Close Down Puppy Stores in New Jersey for good!

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Daniella Santamaria and I am 10 years old. I live in Hazlet, New Jersey with my parents and my two dogs, Alistar and Blueberry. I love them very much, and I love ALL animals with all my heart. I wish I could rescue them all! Since I can't do it alone, I am starting a campaign to help rescue animals and this petition, which will be sent to the New Jersey Senate once I reach my goal of at least 50,000 signatures.

I started this petition to help stop puppy mills, and one way I know how to do that is by helping shut down local puppy stores in New Jersey. In 2016, the New Jersey Senate approved a bill that would require pet stores licensed after January 12, 2016 to sell only dogs and cats obtained from shelters and animal rescue organizations. That was a good thing. However, what about the puppy and pet stores licensed BEFORE January 12, 2016? They can still get their puppies from puppy mills - and trust me, they do! Many people don't realize how bad it is to buy a puppy from a puppy store, so I am here to tell you why.

These other puppy stores get their puppies from puppy mills, which breed dogs strictly for profit. Over half a million puppies are born in puppy mills each year. They are treated inhumanely, they live out their entire lives in tiny, filthy, overcrowded cages, never touching the grass or sand with their paws. They are usually covered in their own feces, urine and vomit from the moment they are born - and are not treated by a veterinarian until they are shipped in cramped quarters to the puppy store where they will be cleaned up a little and sold for a very high price. Most of these puppies are sickly and require more than average veterinary care at the beginning of their young lives. Once I learned that most puppy mills in this country are located in New York and New Jersey, I knew I had to do something to help. I knew I had to take action. As a kid, there's only so much I can do - but I will do whatever I can.

I want the New Jersey Government to reevaluate the bill they originally passed, to see how awful puppy mills really are and that allowing these puppy stores to continue in this state is cruel and inhumane. Simply limiting the newer puppy stores to rescue animals is not enough. Puppy stores either need to be filled entirely with rescue animals, or closed down completely. That is the ultimate goal. Will you stand with me and sign my petition?