Connecticut House Bill 5283, which would give cities and towns the authority to locally ban pet retail sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits, is on the Joint Planning and Development Committee’s public hearing agenda for Friday, February 27, 2025. The American Kennel Club (AKC) opposes HB 5283 and encourages all concerned Connecticut residents to share their opposition with the Planning and Development Committee.
Why Oppose HB 5283?
The State of Connecticut already provides a uniform system of licensing and inspections of pet stores, along with consumer protections to ensure that pets purchased from pet stores are healthy and that provide redress should it be determined otherwise. While HB 5283 would allow pet stores to showcase dogs sourced from shelters and rescues, it would not require shelters and rescues to work with pet stores; and unlike pets purchased from pet stores, those acquired from shelters and rescues do not benefit from Connecticut’s purchase protections.
Pet retail ban proposals have resulted in negative and harmful consequences where they have been adopted, including increases in the number of pets imported. These transfers do not include detailed health or background information as required for pets sold by pet stores. 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. 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.
Additionally, if consumers cannot obtain the pet they want from licensed and inspected entities, they are more likely to purchase a pet online, where 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.
AKC believes great pets come from a variety of sources, including breeders, responsible rescues, and regulated pet shops and shelters. It should be noted that shelter and rescue animals can in some instances also present a higher risk for undocumented behavioral challenges, such as aggression, and may not always the best option for every family. And under this bill, rescues and shelters would not be required to provide crucial information that is necessary when choosing a dog for your family. 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.
What You Can Do:
- Immediately register your opposition with the Planning and Development Committee by completing this form.
- Fill in the fields for your name, and select “February 27, 2026, 10:30AM” from the “Hearing Date and Time” drop down menu.
- Select “HB05283-AA AUTHORIZING MUNICIPALITIES TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF DOGS, CATS AND RABBITS IN PET SHOPS”.
- 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 27, 2026, 10:30AM public hearing in person or remotely. To do either, you must register by following these details before the hearing begins.
AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will provide additional information as developments warrant. For more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.