This summer, two bills on Beacon Hill claim to protect pets. Only one actually does — and the difference matters enormously for Massachusetts families.

With summer in full stride, families are heading to the park to play fetch with their dogs, taking them for walks along the Charles, and making the kinds of memories that start with one decision: bringing a pet home.

That decision — and the protections that should surround it — is exactly what’s at stake.

House Bill 2256 is a practical, enforceable approach that reflects our state’s tradition of common-sense regulation. It requires all pet shops to be licensed, inspected, and transparent about the health and origins of every animal. 

Under H.2256, pet stores would be allowed to source dogs only from USDA-licensed breeders with clean records and no violations. This closes dangerous loopholes and helps weed out puppy mills while helping ensure that families take home healthy, responsibly bred pets. The bill requires stores to provide a warranty program to protect consumers. 

Importantly, it also prohibits the dangerous practice of roadside sales. Those unregulated, often cash-only transactions in parking lots or along highways leave families with no idea where their puppy came from or what conditions it endured.

The value of licensed, inspected, and regulated pet stores goes beyond just the ethical sourcing of the animals. For many new pet owners, pet stores are a vital resource, offering education, ongoing support, and a safety net that unregulated sellers simply can’t match. Pet stores collaborate with veterinarians and animal behaviorists to help guide new owners through the challenges of pet care. 

For families with allergies, housing restrictions, or specific breed needs, a licensed pet store may be the only realistic option. H.2256 ensures they can responsibly experience the joy of adding a healthy, happy pet to their families.

Senate Bill 3028 takes the opposite approach by proposing a total ban on the retail sale of pets. The problem is, bans only leave families with fewer safe options and increased risk. Other states have already proven it.

Following a statewide ban in California, the Los Angeles Times reported a rise in shady, black-market sales and fake rescues trafficking animals from out of state and abroad. In New York, dealers have been caught selling puppies out of car trunks in the middle of Manhattan. 

When bans are enacted, the demand for specific pets doesn’t simply disappear. Rather, vulnerable families are driven to unscrupulous sources that disguise themselves as legitimate. As a result, they are often left devastated emotionally and financially when they fall victim to scams or receive sick animals with little recourse.

S.3028 would undermine the very protections it aims to create, leaving Massachusetts families out in the cold.

Closing licensed and regulated pet stores with “Pet Prohibition” laws only benefits shady sellers and puppy mills. Licensed pet shops undergo inspection by the state, their municipality, and the MSPCA, meaning any issues would quickly result in trouble for them.

If Massachusetts is serious about protecting both animals and consumers, we must strengthen enforcement, bolster oversight, and close loopholes — not pass bans with dangerous, failed track records.

H.2256 strikes the right balance with a common-sense solution that combats puppy mills while preserving Massachusetts as a place where the human-animal bond thrives.

Alisa Clements is the director of government affairs at the Pet Advocacy Network, the policy voice for the responsible pet care community.