Minnesota bill could ban pet store sales of cats, dogs – InForum

MINNESOTA — A proposed Minnesota bill could change how pet stores operate, requiring transparency in the sale of cats and dogs while banning new stores from selling them altogether.

House File 2627 would allow existing pet stores to continue selling cats and dogs but mandate full disclosure of where the animals come from. New pet stores would be prohibited from selling four-legged pets.

Only three pet stores in Minnesota still sell cats and dogs.

“If you're a good pet store, you're working with responsible breeders, nothing is going to change about your business operations under this bill,” said Rep. Matt Norris, DFL-Blaine.

Supporters argue the bill does not prevent pet stores from selling animals but ensures that pets come from licensed breeders and that customers have access to breeder information.

Advocate Megan Helling described her experience purchasing a puppy that developed health issues months later.

“This led me to dig deeper into where Monty had come from, and what I found was disheartening,” Helling said. “Monty was born in a South Dakota breeding operation, sold to a broker in Iowa, then sold to a Minnesota pet store. This system hides origins of these puppies, allowing stores to deceive customers.”

Critics argue the bill places an unfair burden on responsible pet stores and could push more pet sales into unregulated markets.

Michael Swanson, who owns Four Paws and a Tail in Blaine, said the bill would prevent him from ever transferring ownership of his store.

“This would turn my business into an unmovable, unsaleable asset. It's not a path forward, it's a countdown to closure,” Swanson said.

Lauren Calmet with the Pet Advocacy Network warned that banning retail pet sales could lead to more underground transactions.

“Puppies are sold out of parking lots, online classifieds, and unregulated channels, often with no health guarantees, no consumer protections, no oversight,” Calmet said.

While supporters say the bill addresses unethical breeding practices, opponents argue it fails to target bad actors directly.

“The bad actors the law is intended to restrict continue to operate in the shadows,” Calmet said. “This bill removes oversight, not abuse, and it punishes responsible businesses who are committed to doing things the right way.”

The bill has been laid over for further committee review.

Mike McGurran has been a reporter and anchor at WDAY-TV since 2021.