Victory! Oregon Bans The Sale Of Puppies & Kittens Sold At Pet Stores & Cosmetics Tested On Animals

Hopeful news as Oregon’s Governor Tina Kotek recently signed several critical animal welfare bills into law. The first bill, (HB 2915), stops the sale of puppy mill dogs and cats in pet stores. The second bill, (HB 3213), ends the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. Kotek also signed a package of housing bills that included funding for domestic violence and homeless shelters to better accommodate people and their pets.

“Oregonians believe in a better world for animals. These measures mitigate suffering in puppy mills and animal testing laboratories, and help people keep their pets through challenging circumstances,” said Kelly Peterson, Oregon state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We are eternally grateful to Rep. David Gomberg, Rep. Courtney Neron, and Sen. Deb Patterson for championing these bills and share in this celebration with our dedicated coalition partners and advocates throughout the state.”

HB 2915 stops any additional pet stores in the state from selling puppies or kittens and phases out these sales in existing stores. This bill will drive the local pet market in Oregon toward more humane sources like shelters and rescues. Oregon is the seventh state to take a stand against the puppy-mill-to-pet-store pipeline, joining Washington, California, Illinois, New York, Maryland, and Maine.

“With this bill, the entire West Coast is now closed off to pet stores that view puppies as mere products, bringing us closer to the day when cruel puppy mills have nowhere left to sell,” said Peterson.

HB 3213 bans the sale of cosmetics that have been subjected to new animal testing. Oregon is now in line with more than 30 countries and 10 states including (California, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Virginia) that have already banned the sale of cosmetics newly tested on animals.

“With thousands of existing ingredients with a history of safe use and a growing number of non-animal testing methods available, there is no justification for the continued use of animals to test cosmetics,” said Peterson.

The Oregon Legislature also approved $1 million in funding through the Emergency Housing Account Fund for homeless and domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets, helping to address barriers to safe shelter and providing life-saving resources for individuals in crisis with their pets.

“Inclusion of pets in these bills honors the bond we all share with our pets and ensures that families and individuals experiencing homelessness, or intimate partner violence, can shelter safely with their companion animal,” said Peterson. “Because the truth is that for many, the path to safe shelter starts with their pets.”