Maryland legislature votes to ban pet stores from selling dogs from puppy mills

Maryland is poised to become the second state to ban pet stores from selling dogs from mass breeding operations like puppy mills.

The Maryland General Assembly on Saturday passed HB 1662, a bill that would require pet stores to only sell dogs and cats from animal welfare groups, animal control units and licensed breeders, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The state Senate approved the bill on Friday, which now heads to GOP Gov. Larry Hogan’s desk for a signature. 

In October, California became the first state to ban the sale of dogs from puppy mills. The California legislation requires pet stores to sell animals that have come from shelters or rescue groups.

{mosads}The Humane Society of the United States applauded the Maryland legislature for approving the bill, and urged Hogan to sign it in a press release.

“Governor Hogan has a strong animal welfare record, and we urge him to build on it by signing this life-saving measure,” Emily Hovermale, Maryland state director of The Humane Society of the United States, said in the release.

“We applaud Maryland lawmakers for approving legislation that moves the Maryland pet market away from cruel puppy mills and their pet store outlets and toward humane sources such as shelters.”