A spokesperson for multiple New Jersey pet stores is expressing concern about recent statements made by the state Attorney General’s Office, detailing allegations that several stores in the state violated the Pet Purchase Protection Act.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced the notices of violation in a press release Sept. 25, saying eight pet stores around the state are facing fines totaling more than $70,000 for violating the PPPA.
Four of the eight stores named in the release are members of the New Jersey Coalition of Responsible Pet Stores, a group that says it aims to “maintain a high quality puppy experience for the customer, while ensuring breeder dogs are treated humanely and kept in a healthy environment.”
In the wake of Platkin’s announcement, Tom Leach, executive director of the coalition, said he believes that the statements did not provide a full picture of the PPPA.
“I have concerns with the statements. It takes a big leap, with respect to the notice of violations that I’m aware of with the coalition stores … they are paperwork issues that I think are inaccurately described,” Leach said. “And to go from those allegations, whether or not they are true or can be enforced, to claiming animal welfare issues and purchasing a sick puppy — I’m not aware of allegations against any of the pet stores that they were selling sick dogs.”
The fines came as a result of unannounced inspections of pet stores in six counties, Platkin said. Violations included failing to label puppies’ cages with each animal’s breeding history and medical background and failing to properly display or issue statements informing customers of their rights when purchasing an animal from a pet shop.
Several stores were cited for failing to maintain vaccination and inoculation records for each animal, the dates they were examined by a veterinarian and/or the names of the veterinarians who examined them.
Stores were also cited for failing to properly display or maintain federal inspection reports for the breeders or brokers of each animal, Platkin said.
One store, Oh My Dog in Kearny, was cited for purchasing puppies from breeders not licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That store is not a member of the coalition.
“Discovering that a new pet has a debilitating health issue can be devastating, both emotionally and financially,” Platkin said in the release. “New Jersey’s Pet Purchase Protection Act requires stores to provide prospective buyers with the information they need to ensure the animal they bring home was bred and maintained under healthy conditions.”
In a written statement, previously emailed to NorthJersey.com, Leach said coalition members are “outraged by the allegations and comments” detailed in Platkin’s announcement.
“The attorney general’s statement advances a false narrative about pet shops in New Jersey, omits key facts, and fails to provide context about the lack of finality regarding the Division of Consumer Affairs’ claims,” Leach said in the emailed statement, adding that no coalition store has paid any penalty or costs related to these allegations. “A notice of violation is simply that — a notice — not a finding of wrongdoing.”
Leach continued, “The Coalition stores named in the release look forward to resolving these meritless paperwork claims that the attorney general and acting director chose to conflate with unhealthy pets and disreputable operations.”
The four coalition stores named by Platkin are Shake a Paw in Green Brook, Shake a Paw in Union, Pet Center in Old Bridge and Silver Nickel Puppies in Englewood.
Leach added, “These statements do nothing to provide New Jersey consumers with a complete and honest picture of our nation-leading Pet Purchase Protection Act or offer any evidence that the beautiful, vibrant animals sold in Coalition stores are sick or unhealthy.”
Pet Purchase Protection Act
The Pet Purchase Protection Act aims to protect consumers from unknowingly purchasing unhealthy pets, said the state Attorney General’s Office. It also prevents stores from selling animals sourced from breeding mills and other “disreputable” operations.
With the passage of the PPPA in 2015, New Jersey pet stores became the most highly regulated in the country, the coalition’s website says.
The site says: “Coalition store members worked with lawmakers, animal welfare advocates and other interested parties from around the state to carefully craft legislation with strict mandates for sourcing and consumer protection, yet fosters a cooperative atmosphere for small businesses to thrive.”
The Attorney General’s Office says PPPA guidelines:
- Require that cage labels contain the name, street address, web address and license number for each animal’s breeder and broker.
- Also require labels to include the date and place of each animal’s birth; its age, sex, and identifying markings, including any tag, tattoo, collar number or microchip information; the date of its initial medical exam, and the name and address of the vet who examined it.
- Mandate on-cage display of the “Know Your Rights” sign, informing consumers that stores are required to prominently display the two most recent inspections of the facility in which the animal was bred and housed before sale. The sign must direct consumers to request any reports not displayed and inform consumers how they can obtain more information about inspections.
- Require that an animal be examined by a New Jersey veterinarian within five days of being offered for sale and that those results be included in the animal’s history and health certificate.
- Mandate that if an animal was examined more than 14 days before it is purchased, the pet must be reexamined within three days of delivery to the consumer, unless the consumer declines the reexamination in writing.
- Forbid the sale of any animal purchased from a breeder or broker who doesn’t hold required state and federal licenses, who has violated certain animal welfare laws in the past two years, or who has refused to grant inspectors access to its facilities within the past two years.
“I think we want consumers to have a choice,” Leach said. “And whether that’s to go to a well-run, reputable shelter or rescue, or go to your local pet shop, the consumer should be allowed to find the appropriate pet for their family at either of those locations.”
For additional information about the PPPA, check out the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs’ “Purchasing a Pet” consumer brief at njconsumeraffairs.gov/News/Consumer%20Briefs/purchasing-a-pet-new-jerseys-pet-purchase-protection-act.pdf.
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