02-04-2025
Bill would expand ban on retail pet sales statewide
Cindy Lou, a Havenese puppy kept in an employees' bathroom at Puppy Heaven in Las Vegas while ill. (Photo provided by Humane Society of the United States)
Efforts by local governments to put a kink in the pipeline between midwest puppy mills and Nevada are being derailed by neighboring municipalities that permit retail sales of dogs and cats, say advocates of legislation that would expand the bans statewide.
The bill is sponsored by Assemblywoman Natha Anderson and was heard Tuesday by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.
'Eight states, including the entire West Coast and nearly 500 localities, including Clark County, Reno, North Las Vegas, and Mesquite have prohibited the sale of puppies in pet stores,' testified Rebecca Goff of Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society of the U.S. 'Assembly Bill 487 can bridge that divide and allow us to bring our nation one big step closer to that day when puppy mills must no longer exist.'
The City of Henderson allows pet sales at existing stores, while the City of Las Vegas has refused to ban sales, prompting retailers affected by the ban to move across city limits and into pet store-friendly territory.
Regulations imposed by Las Vegas in lieu of a ban have increased transparency and 'exposed just how awful the puppy mill pipeline is,' Goff told lawmakers. 'It's crucial that this should be tackled statewide, rather than a patchwork of ordinances.'
An undercover investigation by the Humane Society released in January alleges pet stores in Southern Nevada are keeping sick puppies without seeking veterinary treatment, and in at least one case, failing to obey a law requiring regular veterinarian visits for animals for sale.
The legislative measure is named for Cindy Lou, a sick Havenese puppy kept in a pen in the employee bathroom at Puppy Heaven and allegedly denied medical care until animal officials who were tipped off the illness required the store to take her to a veterinarian, where she died, according to the investigation.
'Her story is a heartbreaking example of what happens when profit is placed above animal welfare,' testified Christy Stevens, executive director of Hearts Alive Village, who described horrific incidents of animal cruelty and neglect that were allegedly known to a Las Vegas pet store that continued to sell animals to the alleged perpetrator. 'These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a systemic problem.'
Clark County's largest shelter, the Animal Foundation, as well as the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals support the measure.
The legislation would permit pet stores to hold adoption events for shelters and rescues. It prohibits the sale of pets on street corners, parking lots, and other public places. A violation of the proposed law would be a misdemeanor.
The legislation would give the 15 retail stores that sell pets in Nevada a year to adjust their business model.
The Retailers Association of Nevada is neutral on the legislation, testified executive director Bryan Wachter.
'The vast majority of pet stores in Nevada already do not sell puppies, but rather thrive as part of the $147 billion pet products and service industry,' Goff testified.
Pet store puppies are likely to be sick or have behavioral issues, making them more likely to land in local shelters, supporters of the measure said.
Amy Jesse of Humane World for Animals noted a report from the Centers for Disease Control that traced a drug-resistant, multistate human infection outbreak to 'puppies from breeders and distributors sold through pet stores as the outbreak source.' Of 149 retail store puppies, 95% received one or more courses of antibiotics.
The bill is opposed by pet stores, some of which are named in the Humane Society investigation, including the owner of Petland in Henderson.
Ken Kirkpatrick, owner of Petland in Boca Park, testified he and his staff have provided pets and peace of mind to Las Vegans since 2001 in a highly regulated environment. He predicted backyard breeding will expand. thanks to demand from families 'who can't adopt from shelters or rescues because they want a specific breed, or they need a hypoallergenic dog.'
Kirkpatrick noted a review of the Animal Foundation's adoption list revealed 200 dogs for adoption. For a population of 2.5 million people, 'it's really not that many dogs.'
On Tuesday, the Animal Foundation listed 370 dogs for adoption. Last year, the shelter euthanized more than 3,300 dogs, down from just under 3,900 the previous year.
Assemblywoman Heidi Kasama, a Republican from Clark County, said her family visited a shelter recently while looking for an addition to the family 'and for some reason it was just not a right fit. I wanted a smaller dog, and we ended up at a pet store.'
