OP-ED: Two pet bills, one right answer for Massachusetts families

Massachusetts lawmakers are weighing two bills that take different approaches to pet safety, but only one actually protects pets. Alisa Clements, Director of Government Affairs at the Pet Advocacy Network, published an op-ed in the Daily Hampshire Gazette this week, arguing that House Bill 2256 is a practical, common-sense solution since it requires Bay State pet shops to be licensed, inspected, and transparent about the health and origins of every animal.

On the other hand, she argues that Senate Bill 3028 takes the opposite approach by proposing a total ban on the retail sale of pets. That option would leave families with fewer safe options and open the door to unethical sellers. According to Clements, “S.3028 would undermine the very protections it aims to create, leaving Massachusetts families out in the cold.” She adds that “H.2256 strikes the right balance with a common-sense solution that combats puppy mills while preserving Massachusetts as a place where the human-animal bond thrives.”

Read the full op-ed in the Daily Hampshire Gazette here.