Animal advocates are renewing efforts to ban the sale of commercially bred puppies and kittens in Texas pet stores, citing concerns over unethical practices and animal welfare.
The Texas Humane Legislation Network released undercover footage as part of its campaign to highlight what they call the “puppy mill pipeline.”
This system brings weeks-old puppies from Midwest breeders into Texas, where they are sold for thousands of dollars each. THLN Executive Director Shelby Bobosky explained the risks these puppies face during transport.
“What they endure is the trip down to Texas... Various types of puppies in their own feces and urine with a very weakened immune system,” said Bobosky. “That’s why sometimes when they arrive at the store, they are sick or become sick soon after.”
Undercover video shows puppies in Texas pet stores appearing sick, lethargic, or undergoing treatment. One video, reportedly submitted by a former pet store employee, shows a puppy unable to stand.
The conditions for breeding dogs in puppy mills, as documented by the Humane Society of the United States, are equally concerning. The footage shows dogs kept in poor conditions as they are bred repeatedly to produce litters.
Bobosky pointed out the need for statewide legislation, referencing Houston’s citywide ban on the sale of non-humanely sourced puppies in pet stores.
“The City of Houston bans the sale of puppies in pet stores unless they are humanely sourced, but in just a 10-15 minute drive outside Houston, you can purchase a puppy,” she said. “That is why we need this statewide legislation.”
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Advocates also face significant opposition from the pet store industry, which profits from the high price of these animals.
“The lobby is well-funded,” Bobosky noted. “When you can make $8,000 off of one puppy, of course there’s going to be opposition. A simple call to your legislator can possibly change their mind.”
Supporters of the bill encourage Texans to contact their representatives and urge them to support humane pet sales legislation.
