April 24, 2018

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Animal rescue groups and shelters celebrated Tuesday as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed a law that bans the sale of puppy mill dogs in pet stores. Dogs and owners celebrated at the Statehouse, while owners of the few remaining pet stores affected criticized the law.

The law prohibits retail pet stores from offering for sale, transferring, or disposing of cats or dogs; repeals certain provisions of law that authorize the sale of certain cats and dogs and sets forth the requirements for a retail pet store that offers to sell certain cats or dogs under certain circumstances; stating the intent of the General Assembly that animal welfare organizations initiate contact with retail pet stores to facilitate the showcasing of dogs and cats for adoption or for purchase from local breeders; etc.

The ban wasn't the only pet-related bill signed into law by Hogan on Tuesday. He also signed SB 675, the Humane Adoption of Companion Animals Used in Research Act of 2018, which forces research laboratories to release dogs and cats that are no longer needed for testing to rescue groups so the animals can be adopted. Beagles, which are often used for lab testing because of their docile nature, were among the dogs that joined Hogan at the bill signing, according to the Rescue + Freedom Project, previously known as the Beagle Freedom Project.