New Bill Aims To Stop Pet Shops From Selling Cats & Dogs

If you've ever been worried about the shady business practices that revolve around pet shops that serve the puppy mill industry, action has just been taken to prevent that from happening here in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill to prohibit new pet shops from selling cats and dogs.

WHAT IS HAPPENING

If the bill is passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives, new pet shops in the state of Minnesota will not be able to sell cats and dogs.

The bill that went through the senate WOULD allow some existing pet shops to continue dog and cat sales, but they have to prove that the animals are coming from breeders licensed by the state, or by the United States Department of Agriculture.

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If the bill passes in its current state, pet shops that violate the law would be fined $1,000 for each violation.

WHAT ABOUT PET SHOPS HOSTING NON-PROFITS?

According to this new bill, pet shops WOULD also still be able to have nonprofit groups, rescue organizations, animal control agencies,  and rehoming organizations come into their locations to offer cats and dogs that are up for adoption.

The purpose of the bill is to protect animals and ensure that pets are coming from reputable sources.

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IF THE BILL PASSES

Bill number S.F.No. 1943 - Prohibiting Pet Shops From Selling Cats and Dogs was written in March by Senator D. Scott Dibble, and would require pet dealers to provide a copy of every state and federal inspection report for the animal’s breeder for three years preceding the date the animal was purchased.

UNDERSTANDING PUPPY MILLS

According to the Animal Rescue Corps, there are nearly 10,000 puppy mills in the United States alone, and almost 100% of the dogs that are sold in pet stores or online and through newspaper ads come from puppy mills.

The dogs that are in these facilities live in overcrowded and unsanitary cages. They don't receive enough food. They aren't groomed. They aren't socialized, and they don't receive vet care. The mills typically have no temperature control, and the wire cages they are kept in are designed so feces can drop through, but the cages are then stacked so excrement falls on the animals below.

HEARTBREAKING CONDITIONS NEED TO BE STOPPED

Nails are never trimmed...animals are never allowed out of those cages.

To learn more about these terrible facilities and why something needs to be done, click here for details. I warn you, it's hard to read.

It's so easy to turn our heads away from horrific things, but these poor animals can't protect themselves, and abusers need to be stopped.