The Connecticut Joint Committee on General Law has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, February 10, 2025, that includes HB 5112, which would impose a statewide ban on the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits, beginning October 1, 2025. (This is in addition to another bill heard last week that seeks to allow individual municipalities to impose retail sales bans.) The American Kennel Club (AKC) opposes HB 5112 and encourages all concerned Connecticut residents to share their opposition with the Committee. A Connecticut statewide ban on retail sale of pets meant to improve animal welfare would ironically drive an increase in the trafficking of unhealthy pets to consumers.
RETAIL BANS INCREASE CANINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture animal importers’ data indicate that more than 41,000 rescue animals were brought into the state between 2021 and 2024. Some were imported from China, Korea, Turkey, Egypt, and Slovenia. This volume, along with a lack of information to help officials determine the health of pets imported for redistribution, increases risks of zoonotic disease transfer and is a threat to the public health. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, some overseas importers are scams or misrepresent the dog’s health and medical history. These bad actors fly dogs as cargo in large batches, claiming they are ‘rescue dogs’ when they actually intended for further distribution via retail rescue networks. By claiming they are “rescue” dogs, valued at $0 on their paperwork, these importers have been able to evade entry and broker fees. This is known because multiple cases of these imported “rescue” dogs, after arrival in the US, tested positive for canine rabies; and had been admitted into the US because importers supplied fraudulent health documentation.
RETAIL BANS LIMIT CONSUMER CHOICE
The State of Connecticut already provides a uniform system of licensing and inspections of pet stores, along with consumer purchase protections that help ensure that pets purchased from pet stores are healthy by providing remedies if issues arise. Instead of presenting the public with a choice of pets to acquire, HB 5112 limits consumer choice by restricting pet stores to only showcasing dogs sourced from shelters and rescues, which are not required to work with pet stores.
AKC believes great pets come from a variety of sources, including breeders, responsible rescues, and regulated pet shops and shelters. The crucial first step in supporting life-long responsible pet ownership is educating prospective dog owners and enabling them to obtain a pet that is the right fit for their lifestyle. Their consumer freedom should not be arbitrarily limited.
RETAIL BANS INCREASE RISK OF ONLINE SCAMS
When consumers cannot obtain the pet they want from licensed and inspected entities, they are at significant risk of online scams. Since 2017, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been studying pet sales fraud and warning consumers to exercise caution when purchasing pets without seeing them in person. According to the BBB, pet scams accounted for an estimated 25% of all online scams in 2021.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Immediately register your opposition with the Committee on General Law by completing this form.
- Fill in the fields for your name, and select “February 10, 2025, 10:00AM” from the “Hearing Date and Time” drop down menu.
- Select “HB05112 AA PROHIBITING PET STORES FROM PURCHASING OR PROCURING DOGS, CATS OR RABBITS -AA”.
- On the right-hand side, select “Opposes”.
- Please select “Type In My Testimony” under “How do I want to submit my testimony?” to share your objections or select “Upload a file I select” to upload written testimony in PDF format. Then, click on the button “Submit Testimony”. Please be aware that all submitted testimony is public record.
In addition, you may speak at the February 10, 2025, 10:00AM public hearing in person or remotely. To do either, you must register by following these details before Sunday, February 9, at 3PM.
AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will provide additional information as developments warrant. For more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.