WTNH | BY Mike Cerulli, Sophie Sonnenfeld | February, February 28, 2025 |
NEWWINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — One state legislator this session is looking to put out-of-state breeders in the legal doghouse, proposing a bill that would ban the sale of these pets.
State Rep. Gary Turco (D) met with animal welfare advocates and the owners of Hound & Home, a pet store in Newington, on Friday as part of an effort to fetch support for the legislation.
With the bill, he is urging people on the market for a pet to either rescue or buy from Connecticut breeders. While some animal welfare advocates are behind the bill, a trade group representing breeders and pet retailers is raising concerns, arguing such legislation could hurt local pet shops. Still, Turco maintains that this bill is better for pets — and for consumers.
“If they come from these out of state breeding facilities, they could have a lot of different health issues, they could have been overbred,” Turco said.
Mike Bober, who represents breeder and pet retailer trade group Pet Advocacy Network, pushed back against Turco’s characterization of larger breeding facilities as “mills.”
In an interview with News 8, Bober argued that these larger breeders tend to be “the best and most regulated.”
“Anybody who is buying into the myth that these are caricatures of greedy individuals cackling in the background while foisting unhealthy animals off on an unsuspecting public is, just, being sold a bill of goods,” Bober said.
Bober also noted that the ban could impact business for 16 pet stores in the state who rely on selling animals from out of state breeders.
“Pet stores will absolutely go out of business if a pet sale ban goes into place,” he said.
The state legislature’s General Law Committee heard testimony on the bill earlier this month.
State Rep. Dave Rutigliano (R), who is the Republican ranking member of the committee, told News 8 that he’s compelled by both sides of the debate from animal advocates and industry players.
“The free market conservative in me is in conflict with my love of dogs,” Rutigliano said.
As for what local pet shop owners had to say on the bill, Kayla Walker, who owns Hound & Home in Newington, told News 8 that her store does fine without selling animals.
Hound & Home offers grooming services which brings in most of their revenue. They also sell pet products including toys, collars and baked treats they make in the store.
Walker added that she fosters puppies and also holds rescue adoption events for customers at the store.
“We do not need to sell any animals to be able to stay in business here in Newington,” she said.
With bipartisan support on the bill, Turco told News 8 that he is hopeful the bill could pass this session.
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