Urge Lawmakers to Protect Pets and Families

a small dog with a white muzzle and tan and black fur around its eyes and ears resting its head over the should of a woman with wavy blonde hair

MA S. 3028 — Promotes Pet Equity, Treatment and Safety

ASPCA Position: Support

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering an animal welfare bill that would deliver meaningful, transformative change for the commonwealth’s people and pets.

This bill brings several key animal welfare, consumer protection and housing issues under one statewide reform effort, addressing long‑standing gaps across these areas.

If passed, this bill would:

Prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet shops, shutting down the pipeline from cruel commercial breeders — also known as puppy mills — to Massachusetts pet shops, while enabling stores to adopt humane, sustainable business models instead.
Remove discriminatory housing barriers by ensuring residents in state-aided public housing can keep the pets they love, without being turned away because of breed or size.
Strengthen anti-cruelty protections by extending legal safeguards to all household pets.

Massachusetts should join the growing number of states that have curbed the flow of animals from puppy mills into retail markets and expanded access to pet friendly housing. Together, these reforms would help address the root causes of animal shelter strain, consumer fraud and animal cruelty.

What You Can Do

Please use our brief form below to urge your state representative to support this bill and the people and pets of Massachusetts.

Advocacy Alert

Your Message

Subject Please Support S. 3028 to Help Pets and Families

Dear Lawmaker,

Message

As your constituent and as a Massachusetts resident concerned about animal welfare, I am writing to urge your support for S. 3028.

This important legislation takes a comprehensive approach to improving animal welfare across Massachusetts. By strengthening protections for household pets, ending the unnecessary use of animals in testing and expanding access to pet ownership in state-aided public housing, this bill will have a meaningful and lasting impact on both animals and the people who care for them.

I am especially supportive of the provision to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet shops. This measure will help shut down the pipeline from cruel commercial breeders to Massachusetts pet shops, while allowing pet shops to continue operating through humane, community-focused models such as partnering with shelters and rescues.
Pets are family and should be protected.

Please support S. 3028 and help create a more humane and equitable Massachusetts for people and animals alike.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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