Bronx pet shop customers feel the effects of upcoming statewide ban on retail pet sales
The pet shop has been in business 26 years.
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News 12 went to Zoo Rama pet store in the Bronx to see the effects of the upcoming statewide ban on retail pet sales.
The pet shop has been in business 26 years.
“I feel really sad because now I have to find a new place to take my dog to get groomed,” said Stephanie Perez, a customer.
The shop has grooming services and sells pet supplies, but the manager said off camera those sales alone cannot keep the business open.
“When you come, you don't feel like you're just getting a service. You feel like you're bringing your pet to someone...that would take very good care of them,” said Perez.
The business is set to close Dec. 14, the day before the ban on the retail sale of pets goes into effect.
The state law aims to stop the puppy mill-to-pet-store pipeline.
“These are USDA puppies. This is not like a puppy mill store where they're hiding and selling dogs in the lobby of a building or breeding them in an apartment,” said Anibal Cortes, a customer.
Cortes says he bought a healthy pup from the store and poorly run stores give this one a bad name.
“The only place that my dog gets groomed is here. If I were to buy another dog, it would be here because I know the quality of the dogs,” said Cortes.
Zoo Rama has found a home for most of the pups, and the rest - if not sold by Dec. 14 - will be given away.
The manager said off camera that the shop plans on starting a petition to help lawmakers rethink their decision to ban the retail sale of pets.
