Puppy Protection Act of 2026

If passed, this bill would eliminate or substantially consolidate the commercial dog dealer industry as currently structured. Approximately 4,000-5,000 USDA-licensed dealers operating today would face significant capital expenditure to comply (facility rebuilding, veterinary staff, outdoor infrastructure). Some small operators would likely exit the market; larger, well-capitalized operations would absorb compliance costs and continue. The result would parallel effects seen when similar state-level regulations were implemented: in California (AB 701, effective 2021), which banned retail pet store sales of dogs not from shelters or rescues, the commercial breeding industry contracted while adoption rates from shelters increased. In New York, similar regulations reduced commercial breeder operations by an estimated 30-40% over 5 years while shelter adoptions rose. Retired breeding dogs—estimated at 50,000+ annually from commercial operations—would enter the rescue pipeline, potentially straining rescue organization capacity in the short term but improving outcomes for those animals. Consumers would likely see higher prices for dealer-sourced puppies (estimated $200-400 increase per dog to cover compliance) and a shift toward adoption and responsible small-scale breeders. The dog breeding industry has historically opposed such regulations; the American Kennel Club has expressed concerns about regulatory burdens on responsible breeders, though the bill's provisions target dealers specifically, not private hobby breeders.