Every year, countless puppies bred in inhumane, out-of-state puppy mills are shipped into Louisiana and sold in pet stores. Behind the polished glass and friendly storefronts are dogs born into neglect—kept in wire cages, denied medical care, and treated like machines for profit.

Eight states—including California, Maryland, New York, and Illinois—have already banned the retail sale of puppies in pet stores. These laws are closing the pipeline that connects cruel breeders to unsuspecting families. But in Louisiana, no such law exists. That makes our communities a target for the very worst of the puppy mill industry.

Pet store puppies often come with hidden health and behavioral problems, leaving families heartbroken and financially drained. Meanwhile, the mothers of those puppies—still suffering in distant breeding facilities—remain invisible and unprotected.

We call on the Louisiana State Legislature—especially the House and Senate Agriculture Committees—and Governor Jeff Landry to pass a statewide humane pet store law. This law must prohibit the sale of puppies in pet stores and encourage stores to partner with animal shelters and rescues instead.

Retail puppy sale bans don’t prevent people from getting dogs—they ensure those dogs come from humane sources. Responsible breeders and adoption agencies can still operate. What stops is the exploitation.

Let’s make Louisiana a state where compassion, not cruelty, sets the standard. Sign this petition to demand legislation that protects dogs, protects families, and ends the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline once and for all.