownership,” said Bello. “People can still find a breeder, get a designer dog or a pure breed dog that they’re looking for through a breeder. And, of course, we want to encourage people to adopt instead of shop.”
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Those against the bill argue that it could hurt pet stores, especially small businesses, that heavily rely on the sale of animals to operate. Nilsa Rivera, a customer at All Pets Club in Wallingford, says she’d rather shop at a trusted pet store for her animals.
“We love to come to the pet shop to find a good pet,” said Rivera. “A reliable place is a pet shop. I would prefer to by at a pet shop any day than to go to someone’s home. It’s safer at a pet shop.”
Rivera, who purchased her chihuahua from a pet store, says it wouldn’t be ideal to have to go through a breeder.
“It’s just easier to come to a pet shop, talking to someone who works here and that part already being done,” said Rivera. “I work six days a week, so I really wouldn’t have the time to do that even if I wanted to.”
Bello says that if the bill is passed, she hopes that pet stores can rely on the sale of other pet products.
“Buying an animal is a one time deal, but you need a place to be able to buy your goods for that animal,” said Bello. “I’m not trying to close businesses but just prohibit them from selling cats, dogs and rabbits.”
Bello says the bill has been approved to be drafted, and she’s hopeful it’ll have a hearing in general law and that it can pass to the House and Senate for a vote.
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Jamel Johnson is a Multi-Skilled Journalist for FOX61 News. He can be reached at jjohnson@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
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