AUSTIN (KXAN) – A Texas state senator filed a bill to ban the retail sales of dogs and cats to address overcrowding at animal shelters and discourage the practice of purchasing animals from puppy mills.
Dean Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) filed Senate Bill 1652, the Ethical Pet Sales Bill, to promote responsible breeding practices and reduce the number of families unknowingly purchasing unwell animals. If passed, lawmakers hope it would reduce the number of dogs coming into the state from puppy mills, where dogs are commercially bred to maximize profit, sacrificing the animal’s health.
“These animals are raised and transported in deplorable conditions. They arrive in Texas – a lot of times – sick and defective,” said Randy Turner, an attorney and board member with the Texas Humane Legislation Network.
“This bill will require retail pet stores to source their animals from city animal shelters and from rescue groups, which will put an end to this terrible puppy mill pipeline,” he continued.
The bill has bipartisan support with three Republican and three Democratic state senators cosigning the legislation. Turner said there was an attempt to pass a similar bill in 2023 but that it was killed before it could be signed into law.
“Everybody knows that we need to do something about this terrible problem,” Turner said. “There’s virtually no regulation of these puppy mills –no effective regulation – that would do anything to stop this problem. That’s why we need this bill so badly.”
Dr. Jessica Morrissey has worked as a veterinarian for almost two decades, seven of which have been spent at the Austin Urban Vet Center. During her tenure, she said she’s seen many dogs that came from puppy mills.
“You could tell that’s where they were from,” she said. “They’re oftentimes pretty dirty — covered in parasites, internal and external.”
“They’re not breeding good specimens to create the healthiest dogs that are going to have the best lives. It’s really sad,” she continued.
Morrissey said she thinks the bill is a step in the right direction.
“I think more needs to be done to put puppy mills out of business, but I think that shutting down pet stores, retail pet shops is a huge step forward in preventing irresponsible breeding,” she continued.
