End all puppy mills in New Jersey

3 minute read

Jeffrey Nash
| Exclusive to USA TODAY Network

In 2015, I led an effort to stop the sale of puppy mill puppies in pet stores in Camden County. When a constituent brought the issue to my attention, both as a county commissioner and as an animal lover, I was appalled by the animal welfare and consumer protection issues posed by pet stores selling puppies. I knew I had to stop the cruelty, sick puppy sales, and deceptive practices.

Now, I respectfully ask my elected colleagues in Trenton to stand with New Jersey consumers and pet-owning families by quickly advancing S.2511 and A.4051. Bipartisan legislation to promote humane pet businesses and responsible purchasing of pets is widely supported. Forty-eight New Jersey pet businesses, numerous animal shelters and rescue organizations, as well as our state’s nonprofit community, including consumer advocacy groups and veterinary professionals, also support this bill.

Let’s be honest: There is nothing controversial in this legislation. Only those who profit from the cruel pipeline from puppy mill to pet store are fighting this, and thousands of New Jerseyans have voiced their support for this bill. The number of pet stores in New Jersey that support banning the retail sale of puppies far exceeds the number of stores that sell puppies.

Those who choose to sell puppies are outliers in their industry. No consumer needs a pet store to buy a puppy, and no pet store needs to sell puppies to stay in business; This shows that most pet retailers and responsible breeders in New Jersey and across the country are using the business model supported by this bill.

The fact that there are only 16 pet stores left in New Jersey that sell puppies shows that selling dogs like products is an outdated and undesirable business model. Under S.2511 and A.4051, these stores will have ample time to transition to a new business model and find loving homes for the pets in their care. They’ll be able to sell pet products, offer on-demand services like grooming and day care, and partner with shelters and rescues to host adoption events. A profitable business model. The pet products and services industry is growing rapidly and is expected to continue growing, according to industry experts. This is the trend that consumers, regulators and responsible businesses support.

Incredible progress has been made in Camden County in the nine years since we enacted our humane pet store ordinance. This common sense policy has now become commonplace. Eight states, including New York, have enacted statewide bans on the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. In New Jersey alone, 145 cities, towns and counties have adopted humane pet store regulations. An additional 10 counties also approved the A.4051/S.2511 legislation through Board of Commissioners resolutions urging the State Legislature to pass this bill.

It is completely unacceptable that parts of New Jersey remain open to puppy mills. Public records paint a grim picture of breeding facilities in the Midwest where New Jersey pet stores source their puppies. Dogs are treated like breeding machines and pet stores go to great lengths every year to keep their cages full.

None of us would allow our pets to be treated this way, and no Garden State resident would knowingly support this cruelty. While animal suffering alone is reason enough for this bill to become law, this law will also protect consumers.

Too many New Jersey residents have been duped into purchasing these cruelly bred puppies. Many have owned a pet that is sick, injured, or has a genetic disorder. Others have fallen victim to the predatory lending that often accompanies pet store sales pitches; Because very few people can afford a puppy for thousands of dollars.

The discontinuation of the sale of puppy mill puppies at pet stores in New Jersey is long overdue. I urge my friends and colleagues in the New Jersey Legislature to ensure that S.2511 and A.4051 become law this year.

Camden County Commissioner Jeffrey Nash is the original author of Norman’s Law and a crusading animal advocate.