The New York Assembly is expected to vote today on a bill that will 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.
All who breed and sell dogs should be concerned with this bill, even if you do not personally source dogs to pet stores. The implication is that should Assembly Bill 4283 pass, the state is declaring that the best – and only – place to get a dog is from a shelter/ rescue shelter – and not a rescue that is in any way affiliated with breeders.
It would also eliminate the state’s excellent consumer protection laws, as shelters and rescues cannot provide the guarantees necessary for consumer protection. Additionally, it would limit the ability of future pet owners to obtain the type or breed of dog they wish.
See previous AKC alert for more information and talking points.
Contact the following today and express your opposition to Assembly Bill 4283:
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.