In Michigan, pet stores can still legally sell puppies sourced from commercial breeding facilities—puppy mills—where dogs are treated as nothing more than breeding machines. These facilities often confine mother dogs in small, filthy cages, with no access to fresh air, vet care, or even solid flooring. The puppies born into these conditions are then trucked across state lines and sold in stores that hide the cruelty behind clean glass and false promises.

Eight U.S. states—including California, Maryland, and New York—have already passed laws banning the sale of puppies in pet stores. These bans are working: they reduce demand for puppy mill–bred dogs, protect consumers from fraud, and promote shelter adoptions. It’s time for Michigan to follow their lead.

Too many Michiganders have unknowingly purchased sick or behaviorally damaged puppies from pet stores—dogs who were born into suffering and sold through deception. Families face heartbreak and thousands in vet bills, while the puppy mill industry continues to profit off pain.

Let’s shut down this pipeline of cruelty.

We call on the Michigan State Legislature—specifically the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, as well as Governor Gretchen Whitmer—to pass legislation banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores statewide. This law should allow stores to instead partner with shelters and rescues, giving homeless animals a chance at a better life.

Sign now to urge lawmakers to take action and finally close the door on this cruelty.