After New York Outlaws Sales of Puppies in Retail Stores, Greenwich P&Z Comfortable Town Regs Do Likewise

On Wednesday the Greenwich P&Z commission voted to add a discussion item at the end of their meeting to address the topic of pet shops selling puppies, kittens and rabbits.

Today Greenwich has none of these stores, but there was a question about whether they were an allowed retail use.

The question is relevant given the “New York State Puppy Mill Pipeline Law” recently went into effect outlawing stores that sell puppies, kittens and rabbits. The law was signed back in 2022 by Gov Kathy Hochul and became effective on Dec 15, 2024.

NY Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning notice about the law when it went into effect.

A release from Ms James office in advance of the ban said, “The pet sale ban is intended to stop dangerous large-scale breeding operations known as ‘puppy mills,’ where animals are often mistreated and suffer from serious health issues. Puppy mills often misrepresent the health of the animals they breed and send retail stores sick pets that then cost families thousands of dollars in veterinary care.”

According to the ASPCA, dogs in puppy mill facilities who are used for breeding often spend their entire lives in wire crates without adequate shelter, veterinary care, food or socialization.

In New York, retail pet stores that continue to sell pets after December 15 can face penalties of up to $1,000 per violation.

New Yorkers can still adopt pets from duly incorporated humane societies, animal rescues, or licensed breeders.

Some retailers went to court to try to stop the New York law, but they’ve been unsuccessful to date.

In 2018, California became the first state to limit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits to those obtained from shelters and rescue centers.

According to the ASPCA, the legislation does not impact responsible breeders who sell the dogs they breed directly to families. Nor does it impact animal shelters or rescue organizations. In fact, New York pet stores are allowed to charge shelters rent to use their space for adoptions and to host adoption services with animal shelters or rescue organizations.

“As a result of that (New York) law becoming effective, it’s possible we could see some demand for that type of store in Greenwich,”  P&Z commission chair Margarita Alban told the commission on Wednesday, adding that P&Z director Patrick LaRow and deputy director Tracy Kulikowski were the experts on what state law requires in terms of licensing.

“But I took a look at our zoning regulations, and the definition of retail, which is what this would be,” Alban said. “Our retail is specifically to display and offer for sale commodities or goods directly to the consumer, and I believe that a puppy is not a good and it is not a commodity, and therefore our regulations by default already forbid that type of animal being sold from stores.”

Ms Kulikowski said she received a question over the summer about puppy stores and the town’s regulation.

“Patrick and Jim and I talked about that,” Kulikowski said referring to Mr. LaRow and ZEO James Lunney. “One, our regulations don’t allow them, and two, it’s an activity that requires a license from the state of Connecticut. And you can’t get that license until you get a zoning sign-off from the ZEO, which in this case you would not get.”

“Does anyone disagree with our interpretation?” Alban asked the commission.

Mr. LaRow said the Dept of Agriculture over sees the permits, not the Dept of Consumer Protection.

“Agriculture also addresses commodities, so there is this weird overlap where you wouldn’t call kittens and puppies commodities,” she said. “Sugar and flour and wheat – those are commodities. I’m pretty comfortable with the way our regulations are written.”

 

Last month the city of Stamford’s zoning board changed their rules about selling dogs and cats in pet stores.

They created two categories of stores – one selling supplies and accessories, but no dogs or cats, and second type of pet store that would be full-service, including sale of cats and dogs, but only by special permit, and only in zones outside commercial districts, including C-I, M-L, and M-G zones. (C-I zones are commercial business districts that are considered intermediate commercial districts. M-L is a commercial business district that is also a light industrial district. The M-G zones zone in Stamford is an industrial zoning classification.)

The rule only applies to new businesses. Existing pet stores that sell puppies and kittens are grandfathered.

In Greenwich, Pet Pantry Warehouse on East Putnam Ave works closely with Adopt-A-Dog, sponsoring events like the annual Puttin’ on the Dog fundraiser which showcases dogs and cats available for adoption.

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