Gianaris ask for support on the newly proposed bills. (Senator Mike Gianaris)
April 29, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
Two Albany lawmakers are asking for support on newly proposed legislation that would ban the sale of pet mill dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores across New York State, while allowing for shelter and rescue animals to be featured in the stores.
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and State Senator Michael Gianaris held a press conference on Friday in conjunction with the ASPCA to promote the set of bills introduced by the legislators in the Assembly and Senate, respectively, last month. The bills, if passed, would put an end to the sales that often enable abusive puppy, kitten and bunny mills.
“We must end the pet mill-to pet store pipeline,” Rosenthal said. “Ending the sale of pet store animals will help to end the pet mill industry that supplies the stores. Shelters and rescues statewide are bursting at the seams with healthy animals in need of ‘fur-ever’ homes, there is no reason for New Yorkers to spend thousands on ailment-ridden pets.”
Actress Edie Falco, known for her portrayal of Nurse Jackie, joined the legislators at the event to support the pet mill sale ban. Falco brought with her her dog Sami, who was rescued from a life of breeding at an abusive mill.
“I feel gratitude from her, I feel relief from her,” Falco said. “It’s very important to support this legislation. It’s something I care about deeply, from the bottom of my heart.”
The norm for animals kept in pet mills is dirty cages, limited food and water, and no routine medical care. Older dogs are continually bred, producing as many litters as possible for profit. The puppies, kittens, and bunnies produced from the mills are often afflicted with several medical issues, leaving unsuspecting new owners with expensive veterinary bills.
“With so many good animals in need of homes, there is no need for puppy mills to supply pet stores,” Gianaris said. “Our four-legged companions should be treated with respect, not like commodities.”
The bills are currently being reviewed by the Senate Domestic Animal Welfare Committee and the Assembly Agriculture Committee.
Maryland, California and more than 290 localities across the country have already banned pet mill sales. New York, which has the most pet stores out of every state nationwide, currently has 80 pet stores registered to sell pets, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture. Several of these stores are located throughout Queens in areas such as Astoria, Ridgewood, Flushing, Corona and Sunnyside:
Astoria Pets
31-50 Steinway St.
Astoria, NY 11103
Bob’S Tropical Pet Center Inc.
57-45 Myrtle Ave.
Ridgewood, NY 11385
Empire Puppies
164-13 Northern Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11358
M&M Boutique & Pet Supplies
55-13 Metropolitan Ave.
Ridgewood, NY 11385
Master Pups Inc.
140-06 Cherry Ave
Flushing, NY 11355
Northern Aquarium + Pets
135-02 Northern Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11354
Pets Unlimited
45-10 46 St.
Sunnyside, NY 11104
Puppy Club
149-05 Northern Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11354
Q Puppies
35-15 Prince St.
Flushing, NY 11354
Teacup Pup
70-17 Austin St., Lower Level
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Tropical Pets
37-65 A 103 St.
Corona, NY 11368
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2 Comments
Exploitation of animals will never be mitigated unless legislated and policed.
Pet shop employees and pet store owners who love the animals so much and redict loss of jobs
can find employment at the shelters. Plenty of those jobs around.
100% this should have ended when it began so happy they are stepping up to end it now