The Texas House Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee Joint Committee scheduled a public hearing for House Bill 3458 on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, which would impose a statewide ban on the retail sale of dogs and cat, beginning September 1, 2025.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) opposes HB 3458 and encourages all concerned Texas residents to share their opposition with the Committee. A statewide ban on the retail sale of pets claiming to improve animal welfare would ironically drive an increase in the trafficking of unhealthy pets to consumers.
Talking Points:
Animal rights groups that oppose the purposeful breeding of dogs have long sought to unfairly tarnish the reputation of responsible breeders and shut down regulated professionals by falsely claiming that breeders are cruel or negligent “puppy mills”. A common tactic of anti-breeder groups is to push for laws that prohibit pet retailers from selling purpose-bred pets by using inaccurate and emotionally-charged claims that pet breeders and pet stores routinely neglect pets.
Consider the following talking points when contacting the committee, and visit our key issue page in the AKC Legislative Action Center for more information on this issue:
- HB 3458 would limit consumer access to responsibly bred pets by restricting pet stores to sourcing animals only from shelters or rescues. This targets highly regulated breeders who generally meet high standards of care and provide healthy, well-socialized pets.
- Restricting pet store sales to shelter-sourced animals may inadvertently drive consumers to unregulated or unscrupulous sources, including online sellers or illegal markets.
- A significant number of Texas “rescue” dogs are transferred from other states or imported from overseas. These imports are often carried out by groups that either round up street dogs or intentionally breed dogs to exploit the US market. These bad actor groups misrepresent the dog’s health and medical history. 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. While there are many responsible rescues, the lack of consumer protection in this bill fails to provide Texans with recourse if they obtain an unhealthy rescue dog from a pet store.
- Texans deserve the freedom to choose their pets from reputable breeders or pet stores that work with reputable breeders. This bill would reduce transparency in pet sourcing and limit options for families seeking specific breeds or traits. 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.
What You Can Do
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- Email the Committee Members: Urge members of the House Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee to oppose HB 3458. Share your concerns about how this bill could harm responsible breeders and limit consumer choice.
Chair Angie Chen Button angie.button@house.texas.gov;
Vice Chair James Talarico james.talarico@house.texas.gov;
Representative John Lujan john.lujan@house.texas.gov
Representative terry.meza@house.texas.gov
Representative Keith Bell keith.bell@house.texas.gov
Representative Claudia Ordaz claudia.ordaz@house.texas.gov
Representative Caroline Harris caroline.harris@house.texas.gov
Representative Salman Bhojani salman.bhojani@house.texas.gov
Representative Shelley LutherShelley.Luther@house.texas.gov
Representative oscar.longoria@house.texas.gov
Representative Keresa Richardson keresa.richardson@house.texas.gov
2. Attend the Hearing: Make your voice heard by attending the hearing on April 9 at 8:00 AM in Room E2.014. Your presence can demonstrate strong opposition from Texas dog owners and breeders.
3. Texas residents can submit written comments directly into the committee record by visiting the House Public Comment website, select HB 3458, and fill out the form with your information and comments. The House Public Comment portal can be accessed here: comments.house.texas.gov
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is committed to protecting the rights of responsible dog owners and breeders. We believe in promoting reasonable laws that support animal welfare without penalizing ethical breeders or limiting consumer choice.
For more information or for more updates on Texas legislation, please contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org or call 919-816-3720.