Clements: Pet sale ban would hurt consumers
Originally published in the Daily State News.
By Alisa Clements
Tail-wagging, heartwarming moments with our pets are the building blocks of family memories. But, if state lawmakers pass House Bill 131, introduced May 1, these scenes could become less common in Delaware.
On the surface, HB 131 may seem like a “paw-sitive” step for animal welfare. The legislation would ban the sale of dogs and cats in retail pet stores, which proponents claim will fight puppy mills. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find it’s actually the opposite: This legislation would hurt pets, along with consumers and businesses.
The bill would effectively shut down regulated, transparent pet stores that connect families with responsibly bred puppies and kittens. These are not shady back-alley operations. They’re licensed small businesses that work with regulated and inspected dog breeders.
Put simply: These stores play by the rules. Unfortunately, HB 131 would yank the rug out from under them, while doing little to curb the actual problem of unlicensed and unregulated breeders — aka puppy mills.
Delaware has several small, family-owned pet stores that would face closure if HB 131 passes. Already squeezed by rising costs and online competition, many local shops depend on ethical pet sales as their financial backbone.
It’s not just these small businesses that would be in the doghouse. Families would lose a convenient choice to get the pet they want. The bill’s intent is to push adoption from shelters, but shelters are limited in the animals they have. Families may have specific breed requirements, allergy considerations or lifestyle needs that local shelters can’t meet.
When trusted, ethical pet stores are muzzled, families are left to sniff out alternatives on the internet and in black markets. The result? A breeding ground for scams and puppy mills.
Just look at California, which passed a similar ban in 2019. Puppy scams increased, and unethical bad actors were able to thrive in the black market. Families have lost thousands of dollars to pet scams, with many receiving sick animals with falsified health records that leave them both heartbroken and financially drained.
“(A) network of resellers — including ex-cons and schemers — replaced pet stores as middlemen,” reported the Los Angeles Times about the mess created by banning pet store sales. “(I)n some cases, pet owners were left heartbroken or facing thousands of dollars in veterinary bills when their new puppies got sick or died.”
HB 131 would create a similar disaster for Delaware.
The Better Business Bureau reports that it has received more than 20,000 complaints of pet scams in recent years. Most appear to involve dog sales over the internet. HB 131 would lead to more Delaware families becoming victims.
Bans on regulated pet sales have also incentivized a flood of dogs from overseas “rescues,” with little oversight, poor health screenings and, sometimes, even falsified paperwork. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has repeatedly warned about disease risks associated with these poorly regulated imports.
HB 131 doesn’t stop people from wanting to obtain pets. It just drives people underground, away from regulated storefronts and toward shady websites, illegal breeders and imports.
That’s not protecting animals. It’s putting both pets and Delaware families in harm’s way.
Delaware needs transparent, ethical pet stores and breeders who play by the rules, offer health warranties, connect new owners with trusted veterinarians and provide guidance for pet parents. These safeguards vanish when families are forced to chase leads on the black market, where responsible breeders are nowhere to be found.
HB 131 is barking up the wrong tree. It’s time to press “paws” on this misguided legislation and pursue a more balanced approach that genuinely protects both pets and the people who love them.
Alisa Clements is the deputy director of outreach and advocacy for the Pet Advocacy Network, the policy voice for the responsible pet care community.