OPINION
New Jersey’s 17 puppy retailers are under coordinated attack by several prominent animal rights organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), the Associated Humane Society, and St. Hubert’s Animal Shelter. These groups have united to create a near-monopoly on animal adoption and shelter services within the state, potentially stripping New Jersey consumers of their freedom to choose where they obtain their new family members.
The so-called “Stop the Puppy Mill Pipeline” campaign, spearheaded by HSUS, is based on a misleading narrative. Contrary to their claims, New Jersey already has some of the strictest laws in the country, requiring pet stores to source puppies exclusively from the industry’s top-rated breeders, who are licensed and inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture. Moreover, our stores provide full breeder disclosure, verified medical histories, and other measures to ensure that every puppy is healthy and ready for a loving home.
While there are just 17 licensed puppy retailers in New Jersey, there are over 400 shelters and rescues operating with minimal oversight and countless more that remain unknown to state authorities. These rescues are importing thousands of puppies into the state, without regulation, oversight or transparency.
Given these circumstances, it’s no surprise that two of the state’s largest shelters organizations, St. Hubert’s and Associated Humane Societies, are pushing for legislation to eliminate their competition. St. Hubert’s, with a staggering $58 million in assets, recently stopped providing animal control services to 19 New Jersey towns, choosing instead to focus on importing puppies for resale. These imported animals often come from the same breeders that shelters claim to oppose, yet they offer no consumer protection—turning it into a lucrative cash-and-carry business.
HSUS and ALDF, despite their national profiles, have little presence or standing in New Jersey. Neither organization operates shelters or provides direct animal care. They are simply well-funded lobbying organizations that seek to remove consumer rights and manipulate public policy to fit their radical agenda, which includes the eventual elimination of consumer pet ownership.
HSUS, with an astonishing $418 million in assets, seems willing to spare no expense in its efforts to dismantle family-owned pet stores in New Jersey. Their website is rife with propaganda, misrepresentations, and outright lies. The organization’s integrity is further questioned by its recent settlement in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) lawsuit, which included charges of bribery, money laundering, and obstruction of justice.
The New Jersey Coalition of Responsible Pet Stores is committed to providing happy, healthy puppies from licensed and inspected breeders. We stand behind our no-puppy-mill promise and offer full transparency and breeder disclosure to our customers, backed by the strongest consumer protection guarantees in the nation. For those seeking a happy, healthy puppy, visiting a New Jersey Coalition store remains the best choice.
Jeffrey Morton is the president of the New Jersey Coalition of Responsible Pet Stores. He is also the founder of Shake A Paw Center for Rescue and Adoption.
