INDIANAPOLIS — Last year, the city of Indianapolis passed an ordinance banning the sale of puppies, kittens and bunnies at pet stores.
Now, a proposed law could overturn that ban when it comes to the sale of puppies.
Indianapolis isn’t the only Indiana city with a ban like this in place. Twenty-one cities and towns across the state have passed similar bans, including Carmel, which passed one a few years ag,o and West Lafayette, which passed a ban this past November.
House Bill 1412 would erase those bans, and the possibility of that led to a debate Monday morning in the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee about home rule.
The bill’s author, State Rep. Beau Baird, R-District 44, called HB 1412 an “anti-puppy mill bill.”
“It represents a pivotal moment in Indiana, signaling our commitment to responsible dog breeding and ensuring the humane treatment of animals in the retail setting,” Baird told committee members and those there to testify about the bill.
Under HB 1412, if pet stores wanted to sell puppies they got from a commercial breeder, that breeder would have to be "canine care certified," a certification that breeders can get if they follow a standard of care for animals that was created by Purdue University.
“It’s increasing standards across the state. This is going to make Indiana the best place to buy a puppy,” said Lori Wilson, who owns six Uncle Bill’s Pet Centers across the state.
By May 2025, though, Wilson’s two locations in Marion County won’t be able to sell puppies after the Indianapolis City-County Council passed a ban last year on puppy sales.
The ban also includes a ban on selling kittens and rabbits.
The Indianapolis ordinance still allows pet stores, like Uncle Bill’s, to sell animals they get from Animal Care Services or rescue organizations.
House Bill 1412 would void Indy’s ordinance and others like it across the state.
“I respect their perspectives. I would encourage them, if they want to help guide the future of Indianapolis, that they perhaps shift their focus and run for City-County Council,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said when asked about state lawmakers proposing law that would affect Indianapolis.
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Carmel passed a similar puppy sale ban two years ago.
“Local matters should be decided on the local level, and this is certainly a local matter,” added Adam Aasen, vice president of the Carmel City Council.
Supporters of the bill say cities would still have control and could pass a new ordinance banning pet stores from selling puppies they got from commercial breeders who did not follow the canine care standards from Purdue. Any new ordinance passed would not ban pet stores from selling puppies they got from a hobby breeder, which breeds puppies on a smaller scale.
“Why do they not want a pet store around that actually does this right?” Wilson asked. “Why would they not want Hoosiers to have a choice in their next family member?“
Also under the bill, people who buy a puppy from a pet store would have access to information about where it came from and also be able to return it in a certain period of time.
They would have to pay a fee that costs 10% of what they paid for the puppy.
House Bill 1412 passed out of committee with a 9-4 vote. If it gets called for a second reading by the House, other lawmakers could offer changes to the bill.