Lifestyle
Animal Welfare Groups Commend Gov. Hochul for Signing Bill to End the Retail Sale of Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits in New York Pet Stores
New law shuts down the puppy mill pipeline to New York pet stores, cutting off one of the cruel breeding industry’s largest markets
Last Updated on June 1, 2025 by Daily News Staff
New law shuts down the puppy mill pipeline to New York pet stores, cutting off one of the cruel breeding industry’s largest markets
NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — Today, animal welfare groups commended Gov. Kathy Hochul for signing the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill, groundbreaking legislation that will stop the flow of cruelly bred puppies to New York pet stores by ending the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores across the state. Championed by Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan) and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), this legislation was overwhelmingly approved by large bipartisan majorities in both the Assembly and Senate earlier this year.
The Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill was supported by leading animal welfare groups including the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), New York State Animal Protection Federation (NYSAPF), Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR), Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), and the NYC Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee and millions of New York animal lovers who support ending the sale of puppies in pet stores.
Puppy mills ship their puppies to New York pet stores, where they are marketed as healthy puppies from responsible breeders, which is far from the truth. Puppies sold in pet stores come from commercial breeding operations that prioritize profit over the well-being of the animals. Breeding dogs in these facilities are often kept in crowded cages their entire lives without adequate shelter, veterinary care, food or socialization. They are not pets; their only value is to produce puppies. These puppies can suffer severe health and behavioral issues – and families are often unprepared for the financial loss and heartbreak that come with buying a sick puppy.
When the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill takes effect, New York will finally shut down this pipeline and deny cruel mills access to New York’s consumers, while still allowing pet stores to sell food and other products, or offer services such as grooming, boarding, and training, and drive consumers to their stores by partnering with shelters or rescues to host adoption events.
The majority of pet stores in New York – both large chains and “mom and pop shops” – do not sell puppies, kittens, or rabbits, and according to the pet industry’s own reports, stores that do not sell pets are more profitable than those that do. Pet stores will have one year to comply with the new law, and New Yorkers will still be able to adopt pets from animal shelters and rescue organizations, or buy dogs directly from responsible breeders.
Please see below for commentary from sponsors and supporters of the bill:
Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, “After years of advocacy, I am thrilled New York State now affords our four-legged companions the dignity they deserve. It is my hope this is a critical step to ending the scourge of puppy mills once and for all. I thank Governor Hochul for signing our Puppy Mill Pipeline bill into law, my friend Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and the indefatigable advocates who made this possible.”
“It is an amazing end-of-the year gift to finally have the Puppy Mill Pipeline bill become law! New Yorkers will soon be able to adopt the cute puppies, kittens and bunnies they see in pet store windows without supporting the cruel puppy mill industry,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF – Manhattan), Assembly sponsor of the bill. “Too many families have been left heartbroken after bringing home an animal they bought at the pet store only to realize it is sick and will require thousands of dollars in veterinary care that cannot cure congenital conditions. Some of the worst puppy mills around the country have long supplied New York’s pet stores with animals that were raised in inhumane conditions, churning out litter after litter to drive a profit. With the signing of this legislation, New York State will finally close the puppy mill pipeline and encourage shelters and rescues to work with local pet stores to place animals into loving homes. This victory could not have been achieved without the participation of the many animal welfare organizations and their members who have been tireless in their efforts to pass this bill into law, and because of their work, we are another step closer to ending the barbaric puppy mill industry nationwide.”
“My dog Sami was rescued from a puppy mill, where she spent two years living in a box, in the dark, without a name and she was forced to have puppies who were sold to pet stores,” said actor and animal advocate Edie Falco. “I’m grateful to Governor Hochul and New York lawmakers for taking action to protect other dogs from the horrific conditions Sami endured just to keep the cruel breeding industry in business, and as a lifelong New Yorker, I’m proud to have played a part in supporting the passage of this legislation to finally end our state’s participation in the cruel puppy mill to pet store pipeline.”
“The passage and signing of the Puppy Mill Pipeline law—which has been a longstanding goal for animal welfare groups across the state—is a historic win for New York’s animals, consumers, and communities. By ending the sale of cruelly bred puppy mill dogs in state pet shops, New York is shutting down the pipeline that enables retail sellers and commercial breeders to profit from unconscionable brutality,” said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO. “As a result, New York will go from having one of the country’s highest concentrations of pet stores that sell puppy mill puppies to a place that refuses to be an accomplice in this cruel process. We’re grateful to Assemblymember Rosenthal and Senator Gianaris for championing the passage of the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill and Governor Hochul for signing it, reflecting the deep compassion New Yorkers have for animals in need and a unified determination to reject animal cruelty statewide.”
“Our undercover investigations have exposed sick puppy sales and cruel practices in New York pet stores, highlighting the need for this historic law. New Yorkers will no longer be duped by pet stores into spending thousands of dollars on puppies who are often ill and almost always sourced from dismal puppy mills,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “The HSUS recognizes Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal for championing this legislation, and Governor Kathy Hochul for signing it into law.”
“With her signature, Governor Hochul is sending a clear message—New York will no longer be complicit in the animal abuse that is puppy mills. For the past decade, educated consumers have said no more—that’s why the number of pet stores selling milled animals has dropped from over 400 to 70 or so. Consumers can go to one of the many responsible small breeders in the Empire State if they want a specific breed—that option will always be available to people. What won’t be is purchasing puppies that are pumped full of antibiotics and steroids to perk them up for sale at unscrupulous pet stores and then fall deathly ill when taken home,” said Libby Post, executive director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation. “Puppies and kittens are the last bastion of nonpartisanship—that is why this bill passed overwhelmingly in both houses of the NYS Legislature. The Federation’s network of shelters are ready to work with pet stores to help them rebrand as humane businesses by hosting adoption events. We know adopters will then spend their dollars at that store for supplies, food, etc.”
“We applaud Governor Hochul for her outstanding leadership in declaring that New York is closed to the abusive puppy, kitten and bunny mill industries,” said Allie Taylor, president of Voters for Animal Rights. “We hope more states will soon follow New York’s lead and make cruel breeding facilities a dark relic of the past. Thank you to Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and Senator Michael Gianaris for championing this historic law.”
“We are immensely grateful to Governor Hochul for signing the Puppy Mill Pipeline bill into law,” says Stephen Wells, executive director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. “Shutting down the puppy mill to pet store pipeline cuts off a critical revenue source for puppy mill operators, and will save countless animals from suffering. The New York legislature has taken a strong stand to protect companion animals and New Yorkers, and we applaud their leadership.”
“Over the last 10 years, CAPS has investigated every pet shop in New York – originally 100 and now 60 – and many of the puppy and kitten mills selling to them. Our short documentary, video exposés, and in-depth investigation reports reveal rampant consumer fraud and deception at the pet shops and inhumane, abhorrent conditions at the mills, most of them USDA-licensed,” said Barbara Dennihy, New York director of the Companion Animal Protection Society. “The enactment of a statewide retail ban on the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits at pet shops will have a profound impact on this cruel industry and will inspire more states to follow suit.”
“In signing the puppy mill pipeline bill into law, Governor Hochul, on behalf of New Yorkers everywhere, is preventing mill bred dogs, cats, and rabbits from being sold in New York pet stores. This law protects animals from inhumane treatment and suffering, encourages animal adoption and safeguards consumers and our communities,” commented Rebecca Seltzer and Robyn Hederman, Co-Chairs, New York City Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee.
About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nation’s leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. For more information, visit www.ASPCA.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About the Humane Society of the United States
Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates around the globe fight the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, the HSUS takes on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries, and together with its affiliates, rescues and provides direct care for over 100,000 animals every year. The HSUS works on reforming corporate policy, improving and enforcing laws and elevating public awareness on animal issues. More at humanesociety.org.
Subscribe to Kitty Block’s blog, A Humane World. Follow the HSUS Media Relations department on Twitter. Read the award-winning All Animals magazine. Listen to the Humane Voices Podcast.
About New York State Animal Protection Federation
The New York State Animal Protection Federation is the voice of all the non-profit and municipal animal shelters, humane societies and SPCAs across the state. The Federation serves as an educational and policy-development resource and through a united voice, promotes favorable legislative initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nysapf.org and follow us on Facebook. You can also download our app on New York State’s animal laws at http://www.nysapf.org/nys-animal-law-app.
About Voters For Animal Rights
Voters for Animal Rights’ mission is to help elect candidates who support animal protection, lobby for strong laws to stop animal cruelty, and hold elected officials accountable to humane voters in New York State. Through the political process, we are building a coalition of advocates seeking to strike at the root cause of animal abuse and cruelty, which is a lack of fundamental rights and laws to protect them. Learn more at vfar.org and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
About Companion Animal Protection Society
Founded in 1992, the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy/kitten mills. CAPS addresses animal suffering through investigations, outreach, legislation, legal advocacy, consumer assistance, and rescue.
About the Animal Legal Defense Fund
Forty years of fighting for animals: The Animal Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1979 to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. To accomplish this mission, the Animal Legal Defense Fund files high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm; provides free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are punished for their crimes; supports tough animal protection legislation and fights harmful legislation; and provides resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law. For more information, please visit aldf.org.
About the New York City Bar Association
The mission of the New York City Bar Association, which was founded in 1870 and has 24,000 members, is to equip and mobilize a diverse legal profession to practice with excellence, promote reform of the law, and uphold the rule of law and access to justice in support of a fair society and the public interest in our community, our nation, and throughout the world. www.nycbar.org
SOURCE ASPCA
Three new studies shared this week at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) 23rd Annual Meeting deliver a clear message: stroke care in the U.S. is improving, but those gains are not reaching everyone equally. Researchers found persistent disparities tied to race, geography, and socioeconomic status—factors that can shape whether a patient receives advanced treatment, how quickly they reach specialized care, and ultimately, whether they survive.
Stroke remains one of the nation’s leading causes of death and long-term disability. In recent years, breakthroughs in emergency response systems and minimally invasive procedures have expanded what’s possible in the critical first hours after a stroke. But the latest findings suggest that access to those life-saving advances still depends too heavily on who you are and where you live.
Study 1: Treatment gaps widen as strokes get more severe
The first study, “Racial Disparities in Endovascular Thrombectomy Widen with Stroke Severity: A National Inpatient Sample Analysis,” examined more than 325,000 acute ischemic stroke patients treated at U.S. teaching hospitals between 2018 and 2022.
The focus was endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), a minimally invasive procedure in which specialists remove a clot from a blocked artery in the brain. EVT can be a game-changer for eligible patients—but researchers found Black patients were less likely than white patients to receive it across all levels of stroke severity.
What stood out most: the disparity grew as stroke severity increased. At a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 20, the predicted probability of receiving EVT was:
- 33% for white men
- 32% for white women
- 28% for Black men
- 26% for Black women
Co-first author Muhammed Amir Essibayi, MD, MSc, FRCP, noted that timely access becomes even more critical as severity rises—yet the treatment gap becomes more pronounced. The study also highlighted an intersectional pattern, with Black women consistently least likely to receive EVT.
Study 2: Hemorrhagic stroke deaths are falling—but disparities persist
The second study, “Reducing Inequalities in Stroke Events-Hemorrhagic Disparities (RISE-HD): A 10-year Statewide Analysis of Social Determinants of Mortality in Hemorrhagic Stroke,” analyzed more than 120,000 patients hospitalized with hemorrhagic stroke in Florida between 2013 and 2024.
There was good news: mortality rates declined significantly over the decade, suggesting real progress in stroke systems and hospital care.
But after adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities, disparities remained. Black patients had higher odds of in-hospital mortality than white patients. Higher mortality was also associated with:
- Living in rural areas
- Having Medicaid or other non-commercial insurance
Researchers also found regional differences across Florida, pointing to uneven access to specialized stroke care.
Primary author Natália Vasconcellos, MD, MSc, emphasized that improving outcomes for everyone will require addressing barriers to specialized stroke systems—especially in underserved communities.
Study 3: The “Stroke Belt” has two different access problems
The third study, “Dual Pathways to Hemorrhagic Stroke Mortality Across the U.S. Stroke Belt: Rural Neurointerventional Isolation and Urban Structural Vulnerability,” looked at hemorrhagic stroke mortality across 433 counties in the “Stroke Belt,” a region long associated with higher stroke rates and worse outcomes.
Researchers compared factors linked to mortality in rural versus urban counties, including:
- Distance to the nearest Comprehensive Stroke Center
- Community-level socioeconomic disadvantage
- Racial and economic segregation
- HIV burden
They found the drivers of mortality differed sharply by setting:
- In rural counties, longer travel times to Comprehensive Stroke Centers were more strongly associated with higher mortality.
- In urban counties, racialized economic segregation and HIV burden were more strongly associated with poorer outcomes—even when specialized care was geographically closer.
Dylan Yates, a medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine, summarized the takeaway: the neurointerventional access gap in the Stroke Belt is “not one problem, it is two.” Solutions need to match the reality on the ground—strengthening transfer networks and specialty connections in rural areas, while addressing structural disadvantage and underinvestment in urban communities.
What to watch for: where the system can improve
Across all three studies, the common thread is that medical innovation alone doesn’t guarantee equitable outcomes. Researchers pointed toward targeted interventions that could help close the gap, including:
- More consistent, equitable treatment pathways for advanced stroke procedures like EVT
- Stronger stroke transfer networks to reduce delays—especially in rural regions
- Expanded access to specialty stroke care and Comprehensive Stroke Centers
- Community-level investment and structural reforms in underserved urban neighborhoods
For patients and families, these findings also reinforce the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms quickly and calling 911 immediately. Time is brain—yet the system must ensure that “time” and “access” don’t vary based on race, ZIP code, or insurance status.Source: Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS), July
Related Links
- Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) — https://www.snisonline.org
- NIH: Stroke (overview, symptoms, treatment) — https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/stroke
- CDC: Stroke (risk factors, prevention, data) — https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/
- American Stroke Association (ASA): Stroke resources — https://www.stroke.org/
- NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) basics (clinical context) — https://www.stroke.nih.gov/resources/scale.htm
- Find a certified stroke center (The Joint Commission) — https://www.qualitycheck.org/
SOURCE Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
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Family
Teach and Inspire Your Kids by Exploring History as a Family
History as a Family: During back-to-school season, education is naturally at the forefront of most parents’ minds. While a lot of important learning is accomplished in the classroom, there are so many opportunities to continue challenging and developing children’s minds and hearts in family life as well.
Teach and Inspire Your Kids by Exploring History as a Family
(Feature Impact) During back-to-school season, education is naturally at the forefront of most parents’ minds. While a lot of important learning is accomplished in the classroom, there are so many opportunities to continue challenging and developing children’s minds and hearts in family life as well. Learning about history together is a practical way to inspire deep, meaningful conversations about the world, whether from books, documentaries or visits to museums.
Watch this video to learn more
Now is an opportune time to explore the story of Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager evading Nazi capture during the Holocaust. Families can read her famous diary together then visit “Anne Frank The Exhibition,” presented by the Anne Frank House at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. This comprehensive exhibition immerses visitors in the context that shaped Frank’s life, from her early years in Frankfurt through her tragic death and how her father ensured her legacy. The centerpiece is the first full-scale recreation of the Annex where the Frank family and four other Jews hid during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The exhibition, recommended for visitors ages 10 and older, is open through early 2027.
No matter what piece of history families choose to delve into together, they should take the time to discuss with their kids what they’re thinking and feeling about everything they’re discovering. Then together they can figure out what lessons from the past can be taken into the future.
“Anne Frank ’s story is a powerful reminder of what happens when fear and hatred are
allowed to take root,” said Dr. Chevy Humphrey, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
president and CEO. “At the same time, it reveals the quiet but enduring strength of
curiosity, creativity and resilience, values that sit at the heart of our mission. We hope this
exhibition offers meaningful moments of reflection for our guests, particularly young
people, and encourages them to think critically about their role in the world they are
inheriting.”
Learn more about the exhibit and other experiences that bring history and science to life at GriffinMSI.org.
SOURCE:
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
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Lifestyle
If You’re Feeling Stressed by Pricey Meds, Pharmacists Can Help
Stressed by Pricey Meds? If your wallet is feeling the squeeze of prescription drug costs as other living expenses like grocery and energy prices rise, you’re not alone. That’s where a powerful ally can help you manage drug costs: a health-system pharmacist.
If You’re Feeling Stressed by Pricey Meds, Pharmacists Can Help
(Feature Impact) If your wallet is feeling the squeeze of prescription drug costs as other living expenses like grocery and energy prices rise, you’re not alone.
More people are worrying about affording essential medications these days. In fact, more than 40% of adults said they skipped doses or didn’t fill prescriptions in the past year due to cost, according to a KFF Health survey.
People who take multiple drugs to manage chronic conditions often feel this pinch even more severely. They’re also more likely to make more frequent visits to their clinic or health system for care. That’s where a powerful ally can help them manage their drug costs: a health-system pharmacist.
These medication experts work side-by-side with the clinicians who prescribe drugs in health care practices – and sometimes prescribe medications themselves. Their deep knowledge can help people get the most out of the drugs they take.
“Pharmacists really know the full picture of medications, including pricing, insurance coverage, alternative therapies and potential side effects,” said Lindsey Amerine, PharmD, chief pharmacy officer for the Cleveland Clinic. “That’s why it’s helpful to not only count on your doctor to diagnose your condition and prescribe therapies, but also your pharmacist to optimize your medications.”
Get a Comprehensive Review of Your Medications
Asking the pharmacist on your health-system care team to go over your medications may reveal opportunities to save, Amerine said. Health-system pharmacists are uniquely qualified to provide this service because they keep close track of medication costs as well as approvals of new drugs and how those compare to older options.
A full review might reveal:
- Drugs once needed may not be as useful anymore. People often continue taking medications unaware that something new could offer greater benefits or their condition no longer requires the same therapy.
- Changes in your condition may mean you could safely take a lower dosage of a drug, thereby reducing costs.
- There may be less costly alternatives that would work as well such as a generic or older medication.
Get Help Exploring Discount Options
You’ve probably heard about programs that can help lower prescription costs, including discount and patient assistance programs. Pharmacists can help you understand how to navigate these programs and access potential discount programs and opportunities, Amerine said. Here’s how:
- Pharmacists can guide you through discount programs your health system offers.
- They can check your eligibility for drug maker discounts and help you understand how those discounts work with your insurance, especially if you have a high-deductible plan.
- Pharmacists can help you navigate the various prescription cost-savings programs and how they work.
- They can also help you learn about patient assistance programs that provide free or discounted medications to people who cannot afford them.
Medications are a vital part of your health care. Before you try to stretch a costly medicine or give it up altogether, talk to the medication expert on your health care team: your health-system pharmacist. For more information, visit yourpharmacist.org.
Why It Pays to Talk Meds with a Pharmacist
“My doctor prescribed it, so I must need it.” Often this is true, but not always. People sometimes take drugs longer than they need to, at doses higher than necessary or that may interact with other medications.
Just as you’d see a heart specialist about an odd pulse rate, it can help to see a pharmacist – your medication specialist – to discuss your prescriptions.
Of all health care professionals, pharmacists have the deepest knowledge of drug interactions and safety issues. They’re experts on how the effectiveness of different medications – brand name and generic – compare. They also closely track changes in prices and know when a drug’s cost has dropped or if an effective, less costly alternative is available.
Health-system pharmacists’ expertise is especially helpful for those with multiple chronic conditions who typically take several medications with more benefits, costs and side effects to balance.
Talking with a pharmacist can ensure your prescriptions are best for you and that you have access to the most affordable options.
SOURCE:
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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