Hoeber and Hoeber: Pet sale ban would have dangerous effects
Originally published in the Daily State News.
By Lisa and Martin Hoeber
A bill quietly advancing through Delaware’s legislature, House Bill 131, poses a serious threat not just to pet stores but to families, jobs and local communities.
As the proprietors of Super Cichlids, a veteran-owned aquatics store in Dover, we deeply value the human-animal bond and understand the crucial role responsible pet shops play in fostering it. However, HB 131, which bans the retail sale of dogs and cats, sets a dangerous precedent, with severe economic and social impacts.
Similar bans in other states demonstrate clear evidence of unintended consequences. For example, when Illinois enacted its ban on pet store dog and cat sales, all 21 puppy-selling stores in the state were forced to stop their operations within just 180 days, causing significant job losses and economic distress. In California, early local bans directly affected about 30 pet stores out of the nearly 100 statewide, resulting in closures and severe economic disruption.
Moreover, these bans have not improved animal welfare as intended. After California banned retail pet sales, the Better Business Bureau reported a 350% increase in online pet scams, creating a harmful black market filled with unethical and unscrupulous sellers. Families lost safe and reliable choices, increasing both consumer risk and animal suffering.
Pet stores like ours represent regulated, ethical and transparent sources for pets. We educate families, match animals to lifestyles and ensure that pets come from humane sources. HB 131 threatens not only businesses that sell dogs and cats but sets the stage for further restrictions that could harm aquatics and other specialized pet stores like Super Cichlids.
This bill represents a slippery slope. Activist groups advocating for HB 131 openly support banning all pet sales, including fish, reptiles, birds and small mammals. If the measure passes, it’s likely that further restrictions will follow, jeopardizing the future of our family’s veteran-owned business. We’ve invested years of dedication and hard work to build a trusted community resource, and we fear the precedent set by this bill could eventually threaten our very livelihood.
A better alternative is the balanced regulatory approach successfully implemented in states like Pennsylvania, Missouri and Iowa. Pennsylvania enhanced its dog law with mandatory biannual inspections, kennel licensing and humane care standards, dramatically improving breeder practices. Missouri’s “Prop B” established breeder caps, rigorous inspections and financial penalties, resulting in the closure of several abusive puppy mills, while allowing responsible breeders to remain in business. Iowa implemented licensing requirements and mandatory care standards to address specific breeder violations effectively.
These states have shown that it’s possible to improve animal welfare significantly without harming ethical businesses or restricting consumer choices. Delaware families deserve thoughtful, evidence-based legislation that genuinely protects pets, supports local businesses and maintains essential consumer freedoms.