Help stop puppy mill sales in Chicago
Success!
UPDATE: On April 21, 2021, the Chicago City Council voted to pass this change, closing a loophole in Chicago's retail pet sales ordinance effective immediately. Thank you to all who took action to help make this happen! Now join the 2025 Action Team to stay informed on future efforts.
Ask the City Council to prevent pet stores from abusing the law.
In 2014, Chicago passed an ordinance to prohibit pet shops from selling dogs, cats and rabbits, unless they were obtained from a shelter or rescue group. But after the law went into effect in 2015, pet stores began exploiting a loophole in the ordinance.
Pet stores simply started partnering with fake rescue groups to continue selling commercially bred pets imported from out-of-state puppy mills. This tactic is deceiving the public and obstructing the primary goal of the ordinance, which is to reduce the number of animals dying unnecessarily in Chicago's shelters.
Fortunately, the City Council is considering a new ordinance that will close this loophole, fully banning puppy mill sales in Chicago pet stores once and for all.
TAKE ACTION: Urge your Chicago alderperson to vote YES on the proposed pet sales ordinance.