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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 27 augusT 2019

Maryland pet stores sue to block state ban on dog, cat sales

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN The first law of this kind took
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — effect in January in Califor-
Pet stores are suing to block nia. It prohibits pet stores
a Maryland law that will from selling a dog, cat, or
bar them from selling com- rabbit unless it came from
mercially bred dogs and an animal shelter or res-
cats, a measure billed as a cue group. Some local
check against unlicensed governments, including in
and substandard "puppy Maryland, already have
mills." enacted similar measures.
The stores' federal lawsuit, Maine's Legislature passed
filed Friday, challenges a a bill limiting sales of dogs
ban set to take effect on and cats by pet shops, but
Jan. 1, 2020. Maryland is Gov. Janet Mills is holding it
the second state, after Cal- until January.
ifornia, to pass such restric- Maryland's law encourag-
tions on the sale of dogs es animal welfare organiza-
and cats. tions to collaborate with re-
The pet stores fear the ban tail pet stores to showcase
will put them out of busi- cats and dogs for adoption
ness. Their suit says animal or purchase from "local
welfare organizations have breeders," according to a
made unfounded claims summary of the legislation
that pet stores are fueling prepared by state analysts.
the growth of puppy mills. The pet stores' lawsuit
Charm City Puppies man- claims the ban is unconsti-
ager Becky Schmidt, whose tutional, violating the Com-
Columbia store is one of the merce Clause. The legis-
plaintiffs, said it only uses lation's intent to facilitate
breeders that are "quality- sales from local breeders
inspected" and federally discriminates against out-
regulated. of-state breeders and bro-
"If anything, if our doors kers, the suit says.
close, it's going to force "The Maryland Pet Store A puppy plays with toys at a pet store in Columbia, Md., Monday, Aug. 26, 2019.
consumers to have to go Ban's purpose is to remove Associated Press
to the unregulated, unin- Maryland from the nation-
spected sources," Schmidt wide market of pet sales in them." industry. "There are thou- based commercial dog
said Monday. stores in hopes of eradicat- Plaintiffs' attorney Jona- sands of small independent breeder and a commercial
The lawsuit claims the ban ing the so-called puppy mill than Kagan said the sale of pet stores that thrive on sell- dog broker that supply the
effectively will do just that, industry. However, a State dogs and cats is the prima- ing products and services," Maryland pet stores with
shifting the sale of puppies may not achieve a local ry source of revenue for pet he added. dogs.
from regulated retailers to economic goal by isolat- stores that are suing. Kagan said Maryland al- The defendants include
unregulated sources, such ing itself from the national "These are smaller pet stores ready had strict laws "with the state Senate's finance
as sellers placing ads on economy," the suit says. that have been around for high standards for stores" committee and Maryland
the internet or in newspa- State Sen. Ben Kramer, a a while," he said. "They are before the passage of the Attorney General Brian
pers. Democrat who sponsored not going to be able to 2018 legislation. Kramer, Frosh, whose office will be
"Internet pet sales have a the legislation when he compete with PetSmart or however, said the pet responsible for enforcing
notoriously high incidence served in the state House of Petco if they're just selling stores "basically thumbed the ban.
of fraud and scams which Delegates, said retail sales (pet) accessories." their noses at the new re- Schmidt, the Columbia
will only increase against of dogs are keeping puppy John Goodwin, senior di- quirements that were in store's manager, said 20
Maryland residents once mills in business. rector of the Stop Puppy place." employees will lose their
the ban takes effect," the "The puppy mills are just Mills campaign for the Hu- The plaintiffs also include jobs and customers will lose
suit says. absolutely disgusting and mane Society of the U.S., pet store operators Just access to purebred pup-
Gov. Larry Hogan, a Re- barbaric," Kramer said. "The said dog and cat sales ac- Puppies Inc. and Today's pies if the store has to close.
publican, signed the legis- puppy mills don't exist with- count for a small fraction Pet Inc. Also named as "There's a whole trickle-
lation into law in April 2018. out the retail stores that sell of the multibillion-dollar pet plaintiffs are a Missouri- down effect," she said.q