OPPOSE TEXAS STATEWIDE RESCUE MANDATE ON PET STORES

CA AB 892 is scheduled to be heard on April 8th, 2025 at 9:00 AM Pacific Time in the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee. 

AB 892 seeks to prohibit direct contact between the public and certain captive wild animals, imposing civil penalties and potential permit revocations for violations. While the bill claims to enhance animal welfare and public safety, it imposes unnecessary restrictions on lawful animal exhibitors, educators, and conservation programs. This legislation will harm responsible facilities, limit public education opportunities, and negatively impact businesses and nonprofits that rely on interactive experiences to foster appreciation and support for wildlife conservation.

Colorado House Bill 25-1180, titled "Prohibiting Pet Animal Sales in Public Spaces," has progressed through the House and is currently under consideration in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, which is scheduled to hold a hearing on April 3, 2025, at 1:30 PM in Senate Committee Room 352.

It is important to note that amendments have been made to the bill to address some concerns. For instance, exemptions were added for pet owners, breeders, handlers, or trainers transporting animals to or from events sanctioned by nationally recognized organizations, and for hunting dogs bred or trained for lawful hunting.

Additionally, discussions have clarified that pre-arranged sales with an agreed-upon meeting place in a public area are not intended to be prohibited by this legislation. These amendments aim to balance the bill's objectives with the interests of lawful animal owners and breeders.​

As of March 6, 2025, Colorado Senate Bill 25-168, titled "Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking," was amended and approved by the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. The bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. ​

While the bill does not specify individual species, the inclusion of CITES Appendix I species means that a wide range of animals and plants are affected. Examples of such species include, but are not limited to: 

Mammals: 



• Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) 
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) 
• Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
• Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) 

Birds: 

• Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) 
• Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
• Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) 

Reptiles: 

• Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) 
• Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) 

Amphibians: 

• Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) 

Plants:

• Certain species of orchids and cacti

**For a comprehensive and up-to-date list of all species included in CITES Appendix I, please refer to the official CITES website or contact the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, which is mandated to provide this information to the public.  Click Here

Oregon SB1076 is scheduled to be heard in the Join Ways and Means Committee. Date and Time to be determined. 

Oregon SB1076 lacks clear definitions throughout the bill including it's vague definition of  "Breeder" which is defined as a person who breeds, raises and sells birds, cats, dogs, small mammals, other than livestock or exotic animals,"

*To be clear, SB1076 includes small exotics, as small mammals are NOT defined in the bill. 

Pinellas County has new "ordinance recommendations" on the schedule for further discussion to further regulate Pinellas County Pet Stores and the lawful breeders they obtain puppies from to sell in their store to include Canine Care Certification program. 

Despite the fact that in 2022, Pinellas County Commissioners discussed banning the retail sale of dogs in pet stores. So-called, "compromise" legislation was passed instituting a moratorium preventing any new pet stores from selling dogs in Pinellas County. 

Despite a Retail Pet Sale Ban being overturned in January 2023, and new Responsible Breeder Rules under Ordinance 24-92 that went into effect on February 14, 2025, Manatee County Commissioners are meeting this Tuesday, February 18, 2025 to engage in discussions "reinstating the retail pet ban in Manatee County" and mandating more regulations on pet stores and lawful, USDA-licensed dog breeders with the Canine Care Certified program.

HB1149/SB5376 has passed the House and is heading to the Senate Committee on Law & Justice this Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 10:30 AM Pacific Time. 

HB1149/SB5376 is framed as an effort to prevent animal cruelty, its vague definitions and expanded enforcement powers create significant risks for animal owners, farmers, breeders, and pet-related businesses.

Without additional safeguards, it could lead to government overreach, weaponization by animal activists, and undue legal burdens on responsible owners.

HB 1716 is an extreme and overreaching regulatory measure that will have devastating consequences for lawful, licensed dog breeders in Washington State. While it is framed as an animal welfare bill, its real impact will be the elimination of professional, responsible breeders, further fueling the market for unregulated, unlicensed breeding operations and increasing reliance on foreign puppy imports of questionable health and origins.

Urge the Rhode Island House Corporations Committee to VOTE NO on House Bill 5214 which would BAN the sale of birds in pet stores. 

HB5214 is an unnecessary and harmful overreach that will negatively impact responsible pet stores, breeders, and bird owners. 

Your URGENT ACTION is needed! The Committee hearing is tomorrow, February 4th, 2025!