Delaware just made history. House Bill 131 passed the state House unanimously, 41 to 0, after clearing the Delaware Senate. Every lawmaker in the chamber voted yes. Now it's up to Gov. Matt Meyer to sign it into law, and we're asking him to do exactly that.

HB 131 would end the sale of dogs and cats in most retail pet stores and replace that model with something better: partnerships between stores and local shelters and rescue organizations, turning pet shops into adoption hubs. It cuts off the retail pipeline that funds large-scale commercial breeding operations, commonly known as puppy mills, while giving shelter animals a new path to loving homes. Families looking for a pet would still have access to dogs and cats. They'd just know those animals came from humane sources, not a breeding warehouse.

The bill also adds long-overdue consumer protections. Stores still permitted to sell dogs would be required to disclose the breeder and broker behind every animal, source only from breeders with clean federal inspection records, and report that information publicly twice a year. Families have been deceived for too long by pet store puppies sold with misleading paperwork and hidden health problems. HB 131 gives buyers the transparency they deserve.

What makes this moment bigger than Delaware is the vote itself. When a state legislature passes something 41 to 0, it sends a signal. It tells lawmakers in every other state that this is not a partisan issue. Communities on the left and right agree that the commercial puppy mill industry does not reflect the values of responsible pet ownership. Delaware has the chance to be the state that makes that case loudly.

Sign this petition urging Gov. Meyer to sign HB 131 immediately. And if you live outside Delaware, your signature still matters: it tells your own elected officials that this issue has national support and that your state should be next.