November 13, 2015
Court Upholds Law to Prohibit the Sale of Puppy Mill Animals in New York City
Pet stores in New York City are still prohibited from buying puppies from commercial puppy brokers and USDA-licensed breeders with severe Animal Welfare Act violations under an ordinance passed earlier this year. Several pet stores challenged the ordinance, but a federal judge has dismissed the case. Kimberly Ockene, senior attorney for companion animals of the animal protection litigation section for The Humane Society of the United States, issued the following statement:
"We are pleased that this law was upheld. New York City pet stores sell more puppies than any other city in the country. The successful defense of this ordinance and several others throughout the country affirms that local jurisdictions can act to prevent animal cruelty and protect consumers. It also signals a rising interest in cracking down on the puppy mill industry nationwide.”
Throughout the United States 94 localities have passed similar ordinances with dozens currently pending. This is the fifth consecutive time the pet industry has challenged a local ordinance like this and lost. The HSUS is represented pro bono by S. Reid Kahn of Kane Kessler, P.C.
Media Contact: Cheylin Parker; 240-599-6848, cparker@humanesociety.org
