A public hearing was held in the Town of Greenburgh to ban puppy mills.

The town has been pushing the measure to stop pet stores from selling commercially bred animals.

The owner at NY Breeder says the proposed puppy mill ban in the Town of Greenburgh is wrong and threatens his longtime reputable business.

The bill, as it currently stands, would only allow pet stores to sell animals from shelters or rescues.

The owner of NY Breeder tells News 12 the puppies he sells comes from USDA certified reputable breeders and that they provide their customers a one-year health guarantee for the animal.           

His pet store is one of two in the area that would be impacted.

Westchester Puppies and Kittens recently settled with the attorney general after it was found that they were selling animals from large scale puppy mills, which are non-certified commercial breeders.

The release goes on to say:  “The Office of the Attorney General initiated an investigation in 2018 after receiving numerous complaints from consumers who purchased pets from Westchester Puppies & Kittens that required treatment for illnesses commonly associated with animals bred at puppy mills, such as kennel cough, giardia, distemper, and parvovirus. The Attorney General’s investigation found that Westchester Puppies & Kittens acquired the animals it sold to the public from commercial breeders and puppy mills, not from “certified breeders” or those who “home-raise” animals. One breeder from which Westchester Puppies & Kittens acquired animals – Kuddly Kritters of Atkins, Nebraska – has been repeatedly cited by USDA inspectors for poor and unsanitary conditions in its breeding operations.”   

Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner tells News 12 he is open to adding or changing the language of the bill to allow companies like NY Breeder to stay in business as long as they have a clean record and no violations.

A second public hearing will take place next month. Town officials say they hope to have something passed by the spring.

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