Georgia Lawmakers: Mandate That Pet Stores Disclose the Source of their Puppies!

Humane Society of the United States investigators recently found an alarming number of Georgia pet stores selling puppies that had been acquired from puppy mills. Many pet stores were also rife with Animal Welfare Act violations, including terrible living conditions for puppies offered for sale like dirty water and untreated medical issues. Those who bought puppies from such stores expressed concern about the conditions they found and reported that animals they brought home later developed expensive medical problems, adding that the pet stores hadn't provided information about the origin of the puppies they were offering for sale. 

While many pet stores are turning to adoption fairs in collaboration with local shelters, or hosting animals up for adoption, some are still selling purebred puppies and kittens. Many don't disclose the source of their animals for sale, or are intentionally vague — referring to breeders as "USDA certified," for example. Customers don't know where those animals are coming from and they may unwittingly support puppy mills, which continue to be a huge supplier for the commercial pet trade. 

Pet stores shouldn't be part of a cruel and highly profitable industry: If they're going to sell purebred animals, they should be transparent about where they come from and they should provide consumers with information that allows them to contact breeders directly to arrange visits and learn more about their practices. Since many are reluctant to provide this information, clear guidance in the form of state law is critically needed to force pet stores to disclose.

As legislators charged with protecting human health and safety as well as animal welfare, we ask that you pass legislation to strengthen the Animal Welfare Act in your state by mandating more aggressive inspections to identify violations, and that you require all pet stores to clearly post information about where their puppies come from, including contact information and photographs of facilities along with information about any Animal Welfare Act citations and other legal violations.