Animal Humane Society is supporting a humane pet store bill that would end the pet store sale of dogs and cats from puppy and kitten mills. Senate File 370/House File 858 prohibits the pet store sale of commercially bred dogs and cats while allowing stores to cohost adoption events with animal shelters and rescue organizations.

Act now

Call Minnesota Governor Walz at 651-201-3400 by March 16 to urge his support for the humane pet store bill. You can also share your message of support by completing a contact form.

What's a puppy mill?

A puppy mill is an inhumane high-volume dog breeding facility that churns out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers.

Mother dogs may spend their entire lives in cramped cages with little to no personal attention. Due to poor sanitation, overbreeding and a lack of preventive veterinary care, the puppies from puppy mills frequently suffer from a variety of health issues, creating heartbreaking, and costly challenges for the puppies and their new families.

There are an estimated 10,000 puppy mills across the country. Puppy mills commonly sell through internet sales, online classified ads, flea markets, and pet stores. The majority of puppies sold in pet stores and online are from puppy mills.

More about the bill

This bill would not impact responsible breeders, as they do not sell through pet stores. Responsible breeders will be happy to meet you in person and show you where the puppy was born and raised — and where their mom lives too.

There are fewer than ten pet stores in Minnesota that sell dogs and cats.

AHS is showing support of this bill during the current legislative session, alongside the following organizations: Humane Society of the United States, Bailing Out Benji, Sidewalk Dog, Animal Folks, Ruff Start Rescue, Animal Rights Coalition, Minnesota Humane Society, and Minnesotans Against Puppy Mills.

AHS legislative priorities

Learn more about Animal Humane Society's 2021 legislative priorities.