NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today commended New Jersey legislators Sen. James Holzapfel (R-Ocean), Asm. Gregory McGuckin (R-Ocean), Asm. David Wolfe (R-Ocean) and Gov. Chris Christie for enacting a measure to create more accountability in New Jersey’s pet store industry.
The new law requires state pet stores to disclose the origins of the dogs they sell. It also prohibits pet stores from sourcing animals from breeders who fail to meet even the most basic care standards prescribed by federal and state law.
“The ASPCA thanks New Jersey lawmakers and Gov. Christie for taking this positive step toward more humane sourcing of puppies by New Jersey pet stores, which will put pressure on the commercial breeding industry nationwide to end puppy mill cruelty,” said Debora Bresch, Esq., senior director of ASPCA Government Relations for the Mid-Atlantic region, and a New Jersey resident. “This new law is critical to our continued effort to end the inhumane treatment of dogs in commercial breeding facilities that exploit both dogs and consumers in pursuit of profit.”
Specifically, the new law requires New Jersey pet stores to provide consumers with the identity of the breeders and brokers from which they obtain puppies for resale in the Garden State. Additionally, it prohibits them from using breeders or brokers that do not comply with New Jersey state care standards or have been cited by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors for welfare-related violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
To raise awareness of the cruel conditions found in puppy mills, the ASPCA developed a tool on their “No Pet Store Puppies” website that links pet stores with USDA licensed commercial dog breeders that supply them with puppies. The database features over 17,000 photos taken during routine USDA inspections, allowing the public to see first-hand where pet store puppies really come from.
For more information about the ASPCA and to join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade, please visithttp://www.aspca.org.