Nevada bill to ban pet store puppy sales changes with focus on studying the issues impact

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Nevada continues to battle overcrowded animal shelters.

FOX5 has told you how some dogs are even facing euthanization to make space. Now there are major changes to a bill that would impact pet stores animal statewide.

AB487, also known at Cindy Lou’s Law, had a passionate hearing before state lawmakers last week.

The bill would have phased out the sale of puppies and kittens in pet stores throughout the state but it has been amended and now instead of a ban it will only mandate a study of the issue.

“This doesn’t end. You know, we’re going to continue to work to protect animals like Cindy Lou. I don’t want her death to be in vain,” shared Rebecca Goff, Nevada State Director of Humane World for Animals formerly the Humane Society of the United States. Cindy Lou, a tiny brown-and-white Havanese puppy, was left alone sick in a pen in the bathroom of a Las Vegas pet store according to Goff.

Goff contends many pet store puppies in Nevada come from puppy mills out of state.

“It is a whole pipeline problem and there’s no way to fix it without the outright ban. That’s the only thing that’s going to protect these animals and end this cruelty,” Goff argued.

AB487 would have phased out the sale of puppies and kittens in Nevada pet stores. Now a possible statewide ban would now be at least two years away.

“Eight other states have already done this, including the entire West Coast, Oregon, Washington, California and we kind of saw a little preview of what happens with jurisdiction hopping when the California ban went into effect. There are some stores that relocated from Southern California into the Las Vegas Valley area,” Goff revealed.

FOX5 is looking into a shift in pet stores within the Las Vegas area.

They are moving out of jurisdictions like Clark County and North Las Vegas which have banned pet store puppy sales and moving to areas like Henderson and the City of Las Vegas which allow them.

The City of Las Vegas tells FOX5 since December of 2023, when Clark County’s pet store puppy sale ban went into effect, their numbers have gone up growing from 24 pet shops to 34.

The state’s largest animal shelter, the Animal Foundation says many sick puppies bought at local pet stores end up surrendered to their care and they must foot expensive vet bills. They shared a statement with FOX5 saying in part:

Even as just a study, AB487 is not a done deal. While the original bill passed the Nevada Assembly, the amended bill must still pass through the Senate before heading to the Governor’s desk.

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