New York bans pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits.
The ban takes effect in December 2024, to provide time for current pet store owners to make the transition to a humane business model. New York joins California, Illinois, Maryland, and Washington that have already imposed the ban. Proponents hope that this legislation will encourage adoption from shelters and rescue organizations, which are oftentimes overflowing with dogs and cats. Of course, many states still allow pet stores to place these animals on a shelf, and breeding remains a highly unregulated industry, but we will applaud progress where we see it!
Click below to read the Act signed by Governor Hochel: