Talking Points:
Pennsylvania's Humane Pet Store Bill (Victoria's Law) 

HSVMA is providing the following talking points to counter some of the false arguments against Victoria's Law, the Pennsylvania legislation that would prohibit Pennsylvania pet stores from selling dogs and cats from large-scale commercial breeders (i.e. puppy mills). In lieu of these sales, this legislation would promote partnerships between Pennsylvania pet stores and nonprofit rescue groups and municipal shelters for the adoption of cats and dogs from pet shop locations.

More than 300 Pennsylvania veterinary professionals have joined with HSVMA in supporting this legislation as a way to sever the connection between the inherently inhumane commercial breeding enterprises known as ‘mills’ and the pet stores who are taking advantage of these animals and of the unknowing families who purchase them and often end up with sick animals, unanticipated medical bills and heartbreak for all involved. Veterinary professionals can join HSVMA in supporting this legislation by signing the endorsement form here.

TALKING POINTS

Opponents claim rescues are the real problem. 
Our position: This argument is merely a deflection from the issue at hand—the known, well-documented, and numerous animals welfare and consumer protection problems posed by puppy-selling pet stores. Most rescues operate responsibly while doing the lifesaving work of rehoming animals that might otherwise be on the streets, in unsafe situations, or euthanized. As such, it is irresponsible and disrespectful to the animal welfare community to draw a moral equivalency between rescues that save homeless animals and pet stores that buy purposefully-bred puppies from high volume commercial breeders who often disregard the health and welfare of their animals.

Opponents claim rescue dogs are of unknown origin.
Our position: While this is sometimes true, most rescues are honest about this with adopters, and most adopters understand this will be the case before deciding to adopt. On the contrary, pet stores go to great lengths to hide from customers where their puppies really come from. A common pet store customer complaint is that they didn’t realize they were supporting a massive, inhumane, out-of-state breeder until after they purchased a puppy.

Opponents claim Internet sales are a bigger problem (than pet store-supplied mill dogs). 
Our position: No one bill can address all animal issues, and this bill is largely focused on pet stores. It does, however, include a provision requiring all sellers to include license numbers in advertisements and online postings, which will increase transparency into internet sales. While prohibiting the sale of puppies and kittens on the internet is a complicated issue that states would have a hard time enforcing, Pennsylvania pet stores, are in-state businesses selling thousands of puppy mills puppies each year to unsuspecting consumers. The puppies are often sick and have behavioral problems due to their origin, long transports, and pet store conditions. They are sold for thousands of dollars based on false guarantees. When customers balk at the price tag, financing is offered and low interest rates are promised, even though many end up with shockingly high rates. These are very real issues affecting Pennsylvanians, and the fact that there are also issues with internet sales should not prevent action on pet stores.

Opponents claim: There is an unregulated black market.
Our position: Puppy-selling pet stores and those that profit from their sales often refer to the online sales as a black market but fail to mention that, since 2013, the USDA has regulated breeders and brokers who sell over the internet just as the agency regulates breeders and brokers who sell to pet stores.  Pet stores, however, are not regulated by the USDA, so if there is a black market on a federal scale, its pet stores. And, while pet stores are regulated under PA’s Dog Law, the law is silent on where they can source from. Further, there is no evidence that stopping the sale of puppies in pet stores leads to an increase in online puppy sales, as pet stores cater to impulse buyers who fall for the cute puppy in the window and would likely not buy a puppy at all if it weren’t for the pet store and to customers who want to meet a puppy in person before purchase, which is not possible with online sales. 

Opponents claim Victoria's Law would limit pet choice.
Our position: According to the pet industry, only 4% of Americans obtain dogs from pet stores. Removing this outlet would have a minor impact on pet choice and a major impact on animal welfare, most significantly by cutting off the puppy mill to pet store pipeline, and on consumer protection. Those looking to add a new dog or cat to their family are far better off adopting from one of PA’s many shelters or rescues, including many breed-specific rescues, or seeking out a responsible breeder who treats their dogs like pets and only sells directly to the public because they have nothing to hide. An online search of the AKC Marketplace shows a high volume of popular purebred puppies available within PA, directly from breeders, and that doesn’t even include all of the designer/mixed breed puppies available.