Puppy Mill Puppies Banned in Indianapolis, Petland Pushes Back
The quiet hum of a recording studio always fills my ears as I sit in front of the microphone, ready to share the latest updates in our fight against the puppy mill industry. This week, Indianapolis made history by becoming the 450th city in the United States to prohibit the sale of puppies from mills in pet stores. This milestone marks a significant victory, as it means half of the 20 largest cities in the nation now refuse to allow puppy mill puppies to be sold in retail pet stores—a powerful message to those who profit from animal cruelty.
Puppy Mill Puppies Banned in Indianapolis, Petland Pushes Back
Our efforts to pass humane pet store laws at both the local and state levels are clearly having an impact. Public records show that an estimated 32,000 fewer breeding dogs are caged in USDA-licensed facilities compared to a decade ago. As about one-third of puppy-selling pet stores have stopped selling puppies due to these laws, the average USDA-licensed breeding facility now holds approximately one-third fewer dogs. And with New York state's law set to take effect, it will prevent more than 60 stores from selling puppies, further shrinking the industry.
Despite these gains, Petland—the largest puppy-selling pet store chain in the U.S.—continues to defend its controversial business model. Just days before the Indianapolis victory, the Indiana Senate passed SB 134, a bill aimed at stripping cities of their authority to enact laws like the one just passed in Indianapolis. We're confident we can stop this shortsighted legislation in the Indiana House of Representatives, but it will be a battle, as Petland seems to be pouring all its resources into protecting its three puppy-selling stores in the state from local jurisdiction.
Similar Petland-backed bills have also been introduced in Missouri, and we expect to see them elsewhere. These efforts to undermine local control are a direct result of our work. Petland can't win in city halls, so it's trying to influence key lawmakers with campaign contributions, prioritizing business interests over all else. However, we've found that state lawmakers consistently reject Petland's attempts to block local regulation of its stores, especially after we educate them on the significant animal welfare and consumer protection issues linked to puppy-selling pet stores.
For instance, SB 134 only passed by a narrow margin, with Petland losing votes it thought it had secured, and only after significant amendments were made, including one allowing 14 existing humane pet store ordinances to remain intact. However, the new Indianapolis ordinance is a target of this legislation, and no additional ordinances could be enacted, which is why we're continuing to fight this bill.
This year, we're not only ensuring lawmakers understand who Petland really is but also exposing the company's disregard for existing laws. A Petland in Houston, Texas, is accumulating citations from the city for selling commercially bred puppies in violation of the local ordinance. Our work is making a difference, and the days of selling puppies in pet stores are numbered. But we must remain vigilant and continue to push back against Petland's efforts to undermine local control and exploit Animals for profit.