Under a decision from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, pet stores in Chicago are still prohibited from selling puppies sourced from large-scale commercial breeders, also known as puppy mills. Chicago pet stores and a Missouri-based commercial breeder challenged the ordinance, which a federal district court upheld last year.

The Humane Society of the United States and The Puppy Mill Project submitted an amicus brief in support of the city and the circuit court affirmed the district court’s ruling.

“This is another victory in the courts against puppy mills. Courts have consistently found that local governments can pass laws like this one to protect animals from the deplorable conditions in puppy mills, and protect consumers who unwittingly purchase mill dogs, without running afoul of state or federal law,” said Kimberly Ockene, senior attorney for companion animals in the Animal Protection Litigation section of the HSUS.

Approximately 230 localities throughout the United States have passed similar ordinances.