Pet Store Complaint

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Animal Abuse
Animal Facility Complaint for complaints about animal shelters, kennels, groomers, stables, zoos, or other animal exhibits

You can make a complaint about a pet store for not following City and State rules.

You can report any pet store for:

Unsanitary conditions
Operating without a permit
Selling, giving away, trading, displaying, transferring, or delivering rabbits or guinea pigs
Failing to provide appropriate care to animals
Selling animals that are illegal in New York City, including turtles with shells less than 4 inches long
Operating without an Animal Handling Certificate

In addition, you can report a pet store that sells dogs and cats for:

Getting dogs and cats from a breeder without a US Department of Agriculture "Class A" license or a good inspection history
Not spaying or neutering a dog or cat that weighs more than 2 pounds at least 8 weeks before it is sold
Selling dogs or cats from a source prohibited by law
Selling a dog without a City dog license unless the buyer provides a written statement that the dog will live outside of New York City
Selling a dog or cat without a microchip and failing to register the microchip with the owner's contact information
Not providing a dog’s or a cat’s complete health and medical history, including source and the breeder's inspection history
Not posting signs about the availability of animal records

Learn about rules for pet stores.

Report a problem with a pet store.

Pet dealers in New York State are required by law to guarantee the good health of the pets they sell.

You can report any type of business selling animals that are unfit for purchase because they are ill, have hereditary deformities, or have diseases.

Online

Report a business selling sick or deformed animals.

By Phone

Agency: New York State Attorney General
Division: New York State Attorney General Local Office
Phone Number: (212) 416-8000
Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

You can make a complaint about a pet store for consumer protection violations, including:

False or misleading advertising
Cash payment refusal
Credit card limits not posted
Refund, return, or exchange refusal
Overcharge
Price not posted or inaccurate
No receipt or receipt that is inaccurate or incomplete

Report a problem with a pet store.

What Happens Next

If you don't include your address or email with your Service Request, you won't receive follow up. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will consider your complaint a tip.

If you include your address, DCWP will mail you a complaint form. You must complete and return it to DCWP. If you provide your email address, you'll get the form by email instead. Check your spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox.

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Pet Store Complaint

Report a problem with a pet store.

Unhealthy Animals

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Report a problem with a pet store.

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