Legislation that would prohibit the sale of more than 100 puppies per year in commercial kennels gained a hearing in February in the New Hampshire Senate Committee on Public & Municipal Affairs, and awaited further action at press time.

Under Senate Bill 504, which survived the hearing as written, commercial kennel licenses must be denied to anybody selling or transferring 20 or more litters, or 100 puppies, during any 12-month period.

The proposed legislation would have a “devastating” effect on pet stores, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington). At least 100 licensed pet stores in the state meet that threshold, said PIJAC. All would be economically impacted by the proposed limits, and half of them would be forced out of business, according to estimates from the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture.

No justification was provided for the measure, said PIJAC, nor was there any evidence that it would provide any benefit to animals or the public.