Anti-puppy mill bill introduced in Philadelphia City Council

The ASPCA says Pennsylvania has some of the toughest laws in the country regulating commercial dog breeders.

But a Philadelphia City Councilman says animals from unlicensed puppy mills are showing up in pet shops anyway.

He has a proposed bill to tackle the issue.

Councilman Kenyatta Johnson says his bill targets unlicensed puppy mills or breeding facilities that don’t live up to Pennsylvania’s regulations.

“The bill will prohibit pet retailers from selling dogs or cats that they have purchased from breeding mills,” he said. “Often times these breeding mills focus on profit, not the welfare of the actual pets.”

Johnson says he doesn’t want people to be disappointed when they bring home an animal with a host of health problems because it wasn’t cared for properly after birth.

“Making sure that prospective pet owners aren’t put in the predicament where they are purchasing cats and dogs that aren’t healthily maintained by state standards,” he said. 

If the bill is approved, Philadelphia pet shops would have to provide a written certification that animals they sell were provided by reputable breeders. That paper would have to be kept on file for two years after the date of sale.