ALBANY – New York lawmakers are once again seeking to prevent so-called puppy mills from operating in the state.

Legislation introduced last week would prohibit pet stores across the state from selling dogs and other animals that come from the large, often unregulated, breeding facilities.

If approved, pet stores would only be authorized to showcase animals that come from a humane society or other rescue agency, resulting in greater space at animal rescue shelters.

"By ensuring that pet stores can offer only rescues for adoption, this legislation will protect consumers, help to shut down the mills and end the puppy to-pet store pipeline," Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, the bill's sponsor, said in a statement.

Sen. Michael Gianaris, D-Queens, who introduced similar legislation last year that failed to gain an Assembly sponsor, is the Senate sponsor.

The law could mean big changes for pet retailers in the state.

New York has one of the largest concentrations of pet stores in the country, according to the U.S. Humane Society, which backs the legislation.

Over 10,000 puppy mills operate across the country, according to the United States Humane Society, which backs the legislation.

But only 3,000 of these mills are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Because of the lack of oversight animals often live in wire cages and other unsanitary conditions before being sold to consumers at high prices, supporters of the bill said.

The ASPCA and the state's Animal Protection Federation also pushing for the legislation.

"These badly-regulated commercial dog breeders have only one goal: breed the highest volume of puppies possible at the lowest cost for the retailer," Bill Ketzer, the ASPCA's senior director of state legislation in New York, said in a statement.

This is not the first time lawmakers have tried to crack down on puppy mills.

In 2014, the Legislature approved a law that would allow localities to better regulate pet stores using USDA data.

And nearly 300 municipalities nationwide have either passed or proposed similar legislation.

If approved, New York would become just the third state after California and Maryland to pass such legislation.

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