The state Senate approved a bill Tuesday to ban pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits.

Supporters of the bill say pet stores often get their animals from puppy mills. If signed into law, the sales of these animals in stores would be banned and replaced with adoption events from area shelters.

"It's an important bill, we need to stop the flow of puppy mill puppies into NYS, because of the horrific conditions that they're raised in…the horrific conditions mother dogs are put into," says Libby Post, the executive director of the NYS Animal Protection Federation.

There are an estimated 80 stores still selling pets, including at least three in Westchester.

A coalition representing the business owners calls the law "unconscionable" adding that it will "put every single retail pet shop in New York State out of business."

However, Post says, "This is a $93 billion industry and only 3% of that money comes from pet sales, so this is not make or break."
The bill still has to pass the Assembly and then be signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo before becoming law.