At the end of March, the Environment Committee was preparing to vote on House Bill (HB) 5368. This bill would regulate all kinds of parties who import and sell puppies and kittens to the public; whether via internet and meeting at a rest area, thru adoption or sale from an organization such as certain rescue groups, or non-profits, etc. PIJAC and I have been pushing for this type of regulation for years. Currently, only pet shops that sell puppies are regulated, yet only about 10% of the puppies sold to the public come from pet shops.

- The intent of the bill is to ensure proper animal care and health for these animals sold thru the various other channels, and to provide information and protection for the buyer. Those who import the animals would be required to be licensed annually (like pet shops), would have to notify the state Department of Agriculture with details of every importation, and be subject to regulation requirements still being drafted.

- At the public hearing for this bill, which I testified at, it was heartbreaking to hear so many stories from individuals who had bought or "adopted" animals from unregulated individuals or groups, only to end up with a puppy that they loved who was very sick and required much veterinary treatment they couldn’t afford. We must make sure these animals, and the people who buy them, have some sort of protection, as is already provided by the pet shop community.