01/15/2026
Delawareans, Please contact your state reps ASAP. As stated in tge original post, there is approximately a 10 day window for your voice to be heard to help get this passed!
🚨 UPDATE: Humane Pet Store Bill (HB 131) Moves Forward 🚨
The Humane Pet Store Bill (HB 131) has officially passed the Delaware House Health and Human Development Committee and is now headed to the House floor for a full vote in the coming days.
This important legislation is the result of years of collaboration with Kim Williams, the Office of Animal Welfare (OAW), and every animal shelter in Delaware. We are incredibly grateful to see this bill moving forward.
🐾 What HB 131 Will Do
HB 131 will prohibit the retail sale of dogs in:
*Pet stores
*Farmers markets
*Auctions
This is a critical step in stopping the flow of puppies, and in some cases, kittens, into Delaware from inhumane commercial breeding operations, and instead driving demand toward humane sources like:
*Animal shelters
*Rescue organizations
*Responsible, ethical breeders
🏪 Pet Stores Already Leading the Way
Many local and national pet supply stores have already adopted this humane approach by not selling dogs or cats and instead partnering with shelters and rescues to help pets find homes. We're proud to work alongside partners like Petco, Concord Pet Food & Supplies, Pet Supplies Plus, and other pet supply stores across the state who are leading with compassion.
🐶 Why This Bill Matters
All Delaware animal shelters support HB 131, along with pet stores statewide.
Puppies sold in Delaware pet stores have been confirmed to be sourced from Pinnacle Pet, a massive commercial puppy mill operation in Missouri.
Puppies R Us in Bridgeville has financed puppy purchases through third-party, predatory lenders, often with extremely high interest rates—hurting consumers and families.
Without a ban, Delaware remains open to new puppy sellers and suppliers, further fueling the trade.
Delaware borders Lancaster County, PA, one of the largest concentrations of puppy mills in the U.S.
Other states have learned that regulation alone does not work. Maryland attempted regulation in 2016 and later enacted a full ban when it became clear that animals and consumers were still being harmed.
This is not unique to Delaware—more than 500 cities and 8 states have already passed similar laws.
📣 We Need Your Voice—Starting NOW
HB 131 is expected to be heard on the House floor within the next 10 days, and we anticipate national opposition, just as we've seen in the past.
Representative Williams has asked for our help reaching as many House members as possible, beginning Wednesday, January 14.
That means emails, phone calls, texts, and social media messages all matter.
📧 Please contact your State Representative today:
👉 https://legis.delaware.gov/FindMyLegislator use your DE address to find your Delaware Rep in Dover, DE
You can say:
"As a constituent, I'm writing to urge you to support the Humane Pet Store Bill (HB 131) to end the sale of dogs and cats in Delaware pet stores and stop inhumane puppy and kitten mills."
Thank you for standing with us—and with the animals who need us most. 💜
