Humane Pet Store Ordinance
Join the other Tennessee communities fighting the puppy mill pipeline
Background Information
Across the country, communities are taking a stand against the puppy mill–to–pet store pipeline by passing Humane Pet Store Ordinances. These policies prohibit pet stores from selling commercially bred puppies and kittens while allowing them to partner with shelters and rescues for adoption events and to continue selling supplies and services.
USDA-licensed breeder documented more than 190 violation in 2021
Nearly 500 localities across 29 states — including Nashville, Franklin, and Smyrna — and eight states have already enacted humane pet store laws, proving this approach works for animals, consumers, and responsible businesses. We're asking for your help to expand these protections across Tennessee.
This isn't just about the breeders: The use of puppy mill brokers often makes it difficult—if not impossible—for the public to know who a puppy’s breeder was, as many pet stores only disclose broker information. According to the HWA, at least two-thirds of the puppies in pet stores were shipped by brokers, not breeders. Cutting off the pipeline cuts off the brokers, too.
From Breeder to Storefront
Pet stores that sell puppies and kittens rely on large-scale commercial breeders and brokers to keep their cages full of young, in-demand breeds. Responsible breeders do not sell to pet stores; they insist on meeting buyers face-to-face and follow breed-club ethics that prohibit retail sales. Plus, public records consistently show that the vast majority of puppy-selling pet stores source animals from high-volume commercial breeding operations, many with documented animal welfare violations . This steady retail demand keeps puppy mills in business — regardless of conditions behind closed doors. To learn more about the retail puppy-mill pipeline, click here.
The Ask
We're calling on city and county governments throughout Tennessee to adopt Humane Pet Store Ordinances that:
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Prohibit the retail sale of commercially bred puppies, kittens, and other companion animals in pet stores
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Encourage adoption partnerships between pet stores and local shelters or rescues
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Support local businesses to transition to a products-and-services model (grooming, training, supplies, etc.) that does not rely on breeding sales
This isn’t about shutting down local stores — it’s about making sure pets in your community aren’t commercialized at the expense of their wellbeing. Humane ordinances align retail practice with responsible pet ownership, protect consumers from misleading sales, and reduce demand for inhumane breeding operations.
What This Does
Reduces demand for puppy and kitten mills.
By ending the retail sale of commercially bred puppies and kittens, humane pet store ordinances cut off a major sales channel for large-scale breeding operations that prioritize profit over animal welfare. When pet stores can no longer source animals from these facilities, fewer breeding operations remain financially viable.
Protects animals from the retail breeding pipeline.
Dogs and cats sold in pet stores are often born into overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, separated from their mothers at just weeks old, and transported long distances before being placed into storefront cages. Humane ordinances help prevent animals from entering this pipeline in the first place.
Protects consumers and public health.
Pet store puppies are frequently sold at premium prices with assurances of quality, yet many arrive sick or develop serious health problems linked to breeding and transport conditions. Widespread antibiotic use in pet store puppies has also contributed to antibiotic-resistant disease outbreaks, posing a risk beyond the individual buyer.
Supports responsible businesses and pet acquisition.
These policies do not eliminate access to pets. Instead, they encourage adoption partnerships with shelters and rescues and support a retail model centered on products and services — one that many pet stores have already adopted successfully.
If you’re ready to bring a humane pet store ordinance to your city or county, here’s how we’ll help:
Click here to contact us and start a conversation.
We’ll coordinate next steps, connect you with a team that has successfully helped communities pass similar ordinances, and equip you with helpful resources.
We’ll work with legal experts to help draft ordinance language that complies with interstate commerce laws and fits within existing municipal and state codes — protecting your ordinance from legal challenges.
Please share this information with neighbors, local businesses, and community groups, and stay informed and involved as lawmakers consider humane pet acquisition policies in your area. Together, we can dismantle the puppy mill–to–pet store pipeline and build compassionate, responsible pet policy across Tennessee.
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