Connecticut’s major animal advocacy organizations have joined to form the CT Alliance for Humane Pet Shops to push for change in the pet shop industry. The Alliance is founded with the goal to promote legislation that would require Connecticut’s pet shops to source their dogs and cats from shelters, pounds and rescue organizations instead of commercial breeders or puppy mills.

 

Founding members include Connecticut Votes for Animals (CVA), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), CT Coalition Against Puppy Mills, and Westport Coalition Against Puppy Mills. In addition to an October 16 meeting, the task force will hold a public hearing in the Legislative Office Building room 1D in Hartford at 1pm on November 13.

 

“Our goal is not to shutter small businesses,” said Amy Harrell, president of CVA. “We are simply asking pet stores to transition to a business model that is based on adoption and rescue, and does not perpetuate the exploitive industry of puppy mills.”

 

Alliance membership is free and open to any organization or business active in Connecticut and sharing the Alliance’s goal.

 

More information is available at HumanePetShops.Wordpress.com.