Pet Stores, Puppy Mills, and the Law: What’s Really Been Banned in New York?
New York’s new law banning the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores was hailed as a win for animal welfare. And it is, sort of. But like most legislation, the details matter. The law doesn’t end puppy mills. It doesn’t stop shady breeders. What it does is cut off one distribution channel. The rest is still operating, often online and completely unregulated.
So let’s break down what the new law does, and doesn’t actually ban.
What’s banned:
As of December 2024, retail pet stores in New York may no longer sell dogs, cats, or rabbits.
Pet stores may instead offer space for rescues and shelters to adopt out animals (partnership model).
This means storefronts like Puppy Paradise and Shake A Paw are no longer legally allowed to source animals from out-of-state breeders and sell them as “registered” puppies.
What’s not banned:
Private sales through websites, social media, or breeder networks.
Transport of animals from puppy mills in other states to private buyers in New York.
“Backyard breeders” or people who sell animals from home without a store front.
Fraudulent rescues posing as legitimate nonprofit adoption groups.
Why LAW is watching closely:
We’re already seeing bad actors shift to online platforms where oversight is almost nonexistent.
Some pet stores are creating “rescue partners” that are really shell nonprofits — just a workaround.
Dogs continue to arrive from out-of-state mills under fake rescue paperwork.
There’s no current enforcement plan tied to the new law — no funding, no agency designated to monitor.
What we’re doing:
Investigating shell rescues being used to launder puppy mill dogs.
Filing complaints with the NY AG and IRS when rescue fraud is suspected.
Supporting civil litigation for adopters misled by these setups, especially when sick or behaviorally unstable animals are involved.
Working with whistleblowers inside pet stores and transport networks.
Here’s the truth: The law is a good first step. But ending puppy mills will take more than shuttering a few storefronts. LAW will keep going after the supply chain, not just the display window.