This week, both the New York Senate and Assembly advanced bills that would prohibit retail pet stores from selling any dogs or cats. Instead, these stores would only be allowed to “showcase” animals available for adoption from a shelter, rescue, or adoption agency that has no affiliation with breeders.
Senate Bill 1130 passed the Senate and is pending in Assembly Codes. Its companion bill, Assembly Bill 4283, passed Assembly Codes and is pending in the Rules Committee. Activists are continuing to push for quick passage of these bills and it is essential that New York residents call today to express opposition.
AKC is concerned that these bills remove existing “puppy lemon law” protections for pet purchasers, and also imply that the best place to get a dog is from a rescue or shelter – and not a rescue that is in any way affiliated with breeders (See previous AKC alert for more information and talking points).
Contact the following today and express your opposition:
Speaker Carl Heastie – speaker@nyassembly.gov
Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes – PeopleC@nyassembly.gov
Your State Assemblymember – Use the Member Search tool on the State Assembly website to find the name and contact information for your Assemblymember. Be sure to mention you are a constituent when contacting their office.
AKC Government Relations continues to closely monitor bills impacting dogs and dog owners in New York. For more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.