CNBNews

^{aource Humane Society}

^{The Humane Society of the United States has released its annual Horrible Hundred report which exposes problematic puppy mills throughout the country, underscoring the necessity of New Jersey’s proposed legislation (S2511/A4051) to cut off the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline. This annual report is compiled by researchers as they comb through federal and state inspection records for instances of animal welfare violations and suffering.}

^{Public records show that numerous breeders cited in the report have supplied puppies to New Jersey pet stores in recent years. For example, Wayne Puppies, a New Jersey pet store, acquired puppies in December 2023 from a Missouri breeder featured on this year’s Horrible Hundred report. The breeder, Raymond Lawson/The Silver Spur, was issued a letter of warning by Missouri state inspectors after they found 10 violations during a single visit in September—violations included housing puppies on dangerous flooring that could entrap their legs, lack of proof of veterinary care and some dogs with no proof of rabies vaccinations. Furrylicious and Puppy Palace has also sourced from this breeder in recent years.} 

^{Other New Jersey pet stores, including Shake A Paw, Mama’s and Papas, Fashionable Pets, The Pet Shoppe and Village Pet Stop, also sourced from puppy mills included in this year’s Horrible Hundred report.}

^{One such puppy mill operated by Aaron Schwartz--which Furrylicious and Fashionable Pets sourced from--was investigated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture after receiving a complaint from someone who acquired a sick puppy who died shortly after being picked up. When questioned about the health of other puppies in his kennel, Schwartz reportedly admitted that puppies he had sent to a broker had tested positive for parvovirus and had been euthanized. Inspectors also learned that two entire litters of puppies had died in Schwartz’s facility, and there was no record of any treatment of those puppies. Investigators also found a number of violations at the facility, including dogs who were kept in a sweltering 95-degree building.} 

^{“Most New Jerseyans would be alarmed to find out that puppies sold in local pet stores are trucked in from far-away puppy mills with disturbing animal welfare records—operations that can’t prove they vaccinated dogs for rabies and keep puppies in dangerous conditions, or have had issues with parvo and entire litters of puppies inexplicably dying,” said David Grant, New Jersey state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “New Jersey needs to say no to serving as a sales outlet for this cruel industry. We have an opportunity to do just that by passing S2511/A4051.”}

^{If passed, S2511/A4051 would prohibit the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet shops, effectively cutting off the pipeline from puppy mills to retail outlets.}

^{Read more about the Horrible Hundred report here and please let me know if you would like to speak with an expert on puppy mills and this legislation.}