Resident urges Bergen County to back state bill banning pet-store sales from puppy mills

Julie O'Connor, a Tenafly resident, asked the Bergen County Board of Commissioners on Monday evening to pass a county resolution supporting Assembly bill A4051, legislation she described as creating "humane pet stores" that would stop the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits and encourage partnerships with local rescues. "The problem with pet stores that sell animals is most of the time they're sourced almost exclusively from puppy mills," O'Connor said during the public comment period. She said puppy mills keep breeding females in confined conditions and ship animals before they are fully healthy, which can lead to high veterinary costs and suffering for the animals and buyers. The request came during the meeting's public-comment period; no board motion or vote on the matter was taken that evening. O'Connor said dozens of New Jersey municipalities already have local ordinances and that a statewide ban would make New Jersey the ninth state to adopt such a law. She told the commissioners that Mercer County recently passed a resolution in support and offered to provide copies. "A 149 local municipalities have passed this in our state," she said, asking the county to add its voice while the bill remains stalled in the Statehouse. The transcript records the request as a public comment and does not show any formal action, commitment or vote by the Board on a county resolution. The article reflects only statements made on the record during the public-comment portion of the meeting.