OP-ED: Delaware can ensure animal welfare without destroying small business
A guest op-ed in the Delaware Business Times argues that House Bill 131, which would ban pet stores in Delaware from selling dogs and cats, would effectively shut down long-running, regulated businesses rather than target bad actors. The author highlights that closing licensed stores would cost jobs, remove transparent and vetted sales channels, and push consumers toward online scams and unregulated sellers instead.
“You don’t end the puppy mill problem by closing one of the few regulated options that exist. You just remove the transparency and the safeguards that protect buyers and animals alike,” the author writes.