3 months ago
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Hopeful news for Oregon Governor Tina Kotek recently signed several critical animal welfare bills. The first invoice, (HB2915), stops the sale of puppy mill dogs and cats in pet stores. The second bill, (HB3213), 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.
“The people of Oregon believe in a better world for animals. These measures alleviate suffering in puppy mills and animal testing labs, and help people keep their pets in difficult circumstances,” said Kelly Peterson, Oregon State Director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We are forever grateful to Rep. David Gomberg, Rep. Courtney Neron and Sen. Deb Patterson for championing these bills and sharing this celebration with our dedicated coalition partners and advocates across the state.”
HB2915 prevents all additional pet stores in the state from selling puppies or kittens and phases out such sales in existing stores. This bill will push 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 to pet stores that view puppies as mere commodities, bringing us closer to the day when cruel puppy mills will have nowhere to sell,” Peterson said .
HB 3213 prohibits the sale of cosmetic products that have been subjected to further animal testing. Oregon is now aligned with more than 30 countries and 10 states, including (California, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York And Virginia) which have already banned the sale of cosmetic products newly tested on animals.
“With thousands of existing ingredients having 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,” Peterson said.
The Oregon Legislature also approved 1 million dollars in financing through the Emergency Housing Account Fund for homeless and domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets, helping to remove barriers to safe shelter and providing vital resources to people in crisis with their pets.
“The inclusion of pets in these bills honors the bond we all share with our pets and ensures that families and individuals experiencing homelessness or domestic violence can shelter safely with their pets companionship,” Peterson said. “Because the truth is, for many, the path to safe shelter begins with their pets. »