Proposed PA Law Would Require Pet Shops to Sell Rescued Animals

Pennsylvania is known as a state with an abundance of so-called “puppy mills,” many of which are located in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country of Lancaster County. A proposed state senate bill however, could change that.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-18) announced in a newsletter publication Friday that Senate Bill 1154 moved out of the senate’s Judiciary Committee this week.

“The bill requires pet stores to sell dogs, cats and rabbits that are sourced from animal rescues and shelters,” Boscola said. “This legislation seeks to continue to crack down on unethical puppy, kitten and rabbit mills in the Commonwealth. By restricting the retail sale of puppies, kittens and rabbits to only those that are sourced from animal shelters or rescue organizations, it will ensure that those animals will be coming from a much more safe and humane home.”

“I was proud to support this bill at the Judiciary meeting and I am hopeful that the passage of this legislation will ensure that sheltered and rescued animals will find loving homes in Pennsylvania,” she added.

“The provisions of 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55 Subch. C will not impact a consumer’s ability to obtain a dog, cat or rabbit of the consumer’s choice directly from a breed-specific rescue organization or animal shelter or from a breeder where the consumer can see directly the conditions in which the dogs, cats or rabbits are bred,” according to the language of the bill, which notes that “current federal and state regulations do not properly address the sale in pet stores of dogs, cats and rabbits bred at puppy mills, kitten mills and rabbit mills.”

A pet shop owner who is found to have sold a puppy mill dog, kitten mill cat or rabbit mill bunny could be subject to a $500 fine, with each animal sold constituting a separate violation, under the proposed bill.

To read the bill in its entirety, click here.