Erin Lanahan 
Need to Know
- This newly passed bill in New Jersey would ban the sale of cats, dogs, + rabbits by pet shops.
- It would fine pet stores $500 for each animal sold.
- The bill is not yet in effect, as it still needs to pass in the New Jersey State Senate.
- This bill would repeal the “Pet Purchase Protect Act”, which protects people who buy cats + dogs from pet shops.
New Jersey is one step closer to banning the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops. A Senate panel approved legislation on December 11th, 2025, that would ban the sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops. The bill will also repeal the “Pet Purchase Protection Act” from 2016. Here’s what we know about the new bill in New Jersey.
New Protections For Cats And Dogs
The bill was introduced to the Senate in 2024, where it was referred to the Senate Economic Growth Committee. After some amendments, it passed the committee on December 11th, 2025, in a 3-2 vote. The bill would fine pet stores $500 for each cat, dog, or rabbit sold. It would also require courts to revoke a store’s license after three violations. A judge could also permanently bar the pet store from operating in the state. Pet shops will still be able to collaborate with animal rescue organizations to hold events showcasing cats, dogs, or rabbits available for adoption, provided that no payment is exchanged between the pet shop and animal rescue organization.
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The bill still needs to pass in the New Jersey State Senate, and as of December 12th, no date has been scheduled to hear this bill. If approved there, it goes to the governor’s desk for approval before becoming a law. The Local Girl reached out to the senators sponsoring this bill and will update this article when we receive more information.
The Montclair Girl previously spoke with Elissa Frank, the former New Jersey State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, when a similar law was enacted in New York.
Elissa told MG these retail bans have nothing to do with ethical breeders. “These bills are not curbing responsible breeders from doing their business. We want to encourage responsible breeders/breeding,” she said. “For consumers, this means to do your homework. Meet with the breeder, see where the puppies are being raised, meet the mom, and so on.”
The Pet Purchase Protection Act
Under this bill, the “Pet Purchase Protect Act” will be repealed. This act was passed in 2016 and was designed to protect people who buy cats and dogs from pet shops. There were provisions for how pets must be sourced, labeled, and protected when sold. Plus, it gave the consumers rights if the animal they buy is unhealthy or unfit.
In September of 2025, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and the Division of Consumer Affairs reported that it issued violations for eight pet stores in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties. The violations included “failing to label puppies’ cages with each animal’s breeding history and medical background and failing to properly display or issue statements informing consumers of their rights when purchasing an animal from a pet shop, including in the event an animal becomes sick or dies,” per the press release.
With it being repealed, new rules would define if an animal was “unfit for purchase” and make it a consumer fraud violation for breeders or brokers to knowingly sell unhealthy animals. This would shift the focus from consumer restitution to restricting the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops entirely.
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