01/20/2026
‼️THEY NEED YOUR HELP‼️ Did you know that there are animals suffering these conditions in Delaware? We are hoping to change that and need your help!
There’s a critical animal welfare bill moving forward through the Delaware legislature, and with your help, it could become law. House Bill 131 would prohibit the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, auctions, and farmers markets across the state. Unfortunately, they often suffer unimaginable conditions before arriving to these stores. More often than not, these animals were bred at puppy mills or breeding farms, solely for profit. According to Humane World for Animals, there are over half a million dogs kept solely for breeding purposes in an estimated 10,000 active breeding mills.
While we can't change legislation nationally, we have the chance to ensure Delaware does not contribute to those statistics any longer. Rather than supporting large-scale, out-of-state suppliers, this bill encourages retailers to partner with local shelters and Delawareans to adopt responsibly, so we are all playing our part in combating the overpopulation crisis! This change would bring Delaware in line with dozens of other states and cities working to protect animals and prevent families from unknowingly bringing home sick pets bred in poor conditions.
Thanks to the work of Kim Williams State Representative, 19th District, alongside the Office of Animal Welfare and many local shelters, HB 131 has already passed out of committee. The next step is a full vote on the House floor...and this is where you come in! Please call or email your state representative today and ask them to support HB 131! Not sure who to call? Find your representative by your street address here: commoncause.org/find-your-representative
You can keep your message simple, like this:
"I live within your district and wanted to express how important House Bill 131 is to me. I’m asking you to vote YES! This legislation is a common-sense step to protect families and animals by ensuring Delaware pets come from humane, ethical sources."
Local and national pet retailers like Petco, PetSmart, and Concord Pet have already embraced this approach, partnering with rescues instead of selling animals. HB 131 would help ensure that model becomes the standard statewide.
Together, we can make Delaware safer and more compassionate, for people and pets! ❤️🐾