Suffolk to rate pet stores for dogs' sake

Suffolk County soon will begin rating pet stores on whether they buy from large-scale "puppy mills," and on the care they give the dogs they offer for sale.

In an effort to clamp down on outlets for large-scale breeders, the county legislature on Tuesday approved the "Puppy and Dog Protection Rating Program." Members of an unpaid board of animal advocates will inspect and grade stores -- with owners' consent -- on everything from cleanliness to advertising. As part of the process, retailers will be asked whether they buy from mills -- large-scale distributors that have been accused of housing and transporting dogs under inhumane conditions.

Participating businesses will receive a rating on a "five paw" scale, to be posted in their window and on the county website. Those that opt out will be identified on the website.

"If they're not participating, that's a pretty clear sign something's wrong," said Majority Leader Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor), who sponsored the bill. "We're hoping this changes the equation, and puts pressure on the stores that source from mass-breeding facilities."

Cooper initially had proposed a ban on puppy sales at all county pet stores. But the bill met significant resistance from pet stores and trade groups, who said it would have unfairly penalized conscientious shopkeepers. Cooper withdrew the measure in favor of the voluntary rating system.

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, which opposed the ban, supports the voluntary ratings. "The original proposal ran down a bad road, because not all stores belong in the same category," said Michael Maddox, the Washington, D.C.-based group's general counsel and vice president of government affairs. "This is a constructive option, but the [rating system] needs to be objective."

Joe DeRosa, owner of The Peticular Pet in Huntington, called ratings a good idea, "as long as the people grading us aren't the people who hate us."

He said shelter advocates can lump for-profit pet stores together, but that his business only deals with small, family-run breeders. "I want to give people an alternative to pit bull mixes," DeRosa said. "But we definitely stay away from anything that even resembles a mill."

Cooper said he hopes a five-member rating board, once criteria are set, can begin inspections early next year.