Lexington Passes Pet Shop Ban On Commercially Bred Dogs

LEXINGTON, MA — Lexington Town Meeting Members voted Wednesday night to ban the sale of commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores in hopes to crack down on the "puppy mill" market in Massachusetts.

This makes Lexington the 10th municipality in Massachusetts to pass such a measure along with Boston, Cambridge, Pittsfield, Holliston, Marshfield, North Adams, Plymouth, and Springfield.

According to meeting members, this is a tipping point issue on local levels that could lead to a statewide level if more municipalities get on board.

A puppy mill is an inhumane high-volume dog-breeding facility that churns out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers. Dogs from puppy mills are often sick and unsocialized. Puppy mills commonly sell through internet sales, online classified ads, flea markets and pet stores.

In a Facebook post, the MSPCA-Angell thanks advocate Pam Baker for all her hard work.